HMS Electra (1896)

HMS Electra was a Clydebank-built, three-funnelled, 30-knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1895–1896 Naval Estimates. She was the fourth ship to carry this name since it was introduced in 1806 for a 16-gun brig-sloop.[3][4]

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Electra.

History
United Kingdom
NameElectra
Ordered1895 – 1896 Naval Estimates
BuilderJ & G Thompson, Clydebank
Laid down18 October 1895
Launched14 July 1896
CommissionedJuly 1900
Out of serviceLaid up in reserve 1919
Fate29 April 1920 sold to Barking Ship Breaking Company for breaking
General characteristics
Class and typeClydebank three-funnel, 30-knot destroyer[1][2]
Displacement
  • 380 long tons (386 t) standard
  • 425 long tons (432 t) full load
  • 214 ft (65 m) o/a
  • 20 ft (6.1 m) Beam
  • 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) Draught
Propulsion
Speed30 kn (56 km/h)
Range
  • 80 tons coal
  • 1,465 nmi (2,713 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement63 officers and men
Armament
Service record
Operations: World War I 1914 – 1918

In 1913 she was grouped along with similar vessels as a C-class destroyer.

Construction

She was laid down as yard number 289 on 18 October 1895, at J & G Thompson shipyard in Clydebank, and launched on 14 July 1896. During her builder's trials, she had problems attaining her contract speed. Her hull was lengthened by 4 feet (1 m), then she made her contract speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). She was completed and accepted by the Royal Navy in July 1900.[3][4]

Service

After commissioning Electra was assigned to the Chatham Division of the Harwich Flotilla. She was deployed in home waters for her entire service life. On 1 January 1901 she was commissioned by Lieutenant Bertram Sutton Evans as part of the Portsmouth instructional flotilla, taking the place and crew from HMS Star,[5] but he was succeeded in command only two weeks later by Lieutenant Cecil Dacre Staveley Raikes.[6] In June 1902 she took the place of HMS Fervent in the Portsmouth instructional flotilla,[7] under the command of Lieutenant Rowland Henry Bather,[8] but he transferred to HMS Lightning after two months.[9] The destroyer took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.[10]

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyer classes were to be designated by letters. Since her design speed was 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and she had three funnels, she was assigned with vessels built to the same specification as the C class. After 30 September 1913, she was known as a C-class destroyer and had the letter ‘C’ painted on the hull below the bridge area and on either the fore or aft funnel.[11]

In 1914 she was in active commission at the Nore based at Sheerness tendered to HMS Actaeon, a Royal Navy training establishment. With the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 she was assigned to the Nore Local Flotilla. Her duties included anti-submarine and counter-mining patrols in the Thames Estuary.

In 1919 she was paid off and laid-up in reserve awaiting disposal. She was sold on 29 April 1920 to Barking Ship Breaking Company for breaking.[12]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number[12]FromTo
N556 Dec 19141 Sep 1915
D521 Sep 19151 Jan 1918
D311 Jan 191829 Apr 1920

References
  1. Jane, Fred T. (1969) [1905]. Jane's Fighting Ships 1905. New York: first published by Sampson Low Marston, London 1905, reprinted ARCO Publishing Company. p. 77.
  2. Jane, Fred T. (1990) [1919, reprinted]. Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I. Jane’s Publishing © 1919. p. 77. ISBN 1-85170-378-0.
  3. Jane, Fred T. (1969) [1898, sampson Low Marston, London]. Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships 1898. New York: ARCO Publishing Company. pp. 84 to 85.
  4. Jane, Fred T. (1990) [1919, reprinted]. Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I. Jane’s Publishing. p. 76. ISBN 1-85170-378-0.
  5. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36340. London. 1 January 1901. p. 12.
  6. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36348. London. 10 January 1901. p. 8.
  7. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36788. London. 7 June 1902. p. 9.
  8. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36794. London. 14 June 1902. p. 9.
  9. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36839. London. 6 August 1902. p. 8.
  10. "The Coronation – Naval Review". The Times. No. 36845. London. 13 August 1902. p. 4.
  11. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway Maritime Press. 2006 [1985, reprinted 1986, 1997, 2002, 2006]. pp. 17–19. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  12. ""Arrowsmith" List – Part 1 Destroyer Prototypes through "River" Class". Retrieved 1 June 2013.

Bibliography
  • Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0380-7.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: 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 0-85177-245-5.
  • Lyon, David (2001) [1996]. The First Destroyers. London: Caxton Editions. ISBN 1-84067-3648.
  • Manning, T. D. (1961). The British Destroyer. London: Putnam & Co. OCLC 6470051.
  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
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