HMS Redgauntlet (1916)

HMS Redgauntlet was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy. Launched on 2 July 1916, the ship operated as part of the Harwich Force during World War I and then, after the War, with the Home Fleet. While taking part in an anti-submarine patrol on 21 May 1917, the ship struck a mine but, although severely damaged, was able to return to England for repairs. Subsequently, the destroyer joined the anti-submarine school at Portsmouth before being sold to be broken up on 16 December 1926 after less than ten years service.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Redgauntlet.
Two R-class destroyers, sistership HMS Rob Roy nearest
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Redgauntlet
Namesake: Redgauntlet
Builder: Denny, Dumbarton
Yard number: 1057
Laid down: 28 September 1915
Launched: 23 November 1916
Commissioned: 7 February 1917
Decommissioned: July 1927
Fate: Broken up
General characteristics
Class and type: R-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 975 long tons (991 t) normal
  • 1,222.5 long tons (1,242 t) deep load
Length: 265 ft (80.8 m) p.p.
Beam: 26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught: 8 ft 10 1⁄4 in (2.699 m)
Propulsion:
  • 3 Yarrow boilers
  • 2 geared Brown-Curtis steam turbines, 27,000 shp (20,000 kW)
Speed: 36 knots (41.4 mph; 66.7 km/h)
Range: 3,450 nmi (6,390 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement: 82
Armament:
  • 3 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mark IV guns, mounting P Mk. IX
  • 1 × single 2-pounder (40-mm) "pom-pom" Mk. II anti-aircraft gun
  • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2×2)
  • 2 × 14 in (356 mm) torpedo tubes (1×2)

Design and development
Main article: R-class destroyer

Redgauntlet was one of three R-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty from William Denny and Brothers on 17 July 1915 as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme at a cost of cost £159,200 each.[1] The destroyer was 265 feet (80.77 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m) and a draught of 8 feet 10 1⁄4 inches (2.70 m). Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,222 1⁄2 long tons (1,242 t) deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Three funnels were fitted. 296 long tons (301 t) of oil were carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[2] Complement was 82 officers and ratings.[3]

Armament consisted of three 4 in (100 mm) Mk IV QF guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the second and third funnels.[3] A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried. Torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes mounted aft and two individual tubes for 14 in (356 mm) torpedoes fixed on the beam.[2][4] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock.[5]

Construction and career

Redgauntlet was laid down by William Denny and Brothers at Dumbarton on the River Clyde in 30 September 1915 with the yard number 1057. Launching took place on 23 November 1916, the destroyer leaving the yard on 27 January and being delivered on 7 February 1917.[1]

On commissioning, Redgauntlet joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force.[6] The destroyer had an uneventful war, the only incident was when a British mine was struck on 21 May 1917 while on patrol looking for submarines and, although the damage severe, the ship returned to Sheerness for repairs and was soon back in service.[7]

At the dissolution of the Harwich Force after the War, Redgauntlet was reassigned to the 4th Destroyer Flotilla under King George V as part of the newly formed Home Fleet.[8] Subsequently, the ship was allocated to the anti-submarine school at Portsmouth and was involved in the development of ASDIC.[9] However, in 1923, the Navy decided to scrap many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels.[10] Redgauntlet was one of the destroyers chosen for retirement.[11] In July 1927, the destroyer was sold to King of Garston and scrapped.[12]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number Date
F.511917[13]
F.581917[14]
F.A41917[14]
F.971918[15]

References

Citations
  1. Lyon 1975, p. 1046.
  2. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  3. Parkes & Prendegast 1919, p. 107.
  4. Friedman 2009, p. 26.
  5. "Fire Control in H.M. Ships". The Technical History and Index: Alteration in Armaments of H.M. Ships during the War. 3 (23): 31. 1919.
  6. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, p. 297.
  7. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, p. 107.
  8. "II – Home Fleetjournal=The Navy List". October 1919: 703. Retrieved 3 June 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. Hackmann 1984, p. 147.
  10. Friedman 2009, p. 180.
  11. "Anti-Submarine Flotilla Changes". The Times (44280). 25 May 1926. p. 20.
  12. Colledge & Warlow 2010, p. 334.
  13. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 59.
  14. Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  15. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 69.

Bibliography
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2010). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Havertown: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • Hackmann, Willem (1984). Seek & Strike: Sonar, Anti-Submarine Warfare and the Royal Navy 1914-54. London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11290-423-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Halpern, Paul (2019). The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919-1929. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-91142-387-4.
  • Lyon, John (1975). The Denny List: Ship numbers 769-1273. Greenwich: National Maritime Museum. OCLC 614037892.
  • Monograph No. 35: Home Waters Part XIX: 1st May 1917 to 31st July 1917. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). XIX. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1939.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1919). Jane’s Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
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