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HMS Ossory (1915) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet from November 1914 to August 1917, fighting at Jutland, then on the Coast of Ireland from September 1917 to the end of the war.
The Ossory was ordered as part of the Third War Programme of late November 1914. She was laid down at Browns on 23 December 1914, launched on 9 October 1915 and completed in November 1915.
1915
From November 1915 to August 1917 the Ossory served with the 11th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
1916
In January 1916 she was one of fifteen repeat M class destroyers that formed the Eleventh Flotilla at Cromarty, along with the flotilla leader Kempenfelt and the light cruiser Castor.
In April 1916 the Nicator, Morning Star, Ossory and Onslow and the cruiser Gloucester had been sent to Ireland to intercept the Aud, a steamer that the Germans were using to send weapons to Ireland. The Aud did reach its destination on the Irish coast, but never unloaded her cargo. Instead she was detected by the armed trawler Heneage, dumped her cargo then attempted to reach Queenstown to block the harbour. Instead she was scuttled outside the harbour and her crew captured. The Gloucester and her four destroyers were then retained by Admiral Bayly to help deal with the Easter Uprising, and were sent to Queenstown to protect the crucial naval base. Onslow, Ossory, Nicator, Dee and Dove were also used to escort a troop convoy from Liverpool to Dublin, arriving on 26 April.
On the eve of Jutland the Ossory was one of twelve Repeat M class destroyers from the Eleventh Destroyer Flotila which were at Invergordon (Cromarty) with the 2nd Battle Squadron (one division of the flotilla was at Scapa Flow).
The part of the flotilla at Scapa put to sea with Admiral Jellicoe and the main body of the Grand Fleet by 10.30pm on 30 May. The part of the flotilla at Cromarty was also soon at sea, and joined the main body of the fleet at 2pm on 31 May.
The two main fleets finally came together at about 6.30pm on 31 May. By this point the battleships of the German High Seas Fleet were heading north, while the battleships of the Grand Fleet were forming a line running roughly east to west in front of them. For a few minutes the British were able to concentrate their fire on the leading ships of the German line, but the Germans then carried out their famous sixteen point turn, and within a few minutes were heading away south into the North Sea mist. However Admiral Scheer then mis-judged the British movements, and turned back east in the hope that he could pass behind the main British force. Just after 7pm the Germans found themselves steaming straight towards Jelicoe’s battleships, and by 7.15 the bulk of the Grand Fleet was finally able to open fire on the Germans. Once again Scheer was forced to reverse course. During this phase of the battle the destroyer flotillas struggled to keep up with the fast moving battleships and rather disappear from the narrative.
Jellicoe now couldn’t be sure which way the Germans had gone and struggled to make firm contact with Scheer during the night. However the fighting didn’t end. Part of the 11th flotilla was now on the port side of Jellicoe’s flagship, with the flotilla cruiser Castor. They spotted smoke to the W.N.W. and discovered twelve German destroyers apparently preparing to attack Beatty’s battlecruisers. The 11th Flotilla and the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron forced the German destroyers away, and the Grand Fleet made contact with the Germans for the third time. Once again the Germans turned away under heavy fire, and by 8.35pm had disappeared into the mist once again.
Jellicoe was unwilling to risk a night battle, and at 9.17 ordered the fleet into its night cruising formation. The battleships formed up into lines in their divisions, with the destroyers following behind. The entire formation began to move south in an attempt to keep between the Germans and their home bases. By 10pm the destroyer flotillas were in line, with the 12th Flotilla at the eastern (left) end of the line, then the combined 9th and 10th Flotillas, 13th Flotilla, 4th Flotilla and finally the 11th Flotilla at the western (right) end of the line.
The fighting had ended with the Germans sailing south, just to the west of the Grand Fleet. Admiral Scheer’s plan was to try and turn east and cut behind the Grand Fleet, to reach Horn Reefs and a safe route home. His leading cruisers were sent ahead to try and find the British, and soon after 9.30 then ran into the 11th Flotilla, which was now at the back-right corner of the Grand Fleet. They weren’t at all sure who was approaching them, and so while some of the flotilla fired torpedoes, most of the destroyers believed these were British ships.
On 10 December a large operation began to try and intercept a German raider that was believed to be about to leave the Baltic. This report was in error, but the raider Seeadler was about to leave Hamburg. The Mischief, Ossory and Minster escorted the Comus, Royalist and Calliope from the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, which formed part of the patrol line between Shetland and Norway. The operation ended on 14 December, by which time it was clear the original report was in error. The Seeadler didn’t move until later in December.
1917
From September 1917 to December 1918 the Ossory served with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla on the Northern Division of the Coast of Ireland station, based at Buncrana
1918
On 24 January 1918 the Nicator, Ossory and Vestfos all collided while operating in the Irish Sea, between Liverpool and Anglesey.
On 12 March 1918 the Ossory lost her anchor in the River Mersey.
On 23 March 1918 the Ossory’s wash damaged the SS Eveleen, SS Medway, ketch Menai and sailing vessel Oweenoe at Belfast.
On 30 April the Ossory and SS Braedale collided off Birkenhead.
On 7 September 1918 the Ossory and the Mons collided at Rathmullen, in County Donegal in the far north of Ireland.
She was sold to be broken up in November 1921.
The Ossory was awarded a battle honour for Jutland.
Service Record
November 1915-August 1917: 11th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
September 1917-December 1918: 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Northern 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 turbines |
Range |
|
Length |
273ft 4in (Admiralty) |
Width |
26ft 8ft (Admiralty) |
Armaments |
Three 4in/ 45cal QF Mk IV |
Crew complement |
80 |
Laid down |
23 December 1914 |
Launched |
9 October 1915 |
Completed |
November 1915 |
Sold for break up |
November 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]
