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HMS Parker (1916) was a Parker class flotilla leader that served with the Grand Fleet from late in 1916 to the end of the First World War.
The Parker and Grenville were ordered as part of the Fourth War Programme of February 1915.
The Parker was laid down on 19 June 1915, launched on 17 August 1916 and commissioned on 13 November 1916. However in the October 1916 Navy List the Parker was listed as serving with the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla, which was only half filled.
In the November and December 1916 Navy List the Parker and Grenville were part of the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet, with the Parker serving as the flagship. The Parker stayed with the flotilla throughout the war.
1917
In June 1917 the Parker took part in Operation B.B., an attempt to force German U-boats passing north to stay underwater in selected areas filled with British destroyers, so they would have to be on the surface while passing through a formation of British submarines. The Parker and her 12 destroyers were to patrol Area C – the area to the East of the Shetlands and Fair Isle. The patrols were in place from 14-24 June, but the operation had little impact – the submarine K.1 did manage to hit U-95 with a torpedo, but it failed to explode.
In October 1917 the Parker and part of her flotilla were at sea with the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron as part of an operation to intercept a possible German attack. However the Admiralty had misjudged where the Germans were planning to attack, and the large fleet was deployed too far to the south. The Germans were thus able to attack a Scandinavian convoy being escorted by the Mary Rose and Strongbow¸ sinking both destroyers and most of the convoy. They were then able to return to base undetected.
On 14 November 1917 the motorboats of HMS Parker and the R class destroyer HMS Trenchant collided.
Post-War
The Parker had a short post-war career. In the February 1919 Navy List she was listed amongst the flotilla leaders, but wasn’t allocated to any unit.
In the July 1919 Navy List she was one of the flotilla leaders allocated to the 5th Destroyer Flotilla of the newly reformed Home Fleet, but she was on loan to the Commander-in-Chief of the Coast of Ireland Station.
On 3 December 1919 she was reduced to care and maintenance status at the Nore. In January 1920 the flotilla leaders Botha, Parker and Lightfoot were all at the Nore. In January 1921 she was the flagship of Leveson Granville Byron Alexander Campbell DSO, who was in charge of the care and maintenance group.
In November 1921 she was sold to be broken up.
Displacement (standard) |
1,660t-1,673t |
Displacement (loaded) |
1,900t |
Top Speed |
34 knots at 36,000shp |
Engine |
3-shaft Parsons IR turbines |
Range |
|
Length |
324ft 10in oa |
Width |
31ft 9in |
Armaments |
Four 4in/45 QF Mk IV guns |
Crew complement |
116 |
Laid down |
19 June 1915 |
Launched |
17 August 1916 |
Completed |
13 November 1916 |
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, supportedby vast numbers of plans and well chosen photographs [read full review]
HMS Parker from the left