HMS Moresby

HMS Moresby was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the previous L-class, capable of higher speed. Originally laid down as HMS Marlion by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the vessel was renamed before being launched on 20 November 1915. At the Battle of Jutland, the destroyer was initially cover for the seaplane tender Engadine but soon joined the action as part of a flotilla led by the light cruiser Champion. Moresby attacked the German fleet with torpedoes, initially unsuccessfully targeting the dreadnought battleship Markgraf and, near the end of the battle, unleashing another which narrowly missed the battlecruiser Von der Tann. In March 1918, the destroyer sank U-110 with the destroyer Michael. After the war, the destroyer was placed in reserve and eventually sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

Sistership HMS Marmion
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Moresby
Namesake	Fairfax Moresby
Ordered	September 1914
Builder	J. Samuel White, East Cowes
Yard number	1456
Laid down	1 January 1915
Launched	20 November 1915
Completed	7 April 1916
Out of service	9 May 1921
Fate	Sold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and type	Admiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement	1,004 long tons (1,020 t) (normal) 1,028 long tons (1,044 t) (full load)
Length	265 ft (80.8 m) (o.a.)
Beam	26 ft 7 in (8.1 m)
Draught	8 ft 7 in (2.62 m)
Installed power	3 White-Forster boilers, 25,000 shp (19,000 kW)
Propulsion	Parsons steam turbines, 3 shafts
Speed	34 knots (39.1 mph; 63.0 km/h)
Range	2,280 nmi (4,220 km; 2,620 mi) at 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Complement	80
Armament	3 × QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns (3×1) 1 × single 2-pounder (40-mm) "pom-pom" Mk. II anti-aircraft gun (1×1) 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2×2)

Design and development

Moresby was one of sixteen Admiralty M-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in September 1914 as part of the First War Construction Programme.^[1] The M-class was an improved version of the earlier L-class destroyers, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers. The remit was to have a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) and, although the eventual design did not achieve this, the greater performance was appreciated by the navy. It transpired that the German ships did not exist.^[2]

Moresby was 265 feet (80.8 m) long overall, with a beam of 26 feet 7 inches (8.1 m) and a draught of 8 feet 7 inches (2.6 m). Displacement was 1,004 long tons (1,020 t) normal and 1,028 long tons (1,044 t) full load.^[1] Power was provided by three White-Forster boilers feeding Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and driving three shafts, which gave a design speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph).^[3] Three funnels were fitted. The destroyer carried 296 long tons (301 t) of oil, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).^[4]

Armament consisted of three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV 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. Torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.^[5][6] A single QF 2-pounder 40 mm (1.6 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun was mounted between the torpedo tubes.^[3][7] After February 1916, for anti-submarine warfare, Moresby was equipped with two chutes for two depth charges.^[8] The number of depth charges carried increased as the war progressed.^[9] The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings.^[10]

Construction and career

Marlion was laid down by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 1 January 1915 with the yard number 1456, and launched on 20 November.^[11] The ship was completed on 7 April 1916 and joined the Grand Fleet.^[12] By this time, the ship's name had already been changed to Moresby. to honour Admiral Fairfax Moresby.^[13][14] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.^[15]

On 30 May 1916, the destroyer sailed with the Grand Fleet to confront the German High Seas Fleet in the Battle of Jutland.^[16] Moresby was one of fourteen M-class destroyers that were allocated to form part of the screen to protect the battlecruisers of the fleet.^[17][18] However, along with sistership Onslow, the destroyer was detached to cover the seaplane tender Engadine.^[19] The tender had launched a Short Type 184 to observe the German fleet movements and was stationary waiting for it to return.^[20] After the reconnaissance seaplane had been recovered, Lieutenant commander Jack Tovey, who commanded Onslow, led the two destroyers back into the action.^[21]

Moresby rejoined the flotilla and, led by the light cruiser Champion, steamed towards the German High Seas Fleet. The two fleets met and Moresby was soon in the centre of the action. The destroyer attacked the German battlecruisers, and shortly after 17:10 on 31 May, launched a torpedo at the dreadnought battleship Markgraf.^[22] The destroyer also narrowly escaped an attack from the light cruiser Wiesbaden, two torpedoes streaking past, one ahead and the other astern.^[23] As the battlesfleets broke apart, Champion sped away in pursuit of the German fleet, leaving the majority of the destroyers behind, with only Moresby and Obdurate able to keep up.^[24]

The small flotilla sought for the main German fleet, and at 02:15 the following day turned westwards towards gunfire.^[25] They saw four German cruisers with their attendant destroyers.^[26] However, through the mist, Moresby saw what were initially taken to be four pre-dreadnought battleships.^[27] The destroyer sped off and launched a torpedo at a range of 3,700 yards (3,400 m) at the third ship in the line. The destroyer reported a hit and then withdrew. In fact, two of the vessels were German battlecruisers, and the torpedo narrowly missed Von der Tann.^[28] Instead, the torpedo hit the torpedo boat V4.^[29] Returning to the British lines, the three ships were spotted by the German torpedo boats G40 and V45, which launched torpedoes, but both sides escaped without recording a hit.^[30]

The destroyer was transferred to Buncrana, Ireland, with the Second Destroyer Flotilla during the latter part of 1917.^[31] The vessel served as a convoy escort, and on 2 October 1917, was also involved in the ultimately unsuccessful efforts to save the armoured cruiser Drake.^[32] On 15 March the following year, the destroyer was patrolling with sistership Michael when they surprised U-110 shortly after the submarine had sunk the ocean liner Amazon. The submarine dived but was brought back to the surface when the destroyers attacked with depth charges and was finished by gunfire. Six of the crew were rescued.^[33]

AAfter the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and personnel needed to be reduced to save money.^[34] Moresby was taken out of active service and initially placed alongside fifty-two other destroyers in reserve at Nore.^[35] On 9 May 1921, the vessel was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Grays and was broken up in 1923.^[13]

Pennant numbers

Penant numbers

Pennant number	Date
HC1	1914[36]
F02	1917[36]
H27	1918[36]

References

Citations

1. McBride 1991, p. 44.
2. Friedman 2009, p. 132.
3. Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 109.
4. Friedman 2009, p. 296.
5. Preston 1985, pp. 76, 80.
6. March 1966, p. 174.
7. Friedman 2009, p. 156.
8. Friedman 2009, p. 150.
9. Friedman 2009, p. 152.
10. Preston 1985, p. 79.
11. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 86.
12. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 36.
13. Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 219.
14. Manning & Walker 1959, p. 305.
15. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 12. October 1916. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
16. Brooks 2016, p. 155.
17. Campbell 1998, p. 23.
18. Jutland: Official Despatches 1920, p. 533.
19. Kemp 1956, p. 70.
20. Layman 1990, p. 98.
21. Kemp 1956, p. 78.
22. Campbell 1998, p. 101.
23. Campbell 1998, p. 215.
24. Brooks 2016, p. 399.
25. Corbett 1920, p. 408.
26. Brookes 1962, p. 66.
27. Corbett 1920, p. 410.
28. Campbell 1998, p. 301.
29. Corbett 1920, p. 411.
30. Brooks 2016, p. 425.
31. "Coast of Ireland Station", Supplement to the Monthly Navy List, p. 17, October 1917, retrieved 3 November 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
32. Newbolt 1931, p. 162.
33. Gibson & Prendergast 1931, p. 292.
34. Moretz 2002, p. 79.
35. "Vessels in Reserve at Home Ports and Other Bases", The Navy List, p. 707, October 1919, retrieved 3 November 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
36. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 65.

Bibliography

• Battle of Jutland, 30 May to 1 June 1916: Official Despatches with Appendices. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1920.
• Brookes, Ewart (1962). Destroyer. London: Jarrolds. OCLC 464408994.
• Brooks, John (2016). The Battle of Jutland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-15014-0.
• Campbell, John (1998). Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-750-4.
• Colledge, J.J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. London: Chatham Press. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
• Corbett, Julian S. (1920). Naval Operations: Volume III. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 1049894619.
• Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-380-4.
• Dunn, Steve (2008). Bayly's War: The Battle for the Western Approaches in the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-52670-123-7.
• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
• Gibson, R.H.; Prendergast, Maurice (1931). The German Submarine War 1914-1918. London: Constable & Co. OCLC 560671595.
• Kemp, Paul K. (1956). Destroyer. London: Herbert Jenkins. OCLC 464448265.
• Layman, Robert D. (1990). "Engadine at Jutland". In Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Warship 1990. Annapolis MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-903-1.
• Manning, Thomas Davys; Walker, Charles Frederick (1959). British Warship Names. London: Putnam. OCLC 780274698.
• 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.
• McBride, Keith (1991). "British 'M' Class Destroyers of 1913–14". In Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Warship 1991. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 34–49. ISBN 978-0-85177-582-1.
• Moretz, Joseph (2002). The Royal Navy and the Capital Ship in the Interwar Period. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-71465-196-5.
• Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Vol. V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 861238073.
• 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.
• Williams, David L.; Sprake, Raymond F. (1993). White's of Cowes : "White's-built, well-built!". Peterborough: Silver Link. ISBN 978-1-85794-011-4.