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HMS Partridge (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet from June 1916 until she was sunk during a German attack on a Scandinavian convoy on 12 December 1917.
The Partridge was ordered under the Fourth War Programme of February 1915. She was laid down at Swan Hunter in July 1915, launched on 4 March 1916 and completed on June 1916.
1916
The Partridge served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet in June 1916.
From July 1916 to December 1917 the Partridge 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
On 14 February 1917 Plover, Partridge, Portia and Rob Roy were ordered to patrol the area between Peterhead and Aberdeen in response to a series of attacks carried out by UC-44. However by this point UC-44 was on her way home and she reached Heligoland on 16 February.
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 Partridge was operating with the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, which was patrolling between the southern end of Sweden and the northern tip of Denmark.
In December 1917 the Partridge, commanded by Lt Commander R. H. Ransome, was part of the escort for a Scandinavian convoy, along with HMS Pellew. At 11am on 12 December the convoy was attacked by four modern German destroyers. The two British destroyers ignored their orders not to engage with superior forces and attempted to screen the convoy. However they did send a signal to the Commander-in-Chief informing him that they were engaged with an enemy. However they hadn’t been told there was a covering force of cruisers at sea, so were unable to signal them.
The Partridge was soon immobilised and unable to fight back. Early in the battle a shell hit the forward end of the engine room, cutting the main steampipe. Another shell hit the aft gun. She was hit by three torpedoes, and sank after half an hour with the loss of 74 men. The only survivor from the entire convoy was the Pellew, which after taking damage was able to hide behind a rain squall and escape to Norway. The Germans rescued four officers and 48 men from the Partridge.
The Partridge was awarded a battle honour for the convoy of 12 December.
Service Record
June 1916: 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
July 1916-December 1917: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
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 |
July 1915 |
Launched |
4 March 1916 |
Completed |
June 1916. |
Sunk |
12 December 1917 |
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]
