HMS Pigeon, 1917 |
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HMS Pigeon (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet in 1916 and most of 1917 then on the coast of Ireland Station from late 1917 to the end of the war, helping to sink UB-124
The Pigeon was ordered under the Fifth War Programme of May 1915. She was laid down at Hawthorn in July 1915, launched on 3 March 1916 and completed on 2 June 1916.
1916
On the eve of Jutland the Pigeon was with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla that was with the battlecruiser fleet at Rosyth, but she was in dockside hands
From June 1916 to October 1917 the Pigeon served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
1917
When the Germans attacked a Scandinavian convoy on 16 October, sinking the destroyers Mary Rose and Strongbow, the Pigeon was one of four destroyers from the 13th Flotilla that were allocated to the 1st Cruiser Squadron at Rosyth. The squadron, made up of the Courageous and Glorious (in their original battlecruiser form) was sent to try and catch the Germans as they retreated after the battle, but without success.
From December 1917 to December 1918 the Pigeon served with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, part of the North Division of the Coast of Ireland station, based at Buncrana
1918
On 5 February 1918 UB-77 torpedoed the former liner Tuscania, which was carrying 2,013 US troops to Britain. 210 of the troops and crew were lost, but the Pigeon, Mosquito and an Irish fishing boat saved the remaining men.
On 20 July 1918 the Marne was operating off the north-west coast of Ireland, when UB-124 torpedoed the SS Justicia. In the resulting battle UB-124 was badly damaged and the crew were forced to abandon ship. After twenty minutes in the water they were rescued by the Marne. Credit for the victory was shared by the Marne, Milbrook and Pigeon.
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-October 1917: 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
December 1917-December 1918: 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, North Division Coast of Ireland, Buncrana
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 |
3 March 1916 |
Completed |
2 June 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]
