HMS ''Lapwing'' was an ''Acheron''-class destroyer of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

that served during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and was sold for breaking in 1921. She was the seventh

ship to be named after ''Vanellus vanellus'', the

northern lapwing The northern lapwing (''Vanellus vanellus''), also known as the peewit or pewit, tuit or tew-it, green plover, or (in Ireland and Britain) pyewipe or just lapwing, is a bird in the lapwing subfamily. It is common through temperate Eurosiberia. ...

Construction

She was built under the 1910-11 shipbuilding programme by Cammell Laird and Company of

Birkenhead Birkenhead (; cy, Penbedw) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England; historically, it was part of Cheshire until 1974. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the south bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liver ...

. She had three Parsons turbines, and three Yarrows boilers. Capable of 27 knots, she carried two 4-inch guns, other smaller guns and two 21 inch (533 mm)

torpedo A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, su ...

tubes and had a complement of 72 men. She was launched on 29 September 1911.

Pennant Numbers

Career

Pre-War

''Lapwing'' served with the

First Destroyer Flotilla The 1st Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as the First Destroyer Flotilla, was a naval formation of the British Royal Navy from 1909 to 1940 and again from 1947 to 1951. History Pre-war history In May 1906, the First Destroyer Flotilla was at ...

from 1911 and, with her flotilla, joined the

British Grand Fleet The Grand Fleet was the main battlefleet of the Royal Navy during the First World War. It was established in August 1914 and disbanded in April 1919. Its main base was Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. History Formed in August 1914 from the ...

in 1914 on the outbreak of World War I.

The Battle of Heligoland Bight

She was present with First Destroyer Flotilla on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, led by the light cruiser ''Fearless'', and shared in the prize money for the battle. When HMS ''Laertes'' was seriously damaged and stopped in the water, ''Lapwing'' went to her aid under heavy fire. Lieutenant Commander Gye manoeuvred to pass a tow, but in getting underway the towing hawser parted. ''Laertes'' was saved only by the arrival of the battle cruiser ''Lion''.

The Battle of Dogger Bank

On 24 January 1915, the First Destroyer Flotilla, including ''Lapwing'', were present at the Battle of Dogger Bank, led by the light cruiser ''Aurora''. Her crew shared in the Prize Money for the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

armoured cruiser ''Blücher''.

The Battle of Jutland

''Lapwing'', under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Alexander Gye, was present with her flotilla at the

Battle of Jutland The Battle of Jutland (german: Skagerrakschlacht, the Battle of the Skagerrak) was a naval battle fought between Britain's Royal Navy Grand Fleet, under Admiral John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, Sir John Jellicoe, and the Imperial German Navy ...

on 31 May 1916.

Mediterranean Service

From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. She later took part in the Battle of Jaffa and was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.

Disposal

In common with the survivors of her class, she was laid up after World War I, and on 26 October 1921 she was sold to the Barking Ship Breaking Company for scrap.

References

External links

*
Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project - HMS Lapwing Crew List
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapwing (1911) Acheron-class destroyers World War I destroyers of the United Kingdom Ships built on the River Mersey 1911 ships