HMS Thruster (1917)

HMS Thruster was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The R class were an improvement on the previous M class with geared steam turbines to improve efficiency. Built by Hawthorn Leslie and launched in January 1917, Thruster joined the Harwich Force, serving as part of a flotilla that escorted the monitors Erebus and Terror in their bombardment of Ostend in June that year. During the following month, Thruster, along with sister ship Springbok, captured the two German merchant ships SS Brietzig and SS Pellworm. The destroyer was also jointly credited with sinking the submarine UB-54 the following year. After the signing of the Armistice that ended the war, the destroyer was allocated to anti-submarine research and helped in the development of anti-submarine tactics with ASDIC. In April 1928, the ship took part in a high-speed demonstration for the King of Afghanistan, the Amanullah Khan, and, in January 1932, participated in the unsuccessful search for the crew of the submarine M2. Placed in reserve at the Nore in June 1936, Thruster was sold to be broken up in March 1937.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Thruster.

Sister ship HMS Thisbe at sea in 1917
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Thruster
BuilderHawthorn Leslie and Company, Hebburn
Laid down2 June 1916
Launched10 January 1917
Commissioned30 March 1917
Out of service16 March 1937
FateSold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and typeR-class destroyer
Displacement
Length265 ft (80.8 m) (p.p.)
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.2 m)
Draught9 ft 8 in (2.9 m)
Installed power3 Yarrow boilers, 27,000 shp (20,000 kW)
PropulsionGeared Parsons steam turbines, 2 shafts
Speed36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h)
Range3,440 nmi (6,370 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement82
Armament

Design and development

Thruster was one of twelve R-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in March 1916 as part of the Eighth War Construction Programme.[1] The R class were a development of the preceding M-class, but differed in having geared turbines to improve fuel consumption, the central gun mounted on a bandstand and minor changes to improve seakeeping.[2]

The destroyer was 265 feet (80.8 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.2 m) and a draught of 9 feet 10 inches (3.0 m). Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,035 long tons (1,052 t) at deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Parsons geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[3] Three funnels were fitted. A total of 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 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph).[2]

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 second and third funnels.[3] A single QF 2-pounder 40 mm (2 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two rotating twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[1] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[3]

Construction and career

Thruster was laid down by Hawthorn Leslie and Company in Hebburn on 2 June 1916, launched on 10 January 1917 and completed on 30 March 1917.[2] The ship was the first of the name in Royal Navy service.[4] On commissioning, Thruster joined the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force.[5] The deployment was part of an overall strategy to increase the number of destroyers in naval service.[6]

On 4 June 1917, the destroyer formed part of the escort for the monitors Erebus and Terror in their bombardment of Ostend.[7] Out of the 115 shells fired, 20 hit the dockyard or nearby. This was to be the last such attack for many months.[8] On 14 July, the destroyer was cruising alongside sister ship Tarpon when the latter was struck by a mine. Thruster took the damaged ship under tow back to Dunkirk.[9] The following day, the destroyer encountered six German merchant ships off the coast of Texel. Along with fellow destroyer Springbok, Thruster captured two, SS Brietzig and SS Pellworm. Of the remainder, only one escaped to harbour. As the destroyer escorted the prizes back to Harwich, they were attacked by a torpedo launched by an unknown German submarine, but suffered no hits. The capture had taken place in neutral Dutch waters, so an apology was made to the government of the Netherlands.[10]

On 29 January 1918, the ship collided with Skilful, both destroyers suffering some damage, but Thruster was very quickly back in service.[11] Thruster was credited with the destruction of the submarine UB-54 by depth charges on 12 March with Retriever and Sturgeon off the east coast of Britain near the port of Skegness.[12] On 1 October, the destroyer returned to the Flanders coast for what would be one of the last patrols of the war. There were no incidents and the British ships returned unscathed.[13] Thruster remained part of the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla at the end of the war but was re-commissioned with a reduced complement on 19 October 1919 and acted as tender to Actaeon as part of the torpedo school HMS Vernon.[14][15]

After being reduced to reserve crew on 6 February 1923, Thruster was recommissioned in Portsmouth as part of the Portland Anti-Submarine Flotilla on 26 May 1926.[16] While there, the ship took part in a number of trials of anti-submarine tactics as part of the development of ASDIC.[17] At the end of June and beginning of July 1927, the flotilla took part in exercises off Lamlash with the battlecruiser Tiger.[18] On 22 March 1928, Thruster collided with the submarine R4 while involved in an anti-submarine exercise involving both destroyers and submarines. There were.no casualties and the destroyer was undamaged.[19] On 3 April, the four destroyers of the Portland Anti-Submarine Flotilla, including Thruster, undertook a display of speed and dexterity, using depth charges to create a spectacle, for Amanullah Khan, the King of Afghanistan, while he was on a state visit.[20] During the following year, the destroyer joined the flotilla on visits to the Scilly Isles between 23 and 25 July, Dartmouth from 27 to 29 July and Torquay, leaving on 1 August, before returning to Portland.[21] Another cruise, which involved visits to Clovelly, Falmouth and Torquay, took place two years later between 4 and 14 July.[22] Thruster was also involved in the unsuccessful search for the crew of the submarine M2, sunk on 26 January 1932.[23][24]

During 1933, the destroyer, along with the rest of the flotilla, was transferred to Chatham and given a full crew by 1 June.[25] Thruster was considered as part of the planned Royal Navy deployment in defence of traffic between Port Said and Alexandria on 19 October 1935 after the start of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War but withdrew before the outbreak of hostilities between Italy and the United Kingdom, which would not take place until 10 June 1940.[26][27] The destroyer returned to Chatham on 21 April 1936.[28] Soon after, on 11 June, the ship was transferred to reserve at the Nore.[29] On 16 March 1937, Thruster was sold to Thos. W. Ward to be broken up at Grays.[30]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number Date
F74September 1917[31]
F76January 1918[32]
G81January 1919[33]
H73January 1922[34]

References

Citations
  1. Preston 1985, p. 81.
  2. Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  3. Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 107.
  4. Manning & Walker 1959, p. 448.
  5. "Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: II — Harwich Force". The Monthly Navy List: 13. July 1917. Retrieved 14 April 2018 – via National Library of Scotland.
  6. Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, p. 379.
  7. Newbolt 1931, p. 45.
  8. Newbolt 1931, p. 47.
  9. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, p. 178.
  10. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, pp. 179–180.
  11. "ADM 137/3718 Collision between HMS THRUSTER and HMS SKILFUL". The National Archives. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  12. Messimer 2002, p. 173.
  13. Newbolt 1931, p. 363.
  14. "Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: II.–Harwich Force". The Navy List: 13. December 1918. Retrieved 14 April 2018 – via National Library of Scotland.
  15. "Thruster". The Navy List: 873. August 1920. Retrieved 14 April 2018 – via National Library of Scotland.
  16. "Thruster". The Navy List: 274. July 1931.
  17. Hackmann 1984, p. 189.
  18. "Naval and Military: West Coast Cruise". The Times. No. 44624. 4 July 1927. p. 27.
  19. "Submarine R4 In Collision". The Times. No. 44849. 23 March 1928. p. 14.
  20. "Afghan King With The Fleet: A Display of Mimic Warfare". The Times. No. 44859. 4 April 1928. p. 9.
  21. "Naval, Military, And Air Force: Anti-Submarine Cruise". The Times. No. 45249. 8 July 1928. p. 9.
  22. "Naval, Military, And Air Force: Anti-Submarine Cruise". The Times. No. 45530. 4 July 1930. p. 28.
  23. "Submarine Missing". The Times. No. 46041. 27 January 1932. p. 10.
  24. McDonald 1972, p. 258.
  25. "The Services Royal Navy: Manning Changes". The Times. No. 46401. 24 May 1933. p. 27.
  26. "ADM 116/3038 British position in the event of war". The National Archives. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  27. Brown 2004, p. 27.
  28. "The Services Royal Navy: Destroyers Returning Home". The Times. No. 47354. 21 April 1936. p. 19.
  29. "The Services Royal Navy: Destroyer Changes". The Times. No. 47388. 30 May 1936. p. 8.
  30. Colledge & Warlow 2010, p. 350.
  31. Dittmar, Colledge & 1972, p. 70.
  32. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 51.
  33. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 67.
  34. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 75.

Bibliography
  • Brown, David (2004). Road to Oran: Anglo-French Naval Relations, September 1939 – July 1980. London: Frank Cass. ISBN 978-0-71465-461-4.
  • 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 (2010). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Haverhill: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
  • 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.
  • Hackmann, Willem (1984). Seek & Strike: Sonar, Anti-Submarine Warfare and the Royal Navy 1914-54. London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11290-423-6.
  • Manning, Thomas Davys; Walker, Charles Frederick (1959). British Warship Names. London: Putnam. OCLC 780274698.
  • McDonald, Kendall (1972). The Wreck Detectives. London: Harrap. ISBN 9780245508998. OCLC 654722281.
  • Messimer, Dwight R. (2002). Verschollen: World War I U-boat Losses. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-475-3.
  • Monograph No. 34: Home Waters Part VIII: December 1916 to April 1917 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XVIII. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1933.
  • Monograph No. 35: Home Waters Part IX: 1st May 1917 to 31st July 1917 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XIX. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1939.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. History of the Great War. Vol. V. 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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