HMS Tourmaline (1919)

Tourmaline was one of three S-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty from Thornycroft in June 1917 as part of the Twelfth War Construction Programme.[1] The design was based on the R-class destroyer Rosalind built by the shipyard. Compared to the standard S-class vessels, the design, also known as Modified Rosalind, was longer, with a raised forward gun position and 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes moved to a new position, both of which improved seakeeping.[2] In a similar way to previous designs, Thornycroft also installed more powerful machinery to give the warship a higher top speed. This also enabled a more stable hull design with a greater beam and a metacentric height of 2 ft 10 in (0.86 m).[3]

Tourmaline had a long overall of 275 ft 9 in (84.05 m) between and a length of 266 ft 9 in (81.31 m) between perpendiculars. Beam was 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m) and draught 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m).[4] Displacement was 1,087 long tons (1,104 t) normal and 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) full load. Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 29,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) in light load and 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) at full load. Two funnels were fitted, the forward one larger in diameter. 250 tons of oil were carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). Complement was 90 officers and ratings.[1]

Armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline.[4] One was mounted raised on the forecastle, one between the funnels and one aft.[5] The ship also mounted a single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun for air defence. A total of six torpedoes were fitted, consisting of four 21 in (533 mm) tubes in two twin rotating mounts aft and two 18 in (457 mm) tubes on fixed mounts fitted athwartships.[1] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock.[6]

Laid down in January 1918, Tourmaline was launched on 19 April 1919.[7] On completion on 18 December that year, the ship joined the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla of the Atlantic Fleet under the C-class light cruiser Castor.[8] As part of fleet led by Iron Duke, the ship was assigned to Constantinople as part of a wider presence to represent British interests in the conflicts in the Black Sea.[9] The fleet was soon in action in support the Volunteer Army fighting in the Southern Front of the Russian Civil War.[10] For the destroyers, this often involved operations close to the coast in areas were the risks were highest. For example, while Tourmaline and sistership Tobago patrolled the area of the Black Sea between Novorossiysk and Tuapse between 1 and 10 November 1920, Tobago was fatally crippled after striking a mine.[11]

Soon afterwards, Tourmaline was also damaged. When departing Portland on 17 January 1921 to rejoin the Fleet, the destroyer collided with the Yarrow-built S-class destroyer Turquiose and had to instead sail to Portsmouth for repairs.[12] Soon afterwards, the Flotilla was allocated to the Mediterranean Fleet. The destroyer formed part of a fleet part of the Royal Navy’s presence in the Greco-Turkish War.[13] The ship was allocated to Constantinople and patrolled the areas around the Sea of Marmara[14] It was while on this service that the ship took on the survivors from sistership Speedy when that vessel sank on 24 September 1922 with the loss of ten lives.[15] Following the end of this operation, on 15 May 1926, Tourmaline was recommissioned in Gibraltar to lead the Local Defence Flotilla.[16] On 22 April 1930, the London Naval Treaty was signed which limited total destroyer tonnage in the Navy.[17] Tourmaline was one of those chosen to be retired and, on 28 November 1931, the destroyer was sold to Thos W Ward and broken up at Grays.[18]