HMS Rowena (1916)

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Sistership HMS Romola and two other R-class destroyers
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Rowena
BuilderJohn Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number450
Laid down25 August 1915
Launched1 July 1916
Commissioned29 September 1916
Decommissioned27 January 1937
FateBroken up
General characteristics
Class and typeR-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 975 long tons (991 t) normal
  • 1,173 long tons (1,192 t) deep load
Length265 ft (80.8 m) p.p.
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
Propulsion
  • 3 Yarrow boilers
  • 2 geared Brown-Curtis steam turbines, 27,000 shp (20,000 kW)
Speed36 knots (41.4 mph; 66.7 km/h)
Range3,440 nmi (6,370 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement82
Armament

HMS Rowena was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 1 July 1916, the ship operated as part of the Grand Fleet as part of a destroyer flotilla hunting for German vessels that were attacking convoys in the North Sea. Although there were many reported sightings, no submarines were sunk. After the conflict, the vessel was transferred to the Navy’s establishment at Portland to help in the development of anti-submarine warfare, which ultimately helped in the Battle of the Atlantic. Rowena did not, however, see the fruit of this labour. After twenty years of service, the destroyer was retired and sold to be broken up on 27 January 1937.

Design and development[edit]

Main article: R-class destroyer

Rowena was the second R-class destroyer ordered by the British Admiralty in July 1915 as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme. A development of the preceding M-class, the design differed primarily in utilising geared turbines to improve fuel consumption.[1]

The destroyer was 265 feet (80.77 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m) and a draught of 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m).[2] Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,173 long tons (1,192 t) deep load.[3] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[4] Three funnels were fitted. A total of 296 long tons (301 t) of fuel oil was carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[4]

Armament consisted of three 4 in (100 mm) Mk IV QF 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.[2] A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin rotating mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes. [4] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[2]

Construction and career[edit]

Rowena was laid down by John Brown & Company at Clydebank on the River Clyde on 25 August 1915 and launched on 1 July 1916, leaving the yard on 29 September that year. The destroyer was allocated the yard number 450.[5] The build took 310 days and fitting out 90 days.[6]

On commissioning, Rowena joined the 15th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet,[7] and served there until 1919.[8] The Flotilla was involved in supporting the convoys that crossed the North Sea, including running anti-submarine patrols between 15 and 24 June 1917. Although sixty-one sightings of submarines and twelve attacks were reported during that operation, no submarines were sunk.[9] On 24 April 1918 the Flotilla was called to intercept the High Seas Fleet on what was to prove the last major expedition of the war by the German Navy. The ships returned without making contact.[10]

In May 1919, the Rowena sailed from Ostend to the Admiralty Pier in Dover, to repatriate the remains of Edith Cavell - the British nurse executed by the German Army in 1915.[11][12]

After the war, Rowena was sent to Gibraltar with her sister ship Romola, arriving on 8 May 1920.[13] The vessel joined the Anti-Submarine Flotilla in Portland on 1 July 1926.[14] For the next ten years, Rowena was used to refine anti-submarine weapons and techniques such as ASDIC.[15] ASDIC went on to prove invaluable in the Battle of the Atlantic.[16] On 27 January 1937, the destroyer was given to Thos. W. Ward of Sheffield in exchange for RMS Majestic, and was subsequently broken up at Milford Haven.[17]

Pennant numbers[edit]

Pennant Number Date
G81 January 1917[18]
G90 January 1918[19]
F45 November 1919[20]
D84 [20]
H85 [20]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  2. ^ a b c Parkes & Prendegast 1919, p. 107.
  3. ^ McCaid, John (2012). "Rowena 1916 HMS – Destroyer". Clydemarine. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  5. ^ Johnston 2014, p. 198.
  6. ^ Johnston 2014, p. 14.
  7. ^ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 13. July 1917. Retrieved 5 May 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  8. ^ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 12. January 1919. Retrieved 5 May 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  9. ^ Newbolt 1931, pp. 54–56.
  10. ^ Newbolt 1931, pp. 237–238.
  11. ^ 'London's Homage to Nurse Cavell', The Globe, 15 May 1919, page 1
  12. ^ 'The Martyrdom of Edith Cavell - The Return Home of her Last Remains', The Graphic, 24 May 1919, page 679
  13. ^ "Movements of Ships". The Times. 11 May 1920. p. 21.
  14. ^ "Portland". The Navy List: 268. January 1933.
  15. ^ Hackmann 1984, p. 186.
  16. ^ Friedman 2012, p. 60.
  17. ^ Colledge & Warlow 2010, p. 346.
  18. ^ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 67.
  19. ^ Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 70.
  20. ^ a b c Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 48.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Bush, Steve; Warlow, Ben (2021). Pendant Numbers of the Royal Navy: A Complete History of the Allocation of Pendant Numbers to Royal Navy Warships & Auxiliaries. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-526793-78-2.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2010). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Havertown: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Friedman, Norman (2012). British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War & After. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • Hackmann, Willem (1984). Seek & Strike: Sonar, Anti-Submarine Warfare and the Royal Navy 1914-54. London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11290-423-6.
  • Johnston, Ian (2014). A Shipyard at War: Unseen Photographs of John Brown & Co. Ltd, Clydebank, 1914-18. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-216-5.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Vol. V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1919). Jane's Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
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