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HMS Pasley (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet from August 1916 to October 1917, accidentally sinking the British submarine G.9 after the submarine had mistaken her for a German ship and fired torpedoes at her. She served at Devonport from November 1917 to the end of the war.
The Pasley was ordered under the Fourth War Programme of February 1915. She was laid down at Swan Hunter in July 1915, launched on 15 April 1916 and completed in July 1916.
1916
From August 1916 to October 1917 the Pasley served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
During the German High Seas Fleet sortie of 19 August 1916 the Pasley carried out a depth charge attack on U-66, causing damage that forced her to break off her attack on HMS Falmouth and hide at 100ft for six hours. However U-63 took over the attack and sank the Falmouth when she was close to safety at Immingham.
1917
On 9 January 1917 the Pasley collided with the pontoon ship Tynedale.
On 16 September 1917 the Pasley accidentally sank the British submarine G9 while operating in the Norwegian Sea. The G9 had mistaken the Pasley for a German ship and fired two torpedoes at her. One hit but didn’t explode, and the Pasley then rammed the submarine. Both vessels realised the mistake just before the collision, but it was too late, and the G9 was sunk with the loss of all but one crewman, Stoker William Drake. The commander of the Pasley was exonerated of any blame. Part of the blame was placed on the poor signalling equipment on British submarines.
From November 1917 to December 1918 the Pasley served with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla at Devonport
On 18 November the Pasley collided with HMS tug Rover in Plymouth Sound.
1918
On 6 February 1917 the Palsey and SS Glenhead collided half way between the Isle of Wight and Cherbourg.
On 16 November 1918 the Pasley and Owl collided in the ‘destroyer trot’ at Plymouth.
In December 1919 she was in the charge of a Care and Maintenance Party at Devonport.
She was sold for scrap in May 1921.
Service Record
August 1916-October 1917: 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
November 1917-December 1918: 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Devonport
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 |
15 April 1916 |
Completed |
July 1916 |
Sold for break up |
May 1921 |