Английская Википедия:HMS Orpheus (1916)

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Other ships Шаблон:EngvarB Шаблон:Use dmy dates

Шаблон:Infobox ship imageШаблон:Infobox ship careerШаблон:Infobox ship characteristics

HMS Orpheus was a Repeat Шаблон:Sclass2 which served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the previous Шаблон:Sclass2, capable of higher speed. The vessel was launched on 17 June 1916 and joined the Grand Fleet. Orpheus spent much of the war undertaking anti-submarine warfare patrols in the North Sea and escorting convoys across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1917, the destroyer was involved in a friendly fire incident with the British submarine Шаблон:HMS. After the Armistice that marked the end of the First World War, the destroyer joined the Home Fleet. However, this role did not last long and the destroyer was deemed superfluous to requirements. Soon after, Orpheus was placed in reserve, decommissioned and, on 1 November 1921, sold to be broken up.

Design and development

Orpheus was one of twenty-two Repeat Шаблон:Sclass2 destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in November 1914 as part of the Third War Construction Programme.Шаблон:Sfn The M-class was an improved version of the earlier Шаблон:Sclass2 destroyers, originally envisaged to reach the higher speed of Шаблон:Convert in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers, although the eventual specification was designed for a more economic Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn The Repeat M class differed from the prewar vessels in having a raked stem and design improvements based on wartime experience.Шаблон:Sfn

The destroyer was Шаблон:Convert long between perpendiculars, with a beam of Шаблон:Convert and a draught of Шаблон:Convert. Displacement was Шаблон:Convert normal and Шаблон:Convert deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis steam turbines rated at Шаблон:Convert and driving two shafts.Шаблон:Sfn Three funnels were fitted and Шаблон:Convert of oil was carried, giving a design range of Шаблон:Convert at Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn

Armament consisted of three single [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|Шаблон:Convert Mk IV QF]] guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the middle and aft funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for [[British 21 inch torpedo|Шаблон:Convert torpedoes]].Шаблон:Sfn The ship had a complement of 76 officers and ratings.Шаблон:Sfn

Construction and career

Laid down at their shipyard in Sunderland, Orpheus was launched by William Doxford & Sons on 17 June 1916 and completed during September.Шаблон:Sfn The destroyer was the sixth Royal Navy ship to be named after Orpheus, the poet in Greek mythology that travelled to the world of Hades in search of Eurydice.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla at Scapa Flow.[1]

The destroyer was active in anti-submarine warfare but with variable results. On 18 January 1917, Orpheus was one of six destroyers that undertook patrols termed "high speed sweeps" in the North Sea using paravanes. No submarines were sighted.Шаблон:Sfn The destroyer did spot a submarine on 19 March while on patrol and attacked with gunfire, the shells narrowly missing the conning tower. However, the victim was the British boat Шаблон:HMS and the friendly fire incident led to a reassessment of the advice given to submarines.Шаблон:Sfn The Admiralty identified that the patrols were not as successful as they needed and so withdrew destroyers like Orpheus to focus on the more effective convoy model.Шаблон:Sfn The destroyer was escorting a convoy of five empty oilers returning to Texas when one, SS Oakleaf, was torpedoed by the submarine Шаблон:SMU on 25 July.Шаблон:Sfn

After the armistice, the Grand Fleet was disbanded and Orpheus temporarily joined the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet.[2] However, the harsh conditions of wartime service, exacerbated by the fact that the hull was not galvanised and operations often required high speed in high seas, meant that the destroyer was worn out.Шаблон:Sfn When the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of mobilisation, Orpheus was declared superfluous to operational requirements. The destroyer was initially transferred to Chatham on 15 October 1919 and placed in reserve.[3] However, this position did not last long. Orpheus was decommissioned, sold to Fryer on 1 November 1921 and returned to Sunderland to be broken up.Шаблон:Sfn

Pennant numbers

Pennant Number Date
G43 September 1915Шаблон:Sfn
F17 January 1917Шаблон:Sfn
F35 January 1918Шаблон:Sfn
H28 March 1918Шаблон:Sfn
F87 January 1919Шаблон:Sfn

References

Citations

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Bibliography

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Шаблон:M class destroyers