HMS Obedient (1916)

HMS Obedient was a Repeat Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. Launched in 1916, the destroyer served with the Grand Fleet during the Battle of Jutland in 1916, helping sink the torpedo boat V48 and narrowiy missing the German battleships as they withdrew. Subsequently, Obedient took part in anti-submarine patrols, attacking U-70 in 1917. The conditions of service meant that the destroyer was soon worn out and, after the armistice that ended the war in 1918, Obedient was placed in reserve. Despite a service life of only five years, the vessel was decommissioned and, in 1921, sold to be broken up.

See also: HMS Obedient

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Obedient
OrderedNovember 1914
BuilderScotts of Greenock
Yard number464
Launched6 November 1916
CompletedFebruary 1917
Out of service25 November 1921
FateSold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and typeAdmiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement
Length265 ft (81 m) (p.p)
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
Installed power3 Yarrow boilers, 25,000 shp (19,000 kW)
PropulsionParsons steam turbines, 3 shafts
Speed34 knots (63.0 km/h; 39.1 mph)
Range3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement76
Armament

Design and development

Obedient was one of twenty-two Repeat Admiralty M-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in November 1914 as part of the Third 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 design was to achieve a speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph), although the destroyers did not achieve this in service. It transpired that the German ships did not exist but the greater performance was appreciated by the navy.[2] The Repeat M class differed from the prewar vessels in having a raked stem and design improvements based on wartime experience.[3]

The destroyer was 265 feet (81 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) and a draught of 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m).[4] Displacement was 950 long tons (970 t) normal and 1,123 long tons (1,141 t) full load.[5] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and driving three shafts.[6] Three funnels were fitted and 296 long tons (301 t) of oil was carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[7]

Armament consisted of three single 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. A single QF 2-pounder 40 mm (2 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[8] The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings.[9]

Construction and career

Obedient was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at their shipyard in Greenock with the yard number 464, launched on 6 November 1916 and completed in February the following year.[4] The ship was the first of the name to serve with the navy.[10] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.[11]

On 30 May 1916, the destroyer sailed with the Grand Fleet to confront the German High Seas Fleet in what would be the Battle of Jutland.[12] The destroyer formed part of the First Division of the Flotilla, led by Faulknor and also including sister ships Marvel, Mindful and Onslaught.[13] The division saw the approaching line of the German Third Torpedo Boat Flotilla and attacked. Obedient reported a destroyer sunk, likely the torpedo boat V48, previously disabled by Shark.[13] As the battle closed, the Flotilla spotted the retreating German line. The First Division was ordered to attack and use their superior speed to speed ahead of the German ships.[14] Obedient launched two torpedoes at the battleships. A hit was claimed against the pre-dreadnought Pommern, but it is likely that both missed. Obedient and Marvel then attacked the German light cruisers, but withdrew without recording any hits,[15]

The destroyer was subsequently involved in anti-submarine patrols between 15 and 22 June the following year. During one of the patrols, Obedient was successful in driving away the submarine U-70, but not before the merchant ship SS Buffalo, which had been heading for New York, had been attacked with torpedo and gunfire. Obedient attempted the take the stricken vessel in tow, but this was unsuccessful and the ship sank on 19 June.[16] This was not untypical and the Admiralty redeployed the destroyers of the Grand Fleet from patrols to escorting convoy.[17] By October, Obedient was one of eight travelling the North Sea with convoys to Norway.[18]

After the armistice, the Grand Fleet was disbanded. The Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and the amount of staff needed to be reduced to save money.[19] On 21 October 1919, the destroyer was reduced and placed in reserve at Devonport.[20] However, this did not last long as 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 worn out.[21] After being decommissioned, Obedient was sold to Hayes on 25 November 1921 to be broken up in Porthcawl.[22]

Pennant numbers
Pennant number Date
G25September 1916[23]
G40January 1917[24]
G39January 1918[24]
G04January 1919[25]
H88June 1918[26]
HA3January 1922[27]

References

Citations
  1. McBride 1991, p. 34.
  2. Friedman 2009, p. 132.
  3. Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 109.
  4. Kemble 1961, p. 92.
  5. McBride 1991, p. 45.
  6. Kemble 1961, p. 96.
  7. Friedman 2009, p. 296.
  8. March 1966, p. 174.
  9. Preston 1985, p. 79.
  10. Manning & Walker 1959, p. 342.
  11. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 12. April 1916. Retrieved 14 May 2022 – via National Library of Scotland.
  12. Brooks 2016, p. 155.
  13. Brooks 2016, p. 337.
  14. Corbett 1920, p. 408.
  15. Brooks 2016, pp. 420–421.
  16. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, pp. 164–165.
  17. Newbolt 1928, p. 383.
  18. Newbolt 1931, p. 152.
  19. Moretz 2002, p. 79.
  20. "Obedient", The Navy List, p. 808, July 1920, retrieved 14 May 2022 – via National Library of Scotland
  21. Preston 1985, p. 80.
  22. Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 248.
  23. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 68.
  24. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 64.
  25. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 62.
  26. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 76.
  27. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 78.

Bibliography
  • Brooks, John (2016). The Battle of Jutland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-15014-0.
  • 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.
  • Campbell, John (1998). Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-750-4.
  • 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 978-1-93514-907-1.
  • Corbett, Julian S. (1920). Naval Operations: Volume III. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 1049894619.
  • 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.
  • Kemble, John Haskell (1961). Two Hundred & Fifty Years of Shipbuilding by the Scotts at Greenock. Glasgow: James Jack Advertising. OCLC 776430979.
  • 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 0-85177-582-9.
  • Monograph No. 33: Home Waters Part VII: June 1916 to November 1916. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XVII. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1927.
  • Monograph No. 35: Home Waters Part IX: 1st May 1917 to 31st July 1917. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XIX. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1939.
  • Moretz, Joseph (2002). The Royal Navy and the Capital Ship in the Interwar Period. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-71465-196-5.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1928). Naval Operations: Volume IV. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 1049894132.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Volume V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 220475309.
  • 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.
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