HMS Speedy (1918)

HMS ''Speedy'' was a Thornycroft destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War, Russian Civil War and the Greco-Turkish War. ''Speedy'' was one of a pair of destroyers ordered from Thornycroft with more powerful geared turbines and design changes like a raised forecastle that improved seakeeping. Launched on 1 June 1918, the vessel operated as part of the 12th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet for the last months the War. After the Armistice, the vessel joined the Mediterranean Fleet and took part in actions in the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara. It was during action there that the ship struck a tug on 24 September 1922. The collision sank the destroyer, killing ten sailors.

Design and development

''Speedy'' was one of two destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty from Thornycroft in April 1917 as part of the Eleventh War Construction Programme alongside the similar . The design was based on the destroyer 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 torpedo tubes moved to a new position, both of which improved seakeeping. They also had provision for triple mounts for the main torpedo tubes. 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 .

''Speedy'' had a long overall of between and a length of between perpendiculars. Beam was and draught . Displacement was normal and full load. Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of in light load and at full load. Two funnels were fitted, the forward one larger in diameter. The ship carried of fuel oil, giving a design range of at .

Armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline. One was mounted raised on the forecastle, one between the funnels and one aft. The ship also mounted a single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun for air defence. Four torpedoes were fitted in two triple rotating mounts aft with two fitted athwartships. The ship's complement was 90 officers and ratings.

Construction and career

Laid down in May 1917, ''Speedy'' was launched on 1 June 1918 and completed on 14 August that year. For the remainder of the War, the destroyer served in the 12th Destroyer Flotilla. Like many of the class the destroyer was moved to reserve at the end of the conflict.

''Speedy'' was recommissioned on 22 February 1919 and assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet under . As part of fleet led by , the ship was assigned to Constantinople to enforce British interests in the conflicts in the Black Sea. To this end, the ship was sent to support the Volunteer Army fighting in the Southern Front of the Russian Civil War, including providing gunfire support during the attack on Mariupol. ''Speedy'' was also involved in the evacuation of the High Commission for Southern Russia.

The destroyer also formed part of a fleet that supported Greek forces during the Greco-Turkish War. The action required the ships to avoid casualties as much as possible, which meant that, for example, in the Gulf of Gemlik in July 1920, ''Speedy'' had to carefully provide support without firing on Turkish villages. Later, while serving during the Chanak Crisis on 24 September 1922, the destroyer collided with a Turkish tug in the Sea of Marmara near the Gulf. The damage was fatal and the ship sank taking ten crew. The survivors joined the slightly newer Thornycroft-built S-class destroyer under Lt. Cdr. Donal S. McGrath which was also serving in the area.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Speedy (1918)
1918 ships
Maritime incidents in 1922
S-class destroyers (1917)
Ships built by John I. Thornycroft & Company