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HMS Oriana (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet from late 1916 into 1918, taking part in Operation B.B., then at Devonport for much of 1918 before ending the war detached back to the Grand Fleet.
The Oriana was ordered under the Fourth War Programme of February 1915. She was laid down at Fairfield, launched on 23 September 1916 and completed on 4 November 1916.
1916
From November 1916 to April 1918 the Oriana served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
1917
On 18-19 January 1917 the Oriana took part in an anti-submarine sweep off the Dogger Bank. The sweep was carried out by two cruisers, four screening destroyers and six destroyers equipped with paravanes. However during the night of 18-19 January the destroyers lost touch with the cruisers, and the sweep was cancelled at daylight on 19 January.
In June 1917 the Oriana 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.
During the operation there was only one moment of excitement in that area. On 20 June the British submarine J.1 encountered a U-boat on the surface and fired four torpedoes at it. All four missed, and a rare surface battle between submarines followed. J.1 reported scoring two hits, and that the U-boat couldn’t dive (although it did out-pace J.1). The Narborough and Oriana were sent off to the south-east of their patrol area to try and find this potentially damaged U-boat but without success.
On 17 October 1917 the Germans attacked a Scandinavian convoy, sinking the destroyers Mary Rose and Strongbow. At the time the Royal Navy had been expected a German operation and had a large force of cruisers and destroyers patrolling parts of the North Sea. The Oriana, Onslow, Penn and Tower were used to escort the very large cruiser Furious¸ which carried a number of aircraft, as it patrolled along the 56th parallel (level with Dunbar in southern Scotland). However the British failed to intercept the raiders.
During the Second battle of Heligoland Bight (17 November 1917) the Oriana was at sea with the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron, but her formation never reached the battle.
On 11 December the Octavia and Oriana collided in Burntisland roads, in the Firth of Forth.
1918
From May 1918 to August 1918 the Oriana served with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla at Devonport
In November 1918 she was still part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla but was detached to the Grand Fleet
On 18 November the Oriana collided with HMS Quorn in Granton Roads, off Edinburgh.
In December 1918 she was back with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla at Devonport
In December 1919 she was in the charge of a Care and Maintenance Party at Portsmouth.
She was sold to be broken up in October 1921.
Service Record
November 1916-April 1918: 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
May 1918-August 1918: 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Devonport
November 1918: 4th Destroyer Flotilla but detached to Grand Fleet
December 1918: 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Devonport
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 |
- |
Launched |
23 September 1916 |
Completed |
4 November 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]
