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 destroyer (1913), 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 HMS Engadine (1911) but soon joined the action as part of a flotilla led by the light cruiser HMS Champion (1915). Moresby attacked the German fleet with torpedoes, initially unsuccessfully targeting the dreadnought battleship SMS Markgraf and, near the end of the battle, unleashing another which narrowly missed the battlecruiser SMS Von der Tann. In March 1918, the destroyer sank SMU U-110 with the destroyer HMS Michael (1915). After the war, the destroyer was placed in reserve and eventually sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

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. The M-class was an improved version of the earlier L-class destroyer (1913) 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 kn 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.

Moresby was 265 ft long overall, with a beam of 26 ft and a draught of 8 ft. Displacement was 1004 LT normal and 1028 LT full load. Power was provided by three White-Forster boilers feeding Parsons steam turbines rated at 25000 shp and driving three shafts, which gave a design speed of 34 kn. Three funnels were fitted. The destroyer carried 296 LT of oil, giving a design range of 3450 nmi at 15 kn.

Armament consisted of three single QF 4 in 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 torpedoes. A single QF 2-pounder 40 mm "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun was mounted between the torpedo tubes. After February 1916, for anti-submarine warfare, Moresby was equipped with two chutes for two depth charges. The number of depth charges carried increased as the war progressed. The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings.

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. The ship was completed on 7 April 1916 and joined the Grand Fleet. By this time, the ship's name had already been changed to Moresby. to honour Admiral Fairfax Moresby. The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.

On 30 May 1916, the destroyer sailed with the Grand Fleet to confront the German High Seas Fleet in the Battle of Jutland. Moresby was one of fourteen M-class destroyers that were allocated to form part of the screen to protect the battlecruisers of the fleet. However, along with sistership HMS Onslow (1916), the destroyer was detached to cover the seaplane tender HMS Engadine (1911). The tender had launched a Short Type 184 to observe the German fleet movements and was stationary waiting for it to return. After the reconnaissance seaplane had been recovered, Lieutenant commander Jack Tovey, who commanded Onslow, led the two destroyers back into the action.

Moresby rejoined the flotilla and, led by the light cruiser HMS Champion (1915), 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 SMS Markgraf. The destroyer also narrowly escaped an attack from the light cruiser SMS Wiesbaden, two torpedoes streaking past, one ahead and the other astern. 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 HMS Obdurate (1916) able to keep up.

The small flotilla sought for the main German fleet, and at 02:15 the following day turned westwards towards gunfire. They saw four German cruisers with their attendant destroyers. However, through the mist, Moresby saw what were initially taken to be four pre-dreadnought battleships. The destroyer sped off and launched a torpedo at a range of 3700 yd 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 SMS Von der Tann. Instead, the torpedo hit the torpedo boat SMS V4. Returning to the British lines, the three ships were spotted by the German torpedo boats SMS G40 and SMS V45, which launched torpedoes, but both sides escaped without recording a hit.

The destroyer was transferred to Buncrana, Ireland, with the Second Destroyer Flotilla during the latter part of 1917. 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 HMS Drake (1901). On 15 March the following year, the destroyer was patrolling with sistership HMS Michael (1915) when they surprised SMU U-110 shortly after the submarine had sunk the ocean liner RMS Amazon (1906). 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.

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 the amount of personnel needed to be reduced to save money. Moresby was taken out of active service and initially placed alongside fifty-two other destroyers in reserve at Nore. On 9 May 1921, the vessel was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Grays and was broken up in 1923.