Marksman-class flotilla leader explained

The Marksman class (sometimes known as Lightfoot class^[1]) were a class of flotilla leaders built for the Royal Navy. Two each were ordered in the naval programmes of 1913–14 and 1914–15 with a further three being ordered under the Emergency War Programme and all saw service during World War I.

Like other British flotilla leader designs, these ships were significantly larger than the typical destroyers of the day, in order to accommodate the flotilla staff ("Captain (D)" in Royal Navy parlance) and the necessary additional signalling gear. All ships had four funnels, the foremost being taller (although it was later cut down post-war in Nimrod and Abdiel). They were armed with four QF 4 inch guns. The guns were carried one each on the forecastle, between the first three funnels and on a bandstand on the quarterdeck. Abdiel and Gabriel were later fitted as fast minelayers, for which purposes they landed the after 4 inch gun and their torpedo tubes and were screened by canvas panels from the fourth funnel to the stern to give shelter to 60 to 70 mines. Nimrod and Kempenfelt later received QF 12 pdr (3 inch / 76 mm) 18 cwt anti aircraft guns in place of one of the QF 2 pdr.

Following the war-time trend to install director firing in ever-smaller vessels as resources permitted, Lightfoot was selected to serve as a test-bed for the Royal Navy's new training-only director firing system for flotilla leaders and destroyers in March 1917. By August, results obtained were favourable enough that it was decided to equip fully 203 other leaders and destroyers of "L" class and later.^[2]

Ships

Two were ordered under the 1913–14 Programme.

• — built by J. Samuel White, Cowes, laid down 9 June 1914, launched 28 May 1915, completed 29 May 1915, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.^{[3] [4]}
• — built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, laid down 20 July 1914, launched 28 April 1915, completed 18 November 1915, sold for breaking up 8 November 1921.^{[3] [4]}

Two ordered under the 1914–15 Programme.

• — built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down 2 October 1914, launched 1 May 1915, completed 20 August 1915, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.^{[3] [4]}
• — built by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, laid down 9 October 1914, launched 12 April 1915, completed 25 August 1915, sold for breaking up 5 November 1926.^{[3] [4]}

Three ordered in November 1914 under the War Emergency Programme.

• — built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down 6 May 1915, launched 12 October 1915, completed 26 March 1916, sold for breaking up July 1936.^[3]
• — built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down 12 January 1915, launched 23 December 1915, completed 1 July 1916, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.^{[3] [4]}
• — built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down 14 January 1915, launched 12 March 1916, completed 2 August 1916, sold for breaking up 8 November 1921.^{[3] [4]}

Bibliography

• • Book: Dittmar. F.J.. Colledge. J.J.. British Warships 1914–1919. 1972. Ian Allan. Shepperton, UK. 0-7110-0380-7.
• Book: Friedman, Norman. British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. 2009. Seaforth Publishing. Barnsley, UK. 978-1-84832-049-9.
• Book: Gardiner. Robert. Gray. Randal. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. 1985. Conway Maritime Press. London. 0-85177-245-5. amp.
• 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.
• The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships. No. 3, Part 23. Technical History Branch, Admiralty, 1919, CB 1515 (23).

Notes and References

1. http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/lightfoot_class_flotilla_leaders.htm Lightfoot Class Flotilla Leaders
2. The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919, p. 12.
3. Friedman 2009, p. 307.
4. Dittmar and Colledge 1972, p. 65.