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HMS Medway was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the previous Laforey-class, capable of higher speed. Originally laid down as HMS Redwing by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the vessel was renamed before being launched on 8 March 1916. The vessel was allocated to the Grand Fleet and served in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in support of the First Light Cruiser Squadron in their action against German light cruisers and minesweepers. During the action, the ship did not record any hits. After the War, the destroyer was placed in reserve and subsequently sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

Sistership HMS Oracle
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Medway
NamesakeRiver Medway
OrderedMay 1915
BuilderJ. Samuel White, East Cowes
Yard numberNovember 1915
Launched19 April 1916
Completed2 August 1916
Out of service9 May 1921
FateBroken up
General characteristics
Class and typeAdmiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 994 long tons (1,010 t) (normal)
  • 1,028 long tons (1,044 t) (full load)
Length265 ft (80.8 m)
Beam26 ft 7 in (8.1 m)
Draught8 ft 7 in (2.6 m)
Installed power3 White-Forster boilers, 25,000 shp (19,000 kW)
PropulsionParsons steam turbines, 3 shafts
Speed34 kn (39.1 mph; 63.0 km/h)
Range3,450 nmi (6,390 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement76
Armament
  • 3 × single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns
  • 1 × single 2-pdr 40 mm (2 in) AA gun
  • 2 × twin 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes

Design and development


Medway was one of eighteen Admiralty M-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in May 1915 as part of the Fifth 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 remit was to have a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) and, although the eventual design did not achieve this, the greater performance was appreciated by the navy. It transpired that the German ships did not exist.[2]

The destroyer was 265 feet (80.77 m) long overall, with a beam of 26 feet 7 inches (8.10 m) and a draught of 8 feet 7 inches (2.62 m). displacement was 994 long tons (1,010 t) normal and 1,028 long tons (1,044 t) full load.[1] Power was provided by three White-Forster boilers feeding Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and driving three shafts, to give a design speed of 34 kn (63 km/h; 39 mph).[3] The destroyer achieved 35.5 kn (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph) during trials.[1] 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).[4]

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 middle and aft funnels. A single 2-pounder 40 mm (2 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[5] The ship had a complement of 76 officers and ratings.[4]


Construction and career


Redwing was laid down by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 2 November 1915 with the yard number 1468, and launched on 19 April 1916.[6] The ship was completed on 30 June 1916 and joined the Grand Fleet.[7] By this time, the ship's name had already been changed twice, initially to Medora and then subsequently Medway.[8] The final name was in honour of the river in South East England.[9] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla based at Scapa Flow.[10]

At the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November 1917, the destroyer was one of two, the other being the more modern Vendetta, screening the First Light Cruiser Squadron as they sought to destroy a flotilla of German minesweepers.[11] The Squadron engaged with the German light cruisers Frankfurt, Königsberg, Nürnberg and Pillau, but the destroyer scored no hits.[12] This proved to be the last involvement by the class in a major battle during the conflict.[13] The vessel was transferred to Buncrana with the Second Destroyer Flotilla during the last year of the war.[14]

After the armistice, Medway was transferred Portsmouth.[15] However, this was a temporary post and during the following year, the destroyer was moved to the local defence flotilla at Portland, operating with a reserve complement.[16] As the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of mobilisation, surplus vessels were culled, and so, on 9 May 1921, Medway was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Milford Haven and subsequently broken up.[8]


Pennant numbers


Pennant Number Date
G76September 1915[17]
F01January 1917[18]
G2AMarch 1918[19]
G00January 1919[20]

References



Citations


  1. McBride 1991, p. 46.
  2. Friedman 2009, p. 132.
  3. Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 109.
  4. Friedman 2009, p. 296.
  5. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 79.
  6. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 86.
  7. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 36.
  8. Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 211.
  9. Manning & Walker 1959, p. 292.
  10. Naval Staff Monograph No. 7 1921, p. 259.
  11. Newbolt 1931, p. 169.
  12. Newbolt 1931, p. 171,176.
  13. McBride 1991, p. 49.
  14. "Coast of Ireland Station", Supplement to the Monthly Navy List, p. 17, January 1918, retrieved 7 November 2020 via National Library of Scotland
  15. "Vessels at Home Ports Temporarily", Supplement to the Monthly Navy List, p. 20, January 1919, retrieved 7 November 2020 via National Library of Scotland
  16. "Local Defence and Training Establishments", The Navy List, p. 705, October 1919, retrieved 7 November 2020 via National Library of Scotland
  17. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 67.
  18. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 45.
  19. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 68.
  20. Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 61.

Bibliography





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