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HMS Satyr (1916)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Satyr.

HMS Satyr in 1918 at Harwich where she was stationed
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Satyr
BuilderWilliam Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir
Yard number549
Laid downApril 1916
Launched27 December 1916
Completed2 February 1917
Out of service16 December 1926
FateSold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and typeR-class destroyer
Displacement
Length276 ft (84.1 m)
Beam26 ft 6 in (8.1 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion
Speed36 knots (41.4 mph; 66.7 km/h)
Range3,450 nmi (6,390 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement82
Armament

HMS Satyr was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. Launched on 27 December 1916, Satyr joined the Harwich Force under the command of Commander Hubert de Burgh. In 1917, the destroyer formed part of a force protecting the monitors Erebus and Terror in their bombardment of Ostend. As part of this action, Satyr, along with sister ships Taurus, Sharpshooter and Torrent, sank the German destroyer S20. After the war, the ship served with the Torpedo School at the Devonport. In 1923, the Navy decided to retire many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels and Satyr was sold to be broken up on 16 December 1926.

Design and development

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Satyr was one of ten R-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in December 1915 as part of the Seventh War Construction Programme.[1] The design was generally similar to the preceding M-class destroyers, but differed in having geared steam turbines, the central gun mounted differently and minor changes to improve seakeeping.[2]

Satyr was 276 feet (84.12 m) long overall, with a beam of 26 feet 6 inches (8.08 m) and a draught of 9 feet (2.74 m). Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,075 long tons (1,092 t) deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Parsons geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Three funnels were fitted. A total of 296 long tons (301 t) of fuel oil was carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[2]

Armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the second and third funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin rotating mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[2] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[3]

Construction and career

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Satyr was laid down at the William Beardmore and Company shipyard in Dalmuir during April 1916 with yard number 549, launched in December 1916 and completed on 2 February 1917.[1][4] The destroyer cost £150,103 to build.[5] On commissioning, Satyr joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force.[6] The commanding officer was Commander Hubert de Burgh.[7]

On 4 June 1917, Satyr was deployed as part of a large group of 7 cruisers and 25 destroyers to protect the monitors Erebus and Terror in their bombardment of the German held Belgian port of Ostend.[8] Along with sister ships Taurus, Sharpshooter and Torrent, Satyr sank the German destroyer S20.[9] De Burgh received the Distinguished Service Order for his part in the action, particularly for saving the lives of seven of the crew of S20 while under fire.[7]

Satyr remained part of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla at the end of the war,[10] but by February 1919, had been transferred to the Torpedo School at the Devonport.[11] In 1923, the Navy decided to scrap many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels.[12] Satyr was one of those chosen to retire and was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Milford Haven on 16 December 1926 and broken up.[13]

Close-up view of the 4-inch gun on the foc'sle of the 'R' class destroyer HMS Satyr

Pennant numbers

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Pennant numbers
Pennant number Date
F51 January 1917[14]
F59 January 1918[14]
G52 January 1919[15]
H78 Unknown[16]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  2. ^ a b c Preston 1985, p. 81.
  3. ^ Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 107.
  4. ^ Johnston 1993, p. 155.
  5. ^ Johnston 1993, p. 166.
  6. ^ "Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: II — Harwich Force". The Navy List: 13. January 1917. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  7. ^ a b Dunn 2017, p. 167.
  8. ^ Newbolt 1931, p. 45.
  9. ^ Newbolt 1931, p. 46.
  10. ^ "Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: II.–Harwich Force". The Navy List: 13. December 1918. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: VI.–Local Defence and Minesweeping Flotillas and Training Establishments". The Navy List: 17. February 1919. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  12. ^ Friedman 2009, p. 180.
  13. ^ Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 311.
  14. ^ a b Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 71.
  15. ^ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 65.
  16. ^ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 75.

Bibliography

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  • Bush, Steve; Warlow, Ben (2021). Pendant Numbers of the Royal Navy: A Complete History of the Allocation of Pendant Numbers to Royal Navy Warships & Auxiliaries. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-526793-78-2.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: a Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present. London: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-85367-566-9.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Dunn, Steve (2017). Securing the Narrow Sea: The Dover Patrol 1914 - 1918. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-251-6.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Johnston, Ian (1993). Beardmore Built: the rise and fall of a Clydeside shipyard. Clydebank: Clydebank District Libraries & Museums Department. ISBN 978-0-90693-805-8.
  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Volume V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 220475309.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendergast, Maurice (1969). Jane's Fighting Ships 1919. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. OCLC 907574860.
  • Preston, Antony (1985). "Great Britain and Empire Forces". In Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 1–104. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
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