HMS Mystic was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the previous L-class destroyer, capable of higher speed. The vessel, originally named HMS Myrtle but renamed before being launched in 1915, joined the Grand Fleet and acted part of the screen for the battleships of the 2nd Battle Squadron as they sought battle with the German High Seas Fleet. The largest confrontation between the two fleets was the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Mystic participated in the battle as part of the destroyer screen, attacking the German battle line as the evening fell, but recorded no hits. After the Armistice that marked the end of the First World War, Mystic was placed in reserve before being decommissioned and sold to be broken up in 1921.

Sister ship HMS Marmion
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Mystic
Ordered	September 1914
Builder	William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton
Yard number	1029
Laid down	27 October 1914
Launched	20 June 1915
Completed	11 November 1915
Out of service	8 November 1921
Fate	Sold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and type	Admiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement	994 long tons (1,010 t) (normal) 1,025 long tons (1,041 t) (full load)
Length	265 ft (80.8 m) (o.a.)
Beam	26 ft 7 in (8.1 m)
Draught	8 ft 7 in (2.6 m)
Installed power	3 Yarrow boilers, 25,000 shp (19,000 kW)
Propulsion	Parsons steam turbines, 3 shafts
Speed	34 knots (39.1 mph; 63.0 km/h)
Range	3,450 nmi (6,390 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement	76
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

Mystic was one of sixteen Admiralty M-class destroyer destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in September 1914 as part of the First 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 (80.8 m) long overall, with a beam of 26 ft 7 in (8.1 m) and a draught of 8 ft 7 in (2.6 m). displacement was 994 long tons (1,010 t) normal and 1,025 long tons (1,041 t) full load.[3] Power was provided by three Yarrow 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).[4] Three funnels were fitted. The vessel carried 296 long tons (301 t) of fuel oil, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph).[5]

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 gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[6] The ship had a complement of 76 officers and ratings.[5] On 12 July 1917, the destroyer was fitted with a kite balloon to spot submarines.[7]

Construction and career

Laid down by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton at their shipyard on 27 October 1914 with the yard number 1029, Mystic was launched on 20 June the following year and completed on 11 November. The vessel was originally to be named Myrtle but was renamed before being launched.[8] The ship was the first of the name in naval service.[9] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla.[10] The destroyer took part in a large naval exercise, involving four flotillas of the Grand Fleet as well as the Harwich Force, on 26 and 27 February 1916.[11] The vessel subsequently took part in a number of sweeps, looking for the German fleet, including a large operation on 21 April which involved battleships from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battle Squadrons. None of these led to a confrontation with the German fleet until the Battle of Jutland.[12]

The Battle of Jutland, the only major confrontation between the Royal Navy and the German High Seas Fleet took place between 30 May and 1 June 1916.[13] The destroyer formed part of the flotilla that initially accompanied the 2nd Battle Squadron from Cromarty until they joined the main battlefleet.[14] The flotilla then formed close to the dreadnought battleship King George V as the two fleets converged on 31 May.[15] The destroyer avoided being in much of the fray until late in battle. However, as evening fell, Mystic took advantage of a smoke screen laid by the German destroyers to loose a torpedo at the German fleet, but this missed.[16] Two hours later, the flotilla saw a line of unknown vessels ahead. The cruiser Castor, ahead, opened fire, obscuring the ships from the destroyer. Despite being blinded, Mystic launched a torpedo but missed, losing a second opportunity to attack the main German fleet.[17]

After the Armistice and the end of the First World War, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of operational capacity and both the number of ships and the amount of personnel needed to be reduced to save money.[18] Mystic was initially placed in reserve at Devonport.[19] The destroyer was decommissioned and, on 8 November 1921, was sold to Slough TC to be broken up in Germany.[20]

Pennant numbers

References

Citations

Bibliography