HMS Satyr (1916) explained
HMS Satyr was an
destroyer which served with the
Royal Navy during the First World War. Launched on 27 December 1916,
Satyr joined the
Harwich Force under the command of
Commander Hubert de Burgh. In 1917, the destroyer formed part of a force protecting the
monitors and in their bombardment of
Ostend. As part of this action,
Satyr, along with
sister ships, and, sank the German destroyer
S20. After the war, the ship served with the Torpedo School at the
Devonport. In 1923, the Navy decided to retire many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels and
Satyr was sold to be
broken up on 16 December 1926.
Design and development
Satyr was one of ten destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in December 1915 as part of the Seventh War Construction Programme. The design was generally similar to the preceding destroyers, but differed in having geared steam turbines, the central gun mounted differently and minor changes to improve seakeeping.
Satyr was 276feet long overall, with a beam of 26inchesft6inchesin (ftin) and a draught of 9feet. Displacement was 975LT normal and 1075LT deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Parsons geared steam turbines rated at 27000shp and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of . Three funnels were fitted. A total of of fuel oil was carried, giving a design range of at .
Armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the second and third funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin rotating mounts for 21inches torpedoes. The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.
Construction and career
Satyr was laid down at the William Beardmore and Company shipyard in Dalmuir during April 1916 with yard number 549, launched in December 1916 and completed on 2 February 1917. The destroyer cost £150,103 to build. On commissioning, Satyr joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force.[1] The commanding officer was Commander Hubert de Burgh.
On 4 June 1917, Satyr was deployed as part of a large group of 7 cruisers and 25 destroyers to protect the monitors and in their bombardment of the German held Belgian port of Ostend. Along with sister ships, and, Satyr sank the German destroyer S20. De Burgh received the Distinguished Service Order for his part in the action, particularly for saving the lives of seven of the crew of S20 while under fire.
Satyr remained part of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla at the end of the war,[2] but by February 1919, had been transferred to the Torpedo School at the Devonport.[3] In 1923, the Navy decided to scrap many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels. Satyr was one of those chosen to retire and was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Milford Haven on 16 December 1926 and broken up.
Pennant numbers
Pennant number!DateF51 | January 1917 |
F59 | January 1918 |
G52 | January 1919 |
H78 | Unknown |
|
References
Bibliography
- Book: Bush . Steve . Warlow . Ben . Pendant Numbers of the Royal Navy: A Complete History of the Allocation of Pendant Numbers to Royal Navy Warships & Auxiliaries . Barnsley . Seaforth Publishing . 2021 . 978-1-526793-78-2.
- Book: Colledge . J. J. . Ben . Warlow . Ships of the Royal Navy: a Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present . Chatham . London . 2006 . 978-1-85367-566-9.
- Book: Dittmar. F.J.. Colledge. J.J.. British Warships 1914–1919. 1972. Ian Allan. Shepperton. 978-0-71100-380-4.
- Book: Dunn, Steve. Securing the Narrow Sea: The Dover Patrol 1914 - 1918. Seaforth Publishing. Barnsley. 2017. 978-1-84832-251-6.
- Book: Friedman, Norman. British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. 2009. Seaforth Publishing. Barnsley, UK. 978-1-84832-049-9.
- Book: Johnston, Ian . Beardmore Built: the rise and fall of a Clydeside shipyard . Clydebank . Clydebank District Libraries & Museums Department . 1993 . 978-0-90693-805-8.
- Book: March, Edgar J.. British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. 1966. Seeley Service. London . 164893555.
- Book: Newbolt, Henry . Naval Operations: Volume V . History of the Great War . London . Longmans, Green and Co . 1931 . 220475309.
- Book: Parkes . Oscar . Prendergast . Maurice . Jane's Fighting Ships 1919 . David & Charles . Newton Abbott . 1969 . 907574860.
- Book: Preston, Antony . Great Britain and Empire Forces . 1–104 . Gardiner . Robert . Gray . Randal . Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 . Conway Maritime Press . London . 1985 . 978-0-85177-245-5.
Notes and References
- Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: II — Harwich Force. The Navy List. January 1917. 13. 22 April 2017.
- Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: II.–Harwich Force. The Navy List. December 1918. 13. 22 April 2017.
- Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: VI.–Local Defence and Minesweeping Flotillas and Training Establishments. The Navy List. February 1919. 17. 22 April 2017.