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HMS Portia (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet in 1916, at Harwich early in 1917 before returning north, then on the Irish station from August 1917 to the end of the war.
The Portia was ordered under the Fifth War Programme of May 1915. She was laid down at Scotts, launched on 10 August 1916 and completed in October 1916.
1916
From October 1916 to July 1917 the Portia officially served with the 15th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
On 27 November 1916 she damaged her propellers by grounding.
1917
On 22 January 1917 the Admiralty learnt that a German destroyer flotilla was about to move from Germany to Zeebrugge. Commodore Tyrwhitt was ordered to intercept with destroyers, while the commanding officer at Dover was ordered to send six destroyers to Harwich. The Grenville, Sable, Radstock, Portia, Rigorous, Sorceress and Rob Roy had just returned to Harwich on 18 January, so were able to take part in the attempt to catch the Germans, but the Portia wasn’t chosen to take part in the operation to catch the Germans. This ended in failure, with no German destroyers sunk and one British destroyer lost.
On 14 February 1917 Plover, Partridge, Portia and Rob Roy were ordered to patrol the area between Peterhead and Aberdeen in response to a series of attacks carried out by UC-44. However by this point UC-44 was on her way home and she reached Heligoland on 16 February.
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.
From August 1917 to December 1918 the Portia served with the 2nd Flotilla, Northern Division of the Coast of Ireland station, at Buncrana
On 2 October the cruiser Drake was torpedoed just after dispersing a convoy off the north coast of Ireland. She managed to reach Church Bay at Rathlin Island, and the Portia was one of a large force of destroyers sent to help. However the Drake was too badly damaged and capsized at anchor in the bay, after her crew had been evacuated.
1918
On 9 April 1918 she and SS Skirmisher collided off the Woodside jetty at Liverpool.
On 28 April 1918 the wash from the Portia caused a collision between SS Graphic and SS Markunda in the Musgrave channel at Belfast.
Post war
In December 1919 she was in the charge of a Care and Maintenance Party at Devonport.
She was sold to be broken up in May 1921.
Service Record
October 1916-July 1917: 15th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
August 1917-December 1918: 2nd Flotilla, Northern 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 |
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Length |
273ft 4in (Admiralty) |
Width |
26ft 8ft (Admiralty) |
Armaments |
Three 4in/ 45cal QF Mk IV |
Crew complement |
80 |
Laid down |
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Launched |
10 August 1916 |
Completed |
October 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]
