HMS Goldfinch (1910)

Ordered as part of the 1909–1910 Naval Programme, the Acorn-class ships were improved versions of the earlier Beagle class.[1] The ships displaced 778 long tons (790 t) at normal load and 873 long tons (887 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 246 feet (75.0 m), a beam of 25 feet 8 inches (7.8 m) and a draught of 9 feet 2 inches (2.8 m). The ship was powered by a single Parsons steam turbine set which drove three propeller shafts using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers.[2] The turbine was rated at 13,500 shaft horsepower (10,100 kW) and was intended to give a speed of not less than 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph). During her sea trials Goldfinch reached 28.1 knots (52.0 km/h; 32.3 mph) from 14,537 shp (10,840 kW).[3] The Acorns carried a maximum of 153 long tons (155 t) of fuel oil in wartime that gave them a range of 1,620 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,860 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their crew numbered 70 officers and ratings.[2]

The ships were armed with a pair of BL 4-inch (102 mm) Mk VIII gun in single mounts, one on the forecastle and the other on the stern and a pair of quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder (3-inch (76 mm)) guns, one on each broadside between the two forward funnels. Their torpedo armament consisted of two rotating torpedo tubes for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes amidships.[4]

Goldfinch was laid down at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's Govan, Glasgow shipyard on 23 February 1910 and was launched on 12 July 1910 and was completed in February 1911.[5]

On commissioning, Goldfinch joined the Second Destroyer Flotilla. On the night of 11 March 1911, a fire broke out in the radio room of Goldfinch while alongside at Devonport, destroying the radio equipment.[6] Goldfinch remained part of the Second Flotilla in February 1913.[7]

On the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, including Goldfinch, joined the newly established Grand Fleet.[8][9] Goldfinch ran aground on Start Point, Sanday in the Orkney Islands in fog on the night of 18/19 February 1915. While none of her crew was killed, Goldfinch was wrecked. The ship's remains were sold for scrap in 1919.[10][11]

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
• 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.
• Jellicoe, John (1919). The Grand Fleet 1914–16: Its Creation, Development and Work. London: Cassell and Company. OCLC 859842281.
• Kemp, Paul (1999). The Admiralty Regrets: British Warship Losses of the 20th Century. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7509-1567-6.
• Manning, T. D. (1961). The British Destroyer. London: Putnam. OCLC 6470051.
• March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.

• Photo of HMS Goldfinch
• Bow/forefoot of HMS Goldfinch on Start Point