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Revision as of 20:08, 27 December 2024 by Simongraham (talk | contribs) (Construction)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)HMS Stormcloud 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 after Armistice that ended the war, the ship was commissioned in 1920 and initially joined the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla before moving to the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in 1925. In 1927, the ship moved to Hong Kong and served to prevent piracy in the seas between Hong Kong and Saigon and also to rescue those who had suffered from pirates attacking their ships. Following the signing of the London Naval Treaty, the destroyer was retired and, in 1934, sold to be broken up.
Design and development
Main article: S-class destroyerStormcloud 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. The ship had a complement of 90 officers and ratings.
Construction and career
Laid down during the First World War by Palmers at their dockyard in Jarrow, Stormcloud, the first Royal Navy ship to be given the name, was launched on 30 May 1919 after the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war. The vessel was re-commissioned on 20 January 1920 with the crew of the R-class destroyer Retriever. Stormcloud joined the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla of the Atlantic Fleet based at Port Edgar, replacing Retriever.
Pennant numbers
| Pennant number | Date |
|---|---|
| D89 | January 1920 |
| H05 | January 1922 |
References
Citations
- ^ Preston 1985, p. 85.
- Friedman 2009, p. 169.
- ^ March 1966, p. 221.
- Friedman 2009, p. 297.
- ^ Preston 1985, p. 84.
- Friedman 2009, p. 163.
- Friedman 2009, p. 236.
- Friedman 2009, p. 146.
- Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 107.
- Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 334.
- Friedman 2009, p. 311.
- "839 Stormcloud". The Navy List: 867. April 1920. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 41.
- Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 70.
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.
| S-class destroyers | |||||
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| Admiralty S | |||||
| Thornycroft S |
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| Yarrow S |
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