HMS Tipperary

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Tipperary
Builder	J S White, Cowes
Launched	5 March 1915
Fate	Sunk at Jutland, 1 June 1916
General characteristics
Class and type	Template:Sclass- flotilla leader
Displacement	1,700 tons
Length	331 ft (100.9 m)
Beam	32.6 ft (9.9 m)
Draught	11 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion	6 White-Forster type water-tube boilers, steam turbines, 3 shafts, 30,000 shp
Speed	32 knots
Complement	197
Armament	As built; 6 × 4 in L/40 QF Mark VI, single mounting P Mk. XI 2 × twin tubes for 21 in (530 mm) torpedoes (4 × single in Botha) As rearmed; 2 × BL 4.7 in (120mm) L/45 Mark I, single mounting CP Mk. VI 2 × QF 2-pounder pom-pom Mk. II, single mounting HA Mk. II 2 × 4 in L/40 QF Mark IV, single mounting P Mk. IX 2 × twin tubes for 21-inch torpedoes

HMS Tipperary, launched on 5 March 1915, was a Template:Sclass- destroyer leader. For a while during the First World War, she was commanded by Captain (later Admiral) Sir Barry Domvile, who later became famous as a political activist who favoured continuing peace with Germany in the 1930s.

Originally ordered by Chile, Tipperary and her sisters were bought by the Royal Navy at the outbreak of World War I. Initially, Tipperary served as the second flotilla leader with the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in the Harwich Force, arriving there in June 1915. Late in that same year, she took charge of a detachment of destroyers from the 2nd Flotilla, while in March 1916, Tipperary had rejoined the Harwich Force, being attached to the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron. In May 1916, Tipperary was made the leader of the 4th Flotilla, a formation which directly supported the Grand Fleet.

About 21:58 GMT 31 May while 4th Destroyer Flotilla was searching for the German fleet it encounter the German 7th Flotilla (destroyers). The Germans fired torpedoes, none of which hit, and 7th Flotilla turned away. Nicholas Jellicoe's account states that "Between 23:15 and 23:20 a lookout [on HMS Garland] . . . saw what he thought were enemy ships on the starboard quarter". A few minutes later Tipperary flashed the recognition signal and was immediately lit up by the searchlights of three German battleships and three light cruisers.

From about 23:30 to about 23:34 150 rounds of 5.9in shells from SMS Westfalen and SMS Nassau were fired at her. She was badly hit, her bridge damaged and most crew forward were killed or wounded, including Capt Wintour. At about 02:00 GMT 1 June Tipperary was abandoned and she eventually sank. 150 of her crew of 197 were lost in the action. The wrecksite is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

References

• Campbell, John (1998). Jutland: An analysis of the Fighting. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-750-3.
• Massie, Robert K (2003). Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea. Random House. ISBN 0-345-40878-0.
• SI 2008/0950 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986
• Jellicoe, Nicholas (2016). Jutland: the Unfinished Battle. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-321-6.