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HMS Orestes (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet in 1916, then took part in the battle against the U-boats in 1917, operating from Ireland, before returning to the Grand Fleet late in 1917, remaining there for the rest of the war.
The Orestes was ordered as part of the Third War Programme of late November 1914. She was laid down at Doxford on 1 March 1915, launched on 17 June 1916 and completed in June 1916.
1916
On 11 June 1916 the Orestes collided with the RFA Toiler at the Willington Gut entrance in the Tyne.
From July 1916 to June 1917 the Orestes served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
On 10 October 1916 the Caroline, escorted by the Orestes and Partridge left Scapa Flow to move to Lerwick, ready to try and intercept the German steamship Brandenburg off Stadlandet.
1917
In February 1917 the Orestes was one of eight destroyers that was based at Plymouth to hunt submarines. At any one time three or four of these destroyers would be at sea.
On 1 February U-55 was operating off the Cornish coast. In response the Plucky and Orestes were sent to operate in the area.
On 15 February the Orestes was ordered to move to the Irish Sea to work with the Christopher and Contest, after several U-boat attacks were reported in the area.
On 16 February UC-65 opened fire on the British SS Queenswood off the north coast of Cornwall, killed three of her crew. Another merchant ship, SS The Princess arrived on the scene and forced the U-boat to dive with fire from her 6-pounder gun. The U-boat soon surfaced again and was about to board the Queenswood when the Orestes and the armed trawler St Elmo approached the scene. The boarding attempted was abandoned, but the U-boat fired sixteen shots into the Queenswood, sinking her, before the British warships could reach the scene.
The Medina and Orestes were at sea hunting for submarines when U-48 was operating in their area on 6-7 March, but didn’t spot her. The same happened on 12 March when Hardy, Contest, Christopher and Orestes were trying to hunt UC-47 and UC-66 off Lyme Bay, but once again without success. However the Q ship Q-19 had more success, catching the submarine and sinking her. However Q-19 was also badly damaged. Her crew were rescued by the Christopher and Orestes, but an attempt to tow her to safety failed when she sank just outside Plymouth.
On 17 March UC-36 sank the Danish SS Russia. The Orestes rescued the survivors and took them to Brest.
On 24 April U-53 sank the British steamer Anglesea, which was heading from Boston to Le Havre. The Anglesea was to have met up with a destroyer escort a few hours later, and that afternoon the Orestes spotted the wreckage and rescued her survivors. The Orestes and Medina then sported a submarine, and both dropped depth charges. The Orestes then spent two hours sweeping with her paravanes, but U-53 was long gone, and sank the Ferndene that evening.
Also on 24 April U-61 fired three torpedoes and 150 shells at the SS Thirlby, which successfully escaped from her. At 3.20pm the Medina and Orestes picked up her SOS. The Orestes remained on their patrol route, while the Medina went to their rescue.
In June 1917 the Orestes took part in Operation B.B., a massive Grand Fleet operation designed to use a mix of submarines and destroyers to catch a number of U-boats that were expected to be passing around the northern tip of Scotland on their way back to Germany. Narborough, Orestes and Oriana from the 13th Flotilla were attached to the 11th Flotilla during the operation, patrolling the area to the east of the Orkneys and based at Scapa Flow.
In July 1917 the Orestes was serving with the Northern Division of the Coast of Ireland Station, based at Buncrana, where she carried out convoy escort duties, protecting trans-Atlantic convoys in the dangerous waters of the eastern Atlantic.
On 11 August Orestes was one of eight sloops and destroyers that left Buncrana to meet with incoming convoy HH13 and escort it to safety.
In September 1917 the Orestes was back with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
In October 1917 the Orestes was once again recorded with the Northern Division of the Coast of Ireland at Buncrana
From September 1917 to November 1918 the Orestes was officially back with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
1918
In November 1918 she was recorded as being detached from the 14th Flotilla to the 1st Flotilla at Portsmouth, but retained with the 14th Flotilla.
The 14th Flotilla took part in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.
In December 1918 she was with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, Portsmouth
In December 1919 she was in the hands of a Care and Maintenance Party at Portsmouth.
She was sold to be broken up in October 1921.
Service Record
July 1916-June 1917: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
July 1917: Northern Division Coast of Ireland, Buncrana
September 1917: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
October 1917: Northern Division Coast of Ireland, Buncrana
September 1917-November 1918: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
December 1918: 1st Destroyer Flotilla, Portsmouth
Displacement (standard) |
1,025t (Admiralty design) |
Displacement (loaded) |
1,250t |
Top Speed |
34 knots |
Engine |
3-shaft Brown-Curtis or Parsons turbines |
Range |
|
Length |
273ft 4in (Admiralty) |
Width |
26ft 8ft (Admiralty) |
Armaments |
Three 4in/ 45cal QF Mk IV |
Crew complement |
80 |
Laid down |
1 March 1915 |
Launched |
21 March 1916 |
Completed |
June 1916 |
Sold for break up |
October 1921 |
British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War, Norman Friedman. A very detailed look at the design of British destroyers from their earliest roots as torpedo boat destroyers, though the First World War and up to the start of the Second World War, supported by vast numbers of plans and well chosen photographs [read full review]
