HMS Medway (1916)

HMS Medway was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the previous Laforey-class, capable of higher speed. Originally laid down as HMS Redwing by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the vessel was renamed before being launched on 8 March 1916. The vessel was allocated to the Grand Fleet and served in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in support of the First Light Cruiser Squadron in their action against German light cruisers and minesweepers. During the action, the ship did not record any hits. After the War, the destroyer was placed in reserve and subsequently sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Medway and HMS Redwing.

Sistership HMS Oracle
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Medway
NamesakeRiver Medway
OrderedMay 1915
BuilderJ. Samuel White, East Cowes
Yard numberNovember 1915
Launched19 April 1916
Completed2 August 1916
Out of service9 May 1921
FateBroken up
General characteristics
Class and typeAdmiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement
Length265 ft (80.8 m) (o.a.)
Beam26 ft 8 in (8.1 m)
Draught8 ft 11 in (2.7 m)
Installed power3 White-Forster boilers, 25,000 shp (19,000 kW)
PropulsionParsons steam turbines, 3 shafts
Speed34 knots (39.1 mph; 63.0 km/h)
Range2,280 nmi (4,220 km) at 17 kn (31 km/h)
Complement80
Armament

Design and development

Medway was one of eighteen Admiralty M-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in May 1915 as part of the Fifth War Construction Programme.[1] The M-class was an improved version of the earlier L-class destroyers, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers. The remit was to have a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) and, although the eventual design did not achieve this, the greater performance was appreciated by the navy. It transpired that the German ships did not exist.[2]

The destroyer had a length of 265 feet (80.8 m) between perpendiculars and 273 feet 4 inches (83 m) overall, with a beam of 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 m) and a draught of 8 feet 11 inches (2.7 m) at deep load.[3] Displacement was 994 long tons (1,010 t) normal and 1,028 long tons (1,044 t) full load.[1] Power was provided by three White-Forster boilers feeding three Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and driving three shafts, to give a design speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph).[4] The vessel achieved 33.5 knots (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph) in trials.[1] Three funnels were fitted.[4] A total of 268 long tons (272 t) of oil could be carried, including 40 long tons (41 t) in peace tanks that were not used in wartime, giving a range of 2,280 nautical miles (4,220 km; 2,620 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph).[5]

Armament consisted of three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the middle and aft funnels on a bandstand. Torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[6][7] A single QF 2-pounder 40 mm (1.6 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun was mounted between the torpedo tubes.[4][8] The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings.[9]

Construction and career

Redwing was laid down by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 2 November 1915 with the yard number 1468, and launched on 19 April 1916.[10] The ship was completed on 30 June 1916 and joined the Grand Fleet.[11] By this time, the ship's name had already been changed twice, initially to Medora and then subsequently Medway.[12] The final name was in honour of the river in South East England.[13] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla based at Scapa Flow.[14]

At the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November 1917, the destroyer was one of two, the other being the more modern Vendetta, screening the First Light Cruiser Squadron as they sought to destroy a flotilla of German minesweepers.[15] The Squadron engaged with the German light cruisers Frankfurt, Königsberg, Nürnberg and Pillau, but the destroyer scored no hits.[16] This proved to be the last involvement by the class in a major battle during the conflict.[17] The vessel was transferred to Buncrana with the Second Destroyer Flotilla during the last year of the war.[18]

After the armistice, Medway was transferred Portsmouth.[19] However, this was a temporary post and during the following year, the destroyer was moved to the local defence flotilla at Portland, operating with a reserve complement.[20] As the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of mobilisation, surplus vessels were culled, and so, on 9 May 1921, Medway was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Milford Haven and subsequently broken up.[12]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number Date
G76September 1915[21]
F01January 1917[22]
G2AMarch 1918[23]
G00January 1919[24]

References

Citations
  1. McBride 1991, p. 46.
  2. Friedman 2009, p. 132.
  3. Friedman 2009, p. 298.
  4. Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 109.
  5. Friedman 2009, p. 157.
  6. Preston 1985, pp. 76, 80.
  7. March 1966, p. 174.
  8. Friedman 2009, p. 156.
  9. Preston 1985, p. 79.
  10. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 86.
  11. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 36.
  12. Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 211.
  13. Manning & Walker 1959, p. 292.
  14. Naval Staff Monograph No. 7 1921, p. 259.
  15. Newbolt 1931, p. 169.
  16. Newbolt 1931, p. 171,176.
  17. McBride 1991, p. 49.
  18. "Coast of Ireland Station", Supplement to the Monthly Navy List, p. 17, January 1918, retrieved 7 November 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
  19. "Vessels at Home Ports Temporarily", Supplement to the Monthly Navy List, p. 20, January 1919, retrieved 7 November 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
  20. "Local Defence and Training Establishments", The Navy List, p. 705, October 1919, retrieved 7 November 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
  21. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 67.
  22. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 45.
  23. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 68.
  24. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 61.

Bibliography
  • Bush, Steve; Warlow, Ben (2021). Pendant Numbers of the Royal Navy: A Complete History of the Allocation of Pendant Numbers to Royal Navy Warships & Auxiliaries. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-526793-78-2.
  • 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 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Manning, Thomas Davys; Walker, Charles Frederick (1959). British Warship Names. London: Putnam. OCLC 780274698.
  • 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.
  • McBride, Keith (1991). "British 'M' Class Destroyers of 1913–14". In Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Warship 1991. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 34–49. ISBN 978-0-85177-582-1.
  • Monograph No. 7: The Patrol Flotillas at the Commencement of the War (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. III. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1921.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Vol. V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green & Co.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendergast, Maurice (1969). Jane's Fighting Ships 1919. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. OCLC 907574860.
  • Preston, Antony (1985). "Great Britain and Empire Forces". In Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 1–104. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • Williams, David L.; Sprake, Raymond F. (1993). White's of Cowes : "White's-built, Well-built!". Peterborough: Silver Link. ISBN 978-1-85794-011-4.
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