|
|
HMS Medway (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Thirteenth then Third Flotillas of the Grand Fleet in 1916-1918 then with the Northern Division on the Irish Station.
The Medway was an Admiralty type repeat M class destroyer that was ordered under the Fifth War Programme of May 1915. She was laid down at White on 2 November 1915, launched on 19 April 1916 and completed on 2 August 1916.
She was originally going to be named HMS Redwing, which fits in better with the P and R names used for other repeat M class ships from the fifth war programme. She was renamed twice – first to HMS Medora and then to Medway.
1916
From August 1916 to February 1918 she served with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
On 25 August the Medway collided with the trawler Seahawk.
1917
On 20 May 1917 the Medway collided with the oiler Erivan.
During the brief action in the Heligoland Bight of 16-17 November the Medway and Vendetta were the destroyer screen for the four cruisers of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron.
In June 1917 the Thirteenth Flotilla was part of the Battlecruiser Force.
1918
In January 1917 she was still with the Thirteenth Flotilla in the Battlecruiser Force but was under repair at Scapa Flow.
From March-April 1918 she served with the Third Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
From May to December 1918 she served with the Second Destroyer Flotilla, part of the North Division of the Coast of Ireland Station, based at Buncrana
On 11 November 1918 the Marne, Medway, Michael, Mystic, Nicator and Pelican were all temporarily attached to the 15th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.
Postwar
In November 1919 she was in the hands of a care and maintenance party in the Portsmouth reserve.
She was sold to be broken up in May 1921.
Service Record
August 1916-February 1918: 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
March-April 1918: 3rd Flotilla, Grand Fleet
May-December 1918: 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, North Division Coast of Ireland, Buncrana
Displacement (standard) |
1,025t (Admiralty design) |
Displacement (loaded) |
1,250t |
Top Speed |
34 knots |
Engine |
3-shaft Brown-Curtis or Parsons geared turbines |
Range |
|
Length |
273ft 4in (Admiralty) |
Width |
26ft 8ft (Admiralty) |
Armaments |
Three 4in/ 45cal QF Mk IV |
Crew complement |
80 |
Laid down |
2 November 1915 |
Launched |
19 April 1916 |
Completed |
2 August 1916 |
Sold for break up |
May 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]
