HMS Patriot, 1919 |
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HMS Patriot (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet in 1916-18, helping to sink U-69 during an exercise with kite balloons in 1917.
The Patriot was ordered under the Fourth War Programme of February 1915. She was laid down at Thornycroft in July 1915, launched on 20 April 1916 and completed in June 1916.
1916
From July 1916-December 1918 the Patriot served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
1917
On 3 February 1917 the Patriot and Blonde collided thirty miles to the east of Wick.
On 31 March 1917 the Patriot and the Russian icebreaker Sviatogor collided off the Tyne.
On 17 May 1917 Portia, Patriot and Lively were escorting an east-bound convoy off the Shetlands when it was attacked by U-19. The submarine torpedoed and sank the Swedish steamer Vesterland which sank in 25 minutes.
On 5-9 July 1917 the Maenad, Morning Star, Moon, Patriot and Anzac etc took part in Operation CC, an experimental attempt to hunt submarines using destroyers equipped with kite balloons. The five destroyers (along with HMS Norman without a balloon) were sent to patrol an area with a radius of 40-50 miles on the route the U-boats were believed to be using to return home. Visibility was excellent, and the Shetlands could be seen at a range of 80 miles from the balloons. A number of possible submarines were sighted from the balloons, but couldn’t be found by the surface ships.
The operation was repeated a few days later with more success. On 12 July Patriot, Maenad and Moon were towing balloons while Anzac and Norman were in support. At 5.37am the Patriot’s balloon spotted a submarine 28 miles to the east. The Patriot headed towards it. The submarine submerged when the balloon got within six miles of it, but came up to the surface again when it was two miles closer. The submarine submerged once again, but the Patriot was directed to the spot by the balloon and after a two hour search dropped two depth charges on the spot where it was last seen. Four hours later there was a massive explosion underwater, felt on all of the destroyers. At about the same time U-69 was lost in the same area, and was probably destroyed by damage caused by the attack.
On 14 August 1917 the Patriot and the Oriole collided.
When the Germans attacked a Scandinavian convoy on 16 October, sinking the destroyers Mary Rose and Strongbow, the Noble and Menace from the 12th Flotilla and Medina, Nonpareil, Offa and Patriot from the 14th Flotilla were attached to the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron at Scapa. When news arrived that the Germans were at sea the 3rd LCS was ordered to patrol in the central part of the North Sea, the northernmost of three cruiser squadrons deployed in that area. However by the time news of the German attack had reached the Admiralty and new orders could be issued to the cruiser squadrons the Germans had already escaped to the south.
1918
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 at Portsmouth.
Canadian Service
In September 1920 the Patriot was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, along with the Patrician and the light cruiser Aurora. The Patrician needed an extra electrical engine to allow her to maneuver in harbour, an oil fuel galley to avoid having to carry coal just for cooking and an enclosed bridge for operations in the North Atlantic. The cost of making these alterations to the two destroyers came to $14,000. The three ships reached Halifax in late 1920.
On 25 November 1920 HMCS Patriot and the Tenacious collided at Devonport.
The Patriot was based at Halifax for the next five years and carried out a mix of training and patrols. On 21 January 1921 they departed for a cruise to Central and North America, carrying secret documents from the Admiralty to British consulates. On 10 May 1921 she ran aground, and her commanding officer and navigation officer court martialled. In the spring and summer of 1921 the three ships carried out a training cruise in the West Indies. The squadron visited Puntarenas in Costa Rica to support the Canadian governments position in negotiations over oil.
From 1922 the Patriot was the only major warship based at Halifax. She was used to train the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Once per year she visited the West Indies to join the Royal Navy in exercises.
By 1927 the two destroyers were in need of expensive repairs. In was decided to replace them with two newer destroyers on loan from the Royal Navy and two new purpose built destroyers. The Patriot was sold to be broken up in 1929.
She was sold to be broken up in 1929.
Service Record
July 1916-December 1918: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
Displacement (standard) |
1,025t (Admiralty design) |
Displacement (loaded) |
1,250t |
Top Speed |
35 knots at 26,500shp |
Engine |
3-shaft turbines |
Range |
|
Length |
274ft 3in (Thornycroft) |
Width |
27ft 3in (Thornycroft) |
Armaments |
Three 4in/ 45cal QF Mk IV |
Crew complement |
80 |
Laid down |
July 1915 |
Launched |
20 April 1916 |
Completed |
June 1916 |
To Royal Canadian Navy |
1920 |
Sold for Break Up |
1929 |
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]
