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HMS Spindrift was an Admiralty S-class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy during the twentieth century. The S class was a development of the R class created during the First World War as a cheaper alternative to the V and W class. Launched in 1918 shortly after Armistice that ended the war With this came a need to reduce the number of ships on active service, In 1920, the destroyer was reduced to reserve at Devonport. Following the signing of the London Naval Treaty in 1930, the destroyer was retired and, in 1934, sold to be broken up.

Design and development

Spindrift was one of 33 Admiralty S-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty on 7 April 1917 as part of the Eleventh War Construction Programme. The design was a development of the R class introduced at the same time as, and as a cheaper and faster alternative to, the V and W class. Differences with the R class were minor, such as having the searchlight moved aft and being designed to mount an additional pair of torpedo tubes.

The destroyer had a overall length of 276 ft (84 m) and a length of 265 ft (81 m) between perpendiculars. Beam was 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) and mean draught 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m). Displacement was 1,075 long tons (1,092 t) normal and 1,221 long tons (1,241 t) deep load. Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Parsons geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) at normal loading and 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph) at deep load. Two funnels were fitted. A full load of 301 long tons (306 t) of fuel oil was carried, which gave a design range of 2,750 nautical miles (5,090 km; 3,160 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

Armament consisted of three QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline. One was mounted raised on the forecastle, one on a platform between the funnels, and one aft. The destroyer mounted a single 2-pounder 40 mm (1.6 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun for air defence. Four 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes were carried in two twin rotating mounts aft. Four depth charge chutes were also fitted aft. Initially, typically ten depth charges were carried. The ship was designed to mount two additional 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes either side of the superstructure but this required the forecastle plating to be cut away, causing excess water to come aboard at sea, so they were not carried. The weight saved enabled the heavier Mark V 21-inch torpedo to be carried. Fire control included a training-only director, single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock. Spindrift was retired and, on 28 July 1934, the destroyer was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Inverkeithing to be broken up.

Pennant numbers

References

Citations

1. ^ Preston 1985, p. 85.
2. Friedman 2009, p. 169.
3. ^ March 1966, p. 221.
4. Friedman 2009, p. 297.
5. ^ Preston 1985, p. 84.
6. Friedman 2009, p. 163.
7. Friedman 2009, p. 236.
8. Friedman 2009, p. 146.
9. "828a SPINDRIFT (Dev)". The Navy List: 866. January 1921. Retrieved 26 December 2024 – via National Library of Scotland.
10. Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 329.
11. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 62.
12. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 79.
13. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 75.

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: a complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th century to the present. London: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-85367-566-9.
• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
• March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
• 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 S-class destroyers
Admiralty S	Royal Navy Simoom Scimitar Tribune Scotsman Senator Shark Scythe Scout Sikh Sparrowhawk Sepoy Tilbury Success Seabear Sirdar Seraph Splendid Trojan Swallow Tactician Steadfast Tintagel Seafire Shamrock Trinidad Somme Searcher Serapis Truant Sportive Sabre Sterling Tara Tenedos Stalwart Seawolf Thanet Trusty Spear Strenuous Tasmania Serene Swordsman Tattoo Sesame Spindrift Saladin Stonehenge Stronghold Sardonyx Turbulent Stormcloud Sturdy Shikari Thracian Saturn Sycamore  Royal Australian Navy Stalwart Success Swordsman Tasmania Tattoo  Imperial Japanese Navy Patrol Boat No. 101 (ex-Thracian)
Thornycroft S	Royal Navy Torbay Speedy Tobago Toreador Tourmaline  Royal Canadian Navy Champlain (ex-Torbay) Vancouver (ex-Toreador)
Yarrow S	Royal Navy Torch Tomahawk Tryphon Tumult Turquoise Tuscan Tyrian
X Cancelled
Preceded by: R class Followed by: Talisman class
List of destroyer classes of the Royal Navy