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HMS Orford (1916) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet during 1916, took part in the battle against the U-boats from Ireland in 1917 and returned to the Grand Fleet in 1918.
The Orford was ordered as part of the Third War Programme of late November 1914. She was laid down at Doxford, launched on 19 April 1916 and completed in May 1916.
1916
From July 1916 to June 1917 the Orford officially served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
1917
Although the Orford officially remained with the 14th Flotilla until July 1917, she spent at least the first half of 1917 operating against the U-boats in the Western Approaches, Channel and Atlantic.
On 31 January 1917 U-55 sank SS Dundee off the Cornish coast. This triggered a large hunt, which included the Orford and Christopher, but the U-boat escaped.
On 11 February U-55 sank SS Essonite off the Cornish coast. Orford and Christopher soon reached the scene, and the Orford spotted a submarine five miles to their north-north west. The submarine was still able to sink the trawler Violet but the Norwegian SS Ramsholm was saved. The Orfold was able to force the submarine down and drop four depth charges, although the submarine survived.
The Orford was escorting ships carrying coal to France when U-48 was operating in their area on 6-7 March 1917, but didn’t spot her.
In July 1917 she was serving with the Northern Division of the Coast of Ireland Station, based at Buncrana. On 9 July she was used to escort two oilers out into the Atlantic.
On 19 July she was one of eight warships sent out to escort inbound Atlantic Convoy HH9 to port.
From September 1917 to November 1918 she was back with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet
On 17 October 1917 the Germans attacked a Scandinavian convoy, sinking the destroyers Mary Rose and Strongbow. At the time the Royal Navy had been expected a German operation and had a large force of cruisers and destroyers patrolling parts of the North Sea. The Orford was operating with the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, which was patrolled between the southern end of Sweden and the northern tip of Denmark. However the British failed to intercept the German raiders.
1918
The 14th Flotilla took part in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.
In December 1919 she was in the charge of a Care and Maintenance Party at Portsmouth.
She was sold to be broken up in October 1921.
Service Record
July 1916-June 1917: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
July 1917: Northern Division Coast of Ireland, Buncrana
September 1917-November 1918: 14th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
Displacement (standard) |
1,025t (Admiralty design) |
Displacement (loaded) |
1,250t |
Top Speed |
34 knots |
Engine |
3-shaft Brown-Curtis or Parsons turbines |
Range |
|
Length |
273ft 4in (Admiralty) |
Width |
26ft 8ft (Admiralty) |
Armaments |
Three 4in/ 45cal QF Mk IV |
Crew complement |
80 |
Laid down |
- |
Launched |
19 April 1916 |
Completed |
May 1916 |
Sold for break up |
October 1921 |
British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War, Norman Friedman. A very detailed look at the design of British destroyers from their earliest roots as torpedo boat destroyers, though the First World War and up to the start of the Second World War, supported by vast numbers of plans and well chosen photographs [read full review]
