HMS Rigorous and HMS Rapid |
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HMS Rapid (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet from 1917 to 1918, accidentally attacking the British submarine E.54 in 1917. After the war she served with the Compass Department.
The Rapid was ordered under the Fifth War Programme of May 1915. She was laid down at Thornycroft in August 1915, launched on 15 July 1916 and completed in September 1916.
1916
From October 1916 to June 1917 the Rapid served with the 15th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
1917
On 16 May 1917 U-30 sank SS Middlesex, although not before she was able to send out an SOS message. On the following day the British submarine E.54 found the survivors in boats, but was then attacked by HMS Rapid¸ which fired a shot and dropped a depth charge. The Rapid then picked up the survivors while E.54 escaped intact.
Documents dated to October 1917 refer to her being used to two kite balloons, along with HMS Colossus
On 24 November 1917 she was damaged while being towed by two tugs (including the John Batey) at Middle Docks & Engineer Co of South Shields, who put in a claim for repair of the damage suffered.
1918
On 10 May 1918 she ran aground.
The 15th Flotilla took part in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.
Post-war
The Rapid was one of the few repeat M class destroyers to remain in service after the Second World War.
On 17 November 1918 she collided with HMS Trinity N.B., a small auxiliary, off Dunbar.
In July 1919 she was in the reserve at Portsmouth, but was temporarily serving as a tender to HMS Victory.
She was used to test the sperry gyro compass in 1920. In December 1920 she was recorded as serving with the Compass Department of the Admiralty and was based at Portsmouth.
On 13 March 1922 she collided with HM Trawler James Dinton at Portsmouth.
She was recorded in the Times as being involved in compass trials again in 1924, and the National Archives had photographs from tests for deviation error of gyro compasses dated to 1925.
However by this point the Navy had decided to retire all of her older destroyers. The Rapid was sold to be broken up in April 1927.
Service Record
October 1916-December 1918: 15th 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 |
August 1915 |
Launched |
15 July 1916 |
Completed |
September 1916 |
Sold for break up |
April 1927 |
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]
