Name HMS Narborough Beam 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) Draft 2.95 m | Displacement 971 long tons (987 t) Launched 2 March 1916 Builder John Brown & Company | |
Fate Wrecked on 12 January 1918 Class and type Admiralty M-class destroyer Length 273 ft 4 in (83.31 m) o/a | ||
HMS Narborough was an Admiralty M-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She was wrecked after running aground in 1918.
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Description
The Admiralty M class were improved and faster versions of the preceding Laforey-class destroyer. They displaced 971 long tons (987 t). The ships had an overall length of 273 feet 4 inches (83.3 m), a beam of 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 m) and a draught of 9 feet 8 inches (2.9 m). They were powered by three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 237 long tons (241 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ships' complement was 76 officers and ratings.
The ships were armed with three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns and two QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) anti-aircraft guns. These latter guns were later replaced by a pair of QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns. The ships were also fitted with two above water twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes.
Construction and service
Narborough was ordered under the Fourth War Programme in February 1915 and built by John Brown & Company at Clydeside. The ship was laid down in May, launched on 20 November 1916 and completed in April 1916. On 12 January 1918, she and her sister ship, HMS Opal, were wrecked on the cliffs at Hesta Rock, just to the north of Windwick Bay, South Ronaldsay . Only one sailor survived; 188 were killed. Most of the casualties were never found and are commemorated on the Portsmouth Memorial.