|
|
HMS Paladin (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet from June 1916 to the end of the First World War, missing Jutland because she was in dockyard hands.
The Paladin was ordered under the Fourth War Programme of February 1915. She was laid down at Scotts in May 1915, launched on 27 March 1916 and completed in May 1916
1916
On the eve of Jutland the Paladin was with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla that was with the battlecruiser fleet at Rosyth, but she was in dockyard hands
From June 1916 to January 1918 she served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
1917
When the Germans attacked the Norwegian convoy on 16 October 1917, sinking the destroyers Mary Rose and Strongbow, the Admiralty had been expected a German raid of some sort and had deployed sizable forces across the North Sea. However they misjudged the target of the raid, and these forces were in the wrong places. The Paladin was at sea with this force, but returned to port with the Caradoc and Valentine on 17 October.
The Paladin was one of the destroyers that screened the 1st Battle Squadron during the action in the Heligoland Bight on 17 November 1917. However that part of the British fleet never got into action.
1918
From February to March 1918 the Paladin served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
On 15 February 1918 the Paladin ran aground off the breakwater at Edgar signal station, probably at Port Edgar, South Queensferry, west of Edinburgh.
In April 1918 the Paladin served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
In May 1918 the Paladin served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
From June to July 1918 the Paladin served with the 13th Destroyer Flotillas, Grand Fleet
From August to December 1918 the Paladin served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
On 18 November the Paladin and Plucky collided.
The 14th Flotilla took part in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.
In December 1919 she was in the charge of a Care and Maintenance Party on the Nore.
She was sold to be broken up in May 1921.
Service Record
June 1916-January 1918: 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
February-March 1918: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
April 1918: 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
May 1918: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
June-July 1918: 13th Destroyer Flotillas, Grand Fleet
August-December 1918: 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 |
May 1915 |
Launched |
27 March 1916 |
Completed |
May 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]
