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HMS Sybille was the a Yarrow Later M-class destroyer, or Yarrow R-class destroyer that served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The Later M class was an improvement on those of the preceding Yarrow M class, with a narrower beam. Launched in 1917, Sybille joined the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force. The flotilla was asked with escorting convoys across the North Sea. The destroyer also escorted the monitors Erebus and Terror in their bombardment of Ostend in 1917 and took part in a sortie in 1917 led by the the destroyer leader Montrose. After the Armistice that ended the war, the destroyer was initially placed in reserve and participated in a naval review in 1924, before being sold to be broken up in 1926.

Design and development

As the First World War progressed, the Royal Navy required more, and more modern, warships. In July 1915, within the Sixth War Programme, the British Admiralty ordered four vessels from Yarrow Shipbuilders as part of a wider order of R-class destroyers. The R class was generally similar to the preceding M class, but differed in, primarily, in having geared steam turbines. The Yarrow-built ships differed in retaining the direct drive turbines of the M class and are therefore often called the Yarrow Later M class. They were similar to the preceding Yarrow M class but distinguished by their greater tonnage, narrower beam and sloping sterns. Sybille was the last of the class to be launched.

Sybille had a length of 273 ft 6 in (83.4 m) overall, with a beam of 25 ft 7.5 in (7.8 m) and draught of 9 ft (2.7 m). Displacement was 930 long tons (940 t) normal. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons direct-drive steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW). The turbines drove two shafts and exhausted through two funnels. Design speed was 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). In trials, the destroyer achieved 39,117 kn (72,445 km/h; 45,015 mph) at a displacement of 780 long tons (790 t).} Between 215 and 260 long tons (218 and 264 t) of oil was carried. Design range was 1,860 nautical miles (3,440 km; 2,140 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.

Sybille had a main armament consisting of three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft and one between the middle and aft funnels. Torpedo armament consisted of two twin torpedo tubes for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes located aft of the funnels. A single 2-pdr 40 mm (1.6 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun was carried. The destroyer was also fitted with racks and storage for depth charges. Initially, only two depth charges were carried but the number increased in service and by 1918, the vessel was carrying between 30 and 50 depth charges.

Construction and career

Sybille was laid down by Yarrow at their shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow, in August 1915, launched on 5 February 1917 and completed during the same month. The ship was the fifth of the name in service with the Royal Navy, named after Sibylle, the French form of a name for a female oracle in classical antiquity. The vessel was deployed as part of the Harwich Force, joining the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla. The flotilla was involved in supporting the convoys that crossed the North Sea.

On 4 June 1917, the destroyer formed part of the escort for the monitors Erebus and Terror in their bombardment of Ostend. Out of the 115 shells fired, 20 hit the dockyard or nearby. This was to be the last such attack for many months. Between 16 and 17 October 1917, the destroyer was called upon to be part of a large force of 84 warships sent out to search for a German fleet based around a minelayer, although Sybille saw no action. On 1 October 1918, the ship took part in a flotilla led by the destroyer leader Montrose that sailed to intercept retreating German forces, but did not find any. This was one of the final voyages undertaken by the Harwich Force during the war.

References

Citations

1. Friedman 2009, p. 157.
2. Friedman 2009, p. 326.
3. Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 106.
4. ^ Cocker 1981, p. 39.
5. Friedman 2009, p. 310.
6. ^ Preston 1985, p. 76.
7. March 1966, p. 153.
8. March 1966, p. 151.
9. Friedman 2009, p. 151.
10. Friedman 2009, p. 152.
11. Friedman 2009, p. 429.
12. Manning & Walker 1959, p. 429.
13. "II— Harwich Force", Supplement to The Monthly Navy List, p. 13, April 1917, retrieved 10 December 2024 – via National Library of Scotland
14. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, p. 4.
15. Newbolt 1931, p. 45.
16. Newbolt 1931, p. 47.
17. Newbolt 1931, pp. 151–152.
18. Newbolt 1931, p. 363.

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.
• Cocker, Maurice (1981). Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893–1981. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71101-075-8.
• Colledge, James Joseph; 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.
• 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.
• Monograph No. 35: Home Waters—Part IX.: 1st May, 1917 to 31st July, 1917 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XIX. The 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 (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.

v t e M-class destroyers
Royal Navy	Admiralty M class Murray Myngs Matchless Milne Morris Moorsom Negro Mandate Mons Michael Marmion Marne Mystic Martial Milbrook Prince Pylades Maenad Mameluke Mindful Nessus Magic Minion Opal Manners Marvel Mary Rose Ossory Mischief Menace Moresby Opportune Munster Noble Napier Onslaught Nonsuch Nestor Oracle Narwhal Nepean Nicator Nomad Onslow Nereus Narborough Pigeon Plover Partridge Medina Pelican Norman Orestes Petard Paladin Nizam Penn Pasley Medway Orford Plucky Observer Peyton Pellew Nonpareil Peregrine Offa Orpheus Octavia Parthian Northesk Oriole Portia Norseman Osiris Oberon Orcadia Oriana Ophelia Pheasant Obedient North Star Phoebe Obdurate Nugent Hawthorn M class Mentor Mansfield Thornycroft M class Meteor Mastiff Patriot Patrician Rapid Ready Yarrow M class Miranda Minos Manly Moon Morning Star Mounsey Musketeer Nerissa Relentless Rival Yarrow Later M class Sabrina Strongbow Surprise Sybille Truculent Tyrant Ulleswater
Royal Canadian Navy	Thornycroft M class Patriot Patrician
Preceded by: Laforey class Followed by: R class
List of destroyer classes of the Royal Navy

v t e R-class destroyers
Royal Navy	Admiralty R class Romola Sarpedon Radstock Raider Sable Rowena Rocket Restless Setter Rob Roy Sorceress Starfish Rigorous Salmon / Sable Redoubt Simoom Stork Sylph Redgauntlet Recruit Satyr Thruster Skate Sturgeon Tempest Skilful Torrid Sharpshooter Thisbe Springbok Tarpon Sceptre Tetrarch Telemachus Tenacious Tormentor Tancred Tornado Torrent Modified Admiralty R class Trenchant Tristram Undine Ulysses Tower Tirade Urchin Umpire Ursa Ursula Ulster Thornycroft R class Rosalind Radiant Retriever Taurus Teazer Yarrow R class or Yarrow Later M class Sabrina Strongbow Surprise Sybille Truculent Tyrant Ulleswater
Royal Thai Navy	Thornycroft R class Phra Ruang (ex-Radiant)
Preceded by: Admiralty M class Followed by: Admiralty S class
List of destroyer classes of the Royal Navy

• 1917 ships
• Ships built on the River Clyde
• World War I destroyers of the United Kingdom
• Yarrow Later M-class destroyers