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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

TORPEDO SHIPS

"R" destroyers (ROMOLA) (1916-1917)

Taurus 1917

Skate 1939

Project history: In July 1915 the Admiralty Board gave approval for all future destroyers to be engined with 2-shaft geared turbines, preferably Brown-Curtis. This far-sighted move was made only on the basis of the success of a year's service in Leonidas and Lucifer. The design for the next batch of destroyers was in other respects merely a duplication of the standard 'M' design, but with more flare and 0.3m more freeboard on the forecastle. Other improvements were to put the after 102mm gun on a 'bandstand', and a more robust bridge structure. The design which resulted was generally similar ro the war-built 'M' class, with three round funnels. Because the bridge was 2.7m wider than previously the 40mm pom-poms formerly mounted at the end of the forecastle could not be mounted, and so a single pom-pom replaced the 509mm searchlight on its platform between the TT. Some'M' and 'R'class vessels had 2 356mm TT (one fixed on each beam) subsequently added at the break of the forecastle. The geared turbines were a great success, providing high speed with less cavitation and reduced fuel consumption. The lead-ship Romola maintained 36kts for 4 hours in light condition, and on her acceptance trials reached 32.5kts in deep load condition. Comparative trials run between Romola and Norman showed that the 'R' class used 15% less fuel at 18kts and 28% less at25kts, resulting in an increase of 17.8% and 40% of range. The Yarrow 'specials' were the only units to retain direct-drive turbines. Oil fuel was also increased compared with the 'M' class.

Modernizations: Some destroyers after commission: + 2 - 356 TT (beam)

1917, Tarpon, Telemachus (temporarily till 1918): - 2 x 1 - 102/40, 2 x 2 - 533 TT; + rails for 60 mines.

late 1930s, Skate was converted to minelayer: - 1 x 1 - 102/40, 1 x 2 - 533 TT; + 40 mines

early 1940, Skate was converted to minesweeper for magnetic mines: - 1 x 1 - 102/40, 1 x 1 - 40/39, 1 x 2 - 533 TT, mines; + 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, magnetic minesweeping  gear

mid-1941, Skate was converted to escort destroyer: - 1 x 4 - 40/39, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, minesweeping gear; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (70 DC), type 286 radar, type 133 sonar; full displacement was 1360 t.

1942, Skate: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 271 radar

1/1946, Skate: 1 x 1 - 102/40 P Mk IX, 1 x 1 - 76/40 P Mk V, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (70), type 271, type 286 radars, type 133 sonar

Naval service: Strongbow was sunk 17.10.1917 by gunfire of German cruisers Bremse and Brummer off Norway, Simoom was torpedoed by German destroyer S50 in North sea 23.1.1917, Torrent and Tornado were mined in North sea 23.12.1917. Surprise was torpedoed by German submarine off Maas lightship 23.12.1917. Ulleswater was torpedoed by German submarine UC17 off Dutch coast 15.8.1918. Setter collided with destroyer Sylph off Harwich 17.5.1917 and sank.

Raider

Taurus

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15