The Admiralty M class were improved and faster versions of the preceding s.[1] They displaced 971LT. The ships had an overall length of 273feet, a beam of 26feet and a draught of 9feet. They were powered by three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of 25000shp and gave a maximum speed of 34kn. The ships carried a maximum of 237LT of fuel oil that gave them a range of 2100nmi at . The ships' complement was 76 officers and ratings.[2]
The ships were armed with three single QF 4adj=onNaNadj=on Mark IV guns and two QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) anti-aircraft guns. These latter guns were later replaced by a pair of QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns. The ships were also fitted with two above water twin mounts for 21inches torpedoes.[2]
Ophelia was ordered under the Third War Programme in November 1914 and laid down on 1 February 1915 by William Doxford & Sons at their shipyard in Sunderland. The ship was launched on 13 October and completed in May 1916.[3]
Ophelia was attached to the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Grand Fleet during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May/1 June 1916.[4] [5] Ophelia was one of four destroyers of the 4th Flotilla (the others were, and) that formed a screen for the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron.[6] The four destroyers engaged German ships which were carrying out a torpedo attack on the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. Ophelia fired one torpedo that missed its target, but was undamaged.[7]
After Jutland, Ophelia joined the newly established 14th Destroyer Flotilla, also part of the Grand Fleet.[8] On 10 September 1918, Ophelia was on patrol, with a Kite balloon deployed, when the observer in the balloon spotted the conning tower of a submarine. The submarine dived, but Ophelia dropped depth charges on the site of the submarine's submergence, which were rewarded by a large underwater explosion and a large oil slick. Ophelia had sunk the German submarine .[9]
By the end of the war, Ophelia had transferred to the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla.[10] [11] She was sold for breaking up to the Slough Trading Company on 11 November 1921.[12]
| Pennant Number | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| G03 | May 1916 | |
| G57 | January 1917 | |
| G58 | January 1918 | |
| GA9 | November 1918 |
. John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe . Battle of Jutland: 30th May to 1st June 1916: Official Despatches with Appendices. 1920. His Majesty's Stationery Office. London.