HMS Nereus (1916)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Nereus.
Sistership Marmion underway at speed
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Nereus
NamesakeNereus
OrderedSeptember 1914
BuilderThornycroft, Woolston, Southampton
Yard number790
Laid downMarch 1915
Launched24 February 1916
CommissionedMay 1916
Out of service15 November 1921
FateBroken up July 1921
General characteristics
Class and typeTemplate:Sclass2-
Displacement
Length265 ft (80.8 m)
Beam26 ft 7 in (8.1 m)
Draught8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)
Propulsion
Speed34 knots (39.1 mph; 63.0 km/h)
Range3,450 nmi (6,390 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement80
Armament

HMS Nereus was a Template:Sclass2- which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 24 February 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet until the end of the conflict. The vessel operated as part for Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla in support of convoy operations. After the conflict, the destroyer was worn out by the demands of high speed operation in poor weather. Nereus was placed in reserve and subsequently scrapped on 15 November 1921 after less than six years service.

Design and development

Nereus was one of sixteen Template:Sclass2- destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in September 1914 as part of the First War Construction Programme.[1] The M-class was an improved version of the earlier Template:Sclass- destroyers, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers capable of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[2] The vessel was named after the sea god in Greek mythology.[3]

The destroyer was 265 feet (80.77 m) long overall, with a beam of 26 feet 7 inches (8.10 m) and a draught of 8 feet 7 inches (2.62 m). Displacement was 994 long tons (1,010 t) normal and 1,025 long tons (1,041 t) at full load.[4] Power was provided by three oil fired Yarrow boilers each exhausting through a single small funnel, which was a distinguishing feature of the class.[5] The boilers fed two Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) which connected directly to two screws via two shafts to give a design speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph).[6] 237 long tons (241 t) of oil were carried, giving a design range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[7]

Armament consisted of three 4 in (102 mm) Mk IV QF guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[7] The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings.[5]

Construction and career

Construction by John I. Thornycroft & Company of Woolston, Southampton was started when the hull was laid down during March 1915.[5] Yard number 790 was allocated during construction.[6] The ship was launched on 24 February and completed in May the following year.[8]

On entering service, Nereus joined the Grand Fleet as part of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.[9] The vessel operated in support of convoy operations, specifically as part of a hunting group sent out to search for German warships that threatened convoys in the North Sea in October 1917.[10] The harsh conditions of wartime service, particularly the combination of high speed and the poor weather that is typical of the North Sea, exacerbated by the fact that the hull was not galvanised, meant that the destroyer was soon worn out.[11] After the Armistice, the destroyer was initially moved to Nore and then reduced to Care and Maintenance at Chatham Dockyard on 10 October 1919.[12][13] Decommissioned and sold to Cashmore of Newport on 15 November 1921, Nereus was subsequently broken up July the following year.[14] The ship's bell was retained and currently resides in the Imperial War Museum.[15]

Pennant numbers

Pennant Number Date
G19 Unknown[8]
F12 January 1917[16]
F33 January 1918[8]
H12 April 1918[16]
H37 November 1918[16]

References

Citations

  1. ^ McBride 1991, p. 34.
  2. ^ Friedman 2009, p. 132.
  3. ^ Manning & Walker 1959, p. 312.
  4. ^ McBride 1991, p. 44.
  5. ^ a b c Parkes & Prendegast 1919, p. 109.
  6. ^ a b Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 79.
  7. ^ a b Friedman 2009, p. 298.
  8. ^ a b c Friedman 2009, p. 308.
  9. ^ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to The Monthly Navy List. April 1916. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  10. ^ Newbolt 1928, p. 152.
  11. ^ Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 80.
  12. ^ "Vessels at Home Ports Temporarily". Supplement to The Monthly Navy List. January 1919. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Nereus". Supplement to The Monthly Navy List. July 1920. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  14. ^ Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 226.
  15. ^ "Accessory, Ship's Bell (HMS Nereus 1916), British". iwm.org. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  16. ^ a b c Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 68.

Bibliography

  • Colledge, J.J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. London: Chatham Press. ISBN 1-86176-281-X. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0380-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Manning, Thomas Davys; Walker, Charles Frederick (1959). British Warship Names. London: Putnam. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |lastauthoramp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  • McBride, Keith (1991). "British 'M' Class Destroyers of 1913–14". In Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Warship 1991. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 34–49. ISBN 0-85177-582-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Newbolt, Henry (1928). Naval Operations: Volume V. London: Longmans, Green and Co. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1919). Jane’s Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
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