HMS Romola with two other R-class destroyers
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Romola
BuilderJohn Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number449
Laid down25 August 1915
Launched14 May 1916
Commissioned17 August 1916
Decommissioned13 March 1930
FateBroken up
General characteristics
Class and typeR-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 975 long tons (991 t) normal
  • 1,173 long tons (1,192 t) deep load
Length265 ft (80.8 m) p.p.
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
Propulsion
  • 3 Yarrow boilers
  • 2 geared Brown-Curtis steam turbines, 27,000 shp (20,000 kW)
Speed36 knots (41.4 mph; 66.7 km/h)
Range3,450 nmi (6,390 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement82
Armament

HMS Romola was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 14 May 1916, the ship operated as part of the Grand Fleet, operating as part of a destroyer flotilla. The ship sailed to intercept the German High Seas Fleet in what would be one of the last major expeditions of their Navy in the war but saw no action. After the conflict, the destroyer was held in reserve until being retired and sold to be broken up on 13 March 1930.

Design and development

Romola was one of seventeen R-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in July 1915 as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme.[1] A development of the preceding M-class, the design differed primarily in utilising geared turbines to improve fuel consumption. Comparative trials with Norman showed a 15% saving in fuel at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and 28% at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[2]

The destroyer was 265 feet (80.77 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m) and a draught of 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m).[3] Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,173 long tons (1,192 t) deep load.[4] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis 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).[5] 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).[5]

Armament consisted of three 4 in (102 mm) Mk IV QF 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.[3] A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two rotating twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes. [5] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[3]

Construction and career

Romola was laid down by John Brown & Company at Clydebank on the River Clyde on 25 August 1915 and launched on 14 May 1916, leaving the yard on 17 August that year. The destroyer was allocated the yard number 449.[6] The build took 263 days and fitting out 96 days, the latter the longest of any of the class constructed at the yard.[7] Despite that, Romola was the first of the order to enter service.[1]

On commissioning, Romola joined the 11th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.[8] On 24 April 1918 the Flotilla was called to intercept the High Seas Fleet on what was to prove the last major expedition by the German Navy during the War. The ships did not meet and no shots were fired in anger.[9]

After the War, Romola was sent to Gibraltar along with sister-ship Rowena, arriving on 8 May 1920.[10] Romola, as part of the Gibraltar Local Defence Flotilla, escorted the battlecruiser Renown, carrying Edward, the Prince of Wales, into Gibraltar on 29 October 1921.[11] From 1922, as part of a general demobilisation of the Royal Navy's local defence flotillas, Romola carried a reduced complement.[12] In September 1922, as a result of the Chanak Crisis, which threatened war between Britain and Turkey, Romola's crew was made up to a full complement with men from the cruiser Vindictive and the destroyer, together with sister-ship Rigorous was ordered to Malta.[13][14] In September 1923, it was announced that Romola and Rigorous would be replaced in the Gibraltar Local Defence Flotilla by the S-class destroyers Splendid and Tourmaline, with the two R-class destroyers going into reserve at Plymouth.[15] In November 1927, Romola relieved Simoom as emergency destroyer at Devonport,[16] and in November 1927 was replaced as Devonport emergency destroyer by Thanet.[17] The destroyer was subsequently recommissioned at Devonport and held in reserve.[18] On 13 March 1930, the vessel was sold to King of Troon and broken up.[19]

Pennant numbers

Pennant Number Date
G83September 1915[20]
G18January 1918[21]
G15March 1918[21]
G53January 1919[22]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  2. ↑ Brown 2007, p. 16.
  3. 1 2 3 Parkes & Prendegast 1919, p. 107.
  4. ↑ McCaid, John (2012). "Romola 1916 HMS – Destroyer". Clydemarine. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  6. ↑ Johnston 2014, p. 198.
  7. ↑ Johnston 2014, p. 14.
  8. ↑ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 13. July 1917. Retrieved 5 May 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  9. ↑ Newbolt 1931, pp. 237–238.
  10. ↑ "Movements of Ships". The Times. 11 May 1920. p. 21.
  11. ↑ "Prince at the Rock". The Times. No. 42865. 31 October 1921. p. 10.
  12. ↑ "Naval And Military: Gibraltar Defence Flotilla". The Times. No. 43066. 24 June 1922. p. 8.
  13. ↑ Halpern 2011, pp. 400–401.
  14. ↑ "Kemal's Next Move: Ships and Men for the East". The Times. No. 43139. 18 September 1922. p. 10.
  15. ↑ "Naval And Military: Gibraltar Defence Flotilla". The Times. No. 43458. 28 September 1923. p. 8.
  16. ↑ "Naval And Military.: Port Changes". The Times. No. 44728. 2 November 1927. p. 21.
  17. ↑ "Naval, Military, And Air Force.: Destroyer Exchanges". The Times. No. 45064. 30 November 1928. p. 10.
  18. ↑ "Vessels under the V.A.C. Reserve Fleet: Devonport". The Navy List: 265. February 1929 – via National Library of Scotland.
  19. ↑ Colledge & Warlow 2010, p. 344.
  20. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 67.
  21. 1 2 Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 70.
  22. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 65.

Bibliography

  • 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.
  • Brown, David K. (2007). Atlantic Escorts: Ships, Weapons & Tactics in World War II. Barnsley: Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-78346-901-7.
  • Colledge, J. J. & Warlow, Ben (2010). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Havertown: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
  • Dittmar, F.J. & Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Friedman, Norman (2012). British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War & After. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • Hackmann, Willem (1984). Seek & Strike: Sonar, Anti-Submarine Warfare and the Royal Navy 1914-54. London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11290-423-6.
  • Halpern, Paul, ed. (2011). The Mediterranean Fleet 1919–1929. Publications of the Naval Records Society. Vol. 158. Farnham, UK: Ashgate Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1-4094-2756-8.
  • Johnston, Ian (2014). A Shipyard at War: Unseen Photographs of John Brown & Co. Ltd, Clydebank, 1914-18. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-216-5.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Vol. V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
  • Parkes, Oscar & Prendegast, Maurice (1919). Jane's Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.


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