HMS Penn, 1917 |
|
HMS Penn (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet in 1916-1918, missing Jutland because she was in dockyard hands, and taking part in anti-submarine sweeps.
The Penn was ordered under the Fifth War Programme of May 1915. She was laid down by Browns on 9 June 1915, launched on 8 April 1916 and completed in May 1916
1916
On the eve of Jutland the Penn was with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla that was with the battlecruiser fleet at Rosyth, but she was in dockside hands
From June 1916 to January 1918 the Penn served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
In mid-August the High Seas Fleet made another sortie, and the Grand Fleet put out to sea in response. The two fleets didn’t make contact, but the British suffered losses to U-boats. At just before 6am on 19 August the cruiser HMS Nottingham was hit by a torpedo and lost her engines. It was soon clear that she was doomed and Captain Miller ordered his men to abandon ship. At 6.25 she was hit by another torpedo. Soon after this the Penn and Oracle arrived, after being sent to help by Admiral Beatty. They were able to help rescue the crew, although were also fired on. The Nottingham sank at 7.10.
Later in the same sortie the Penn spotted another U-boat but too far from the fleet to be dangerous.
1917
On 18-19 January 1917 the Penn took part in an anti-submarine sweep off the Dogger Bank. The sweep was carried out by two cruisers, four screening destroyers and six destroyers equipped with paravanes. However during the night of 18-19 January the destroyers lost touch with the cruisers, and the sweep was cancelled at daylight on 19 January.
On 13 March the Penn fouled the Fidra Boom, in the Firth of Forth.
On 17 October 1917 the Germans attacked a Scandinavian convoy, sinking the destroyers Mary Rose and Strongbow. At the time the Royal Navy had been expected a German operation and had a large force of cruisers and destroyers patrolling parts of the North Sea. The Oriana, Onslow, Penn and Tower were used to escort the very large cruiser Furious¸ which carried a number of aircraft, as it patrolled along the 56th parallel (level with Dunbar in southern Scotland). However the British failed to intercept the raiders.
The Penn 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.
On 5 December 1917 the Penn ran aground close to Middlesbrough.
1918
From February to March 1918 the Penn served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
In April 1918 the Penn served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
From May to December 1918 the Penn served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
On 7 August the Penn and Vampire collided.
The 14th Flotilla took part in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.
On 22 November the Penn ran into the battleship Malaya, damaging the battleship’s port quarter.
On 25 November the Penn and the Anzac collided.
In December 1919 she was in the charge of a Care and Maintenance Party at Portsmouth.
She was sold to be broken up in October 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-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 |
9 June 1915 |
Launched |
8 April 1916 |
Completed |
May 1916 |
Sold for break up |
October 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]
