Hydra during World War I
History
United Kingdom
NameHydra
BuilderJohn Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number406[1]
Laid down7 February 1911
Launched19 February 1912
CommissionedJune 1912
FateSold for scrap, 9 May 1921
General characteristics
Class and typeAcheron-class destroyer
Displacement778 long tons (790 t)
Length246 ft (75 m)
Beam25 ft 8 in (7.8 m)
Draught8 ft 9 in (2.7 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 1 steam turbine
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range1,620 nmi (3,000 km; 1,860 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement70
Armament

HMS Hydra was one of 20 Acheron-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the 1910s. Completed in 1912, the ship participated in World War I and was sold for scrap in 1921.

Design and description

The Acheron class was a repeat of the preceding Acorn class. The Admiralty provided general specifications, but each shipyard did their own detailed design so that ships often varied in size.[2] The Acherons had an overall length of 246 feet (75 m), a beam of 23 feet 8 inches (7.2 m), and a draught of 8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m). The ships displaced 778 long tons (790 t) at deep load and their crew numbered 70 officers and ratings.[3]

Hydra was powered by a single Brown-Curtis steam turbine that drove both propeller shafts using steam provided by three Yarrow boilers. The engines developed a total of 13,500 shaft horsepower (10,100 kW) and were designed for a speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph). The ship reached a speed of 28.1 knots (52.0 km/h; 32.3 mph) from 14,710 shp (10,970 kW) during her sea trials.[4] The Acherons had a range of 1,620 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,860 mi) at a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]

The primary armament of the ships consisted of a pair of BL 4-inch (102 mm) Mk VIII guns in single, unprotected pivot mounts fore and aft of the superstructure. They were also armed with two single QF 12-pounder (3-inch (76 mm)) guns, one on each broadside abreast the bridge. The destroyers were equipped with a pair of single rotating mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes amidships and carried two reload torpedoes.[5]

Construction and career

Hydra was ordered under the 1910–1911 Naval Programme from John Brown & Company. The ship was laid down at the company's Clydebank shipyard on 7 February 1911, launched on 19 February 1912 and commissioned in June.[6]

The Battle of Dogger Bank

Hydra was with the First Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Dogger Bank[7] on 24 January 1915.

The Battle of Jutland

She was present at the Battle of Jutland[8] on 31 May 1916. Along with the rest of the flotilla, she was transferred to the 3rd Battle Squadron, based at Portsmouth.[9]

She collided with a merchant ship on the night of 11 February 1917 in the English Channel. The captain of Hydra was held liable for the collision because, although the other ship showed him a light, he did not perceive that it was on a crossing course.[10]

Mediterranean Service

From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Hydra was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.[11] On 9 February 1921, Hydra collided with the Royal Navy torpedo boat Z 3 in the Weilingen Channel and sank. Z 3 rescued all 72 of Hydra′s crew.[12] The ship was sold on 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward of Portishead for scrap.[13]

Pennant Numbers

Pennant Number[13]FromTo
H506 December 1914  1 January 1918
H431 January 1918Early 1919
H94Early 19199 May 1921

References

  1. ↑ "HMS Hydra at the Clyde-built database". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ↑ Gardiner & Gray, p. 75
  3. 1 2 Friedman, p. 295
  4. ↑ March, pp. 116-109
  5. ↑ Friedman, pp. 119, 295
  6. ↑ Friedman, p. 306
  7. ↑ "Battle of Dogger Bank - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  8. ↑ "Battle of Jutland - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  9. ↑ "HMS Hydra at Battleships-Cruisers website". Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  10. ↑ "Combat Immunity and the Duty of Care - James Rowley judgement (extract)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  11. ↑ S E Brooks. "The Entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles". Oxford University. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  12. ↑ "Warships in collision". The Times. No. 42643. London. 12 February 1921. col D, p. 9.
  13. 1 2 "Arrowsmith List: Royal Navy WWI Destroyer Pendant Numbers". Retrieved 1 July 2008.
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