HMS Onslow (1916)

HMS Onslow was an Admiralty M-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She took part in the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and was sold for scrap in 1921.

Description
The Admiralty M class were improved and faster versions of the preceding Laforey-class destroyer. They displaced 971 LT. The ships had an overall length of 273 ft, a beam of 26 ft and a draught of 9 ft. They were powered by three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of 25000 shp and gave a maximum speed of 34 kn. The ships carried a maximum of 237 LT of fuel oil that gave them a range of 2100 nmi at 15 kn. The ships' complement was 76 officers and ratings.

The ships were armed with three single QF 4 in Mark IV guns and two QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) anti-aircraft guns. These latter guns were later replaced by a pair of QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns. The ships were also fitted with two above water twin mounts for 21 in torpedoes.

Construction and service
Onslow was ordered under the Third War Programme in November 1914 and built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Govan. The ship was launched on 15 February 1916 and completed in April 1916. Her first commander was John Tovey, (later Admiral of the Fleet).

On 24 April 1916, the Easter Rising against British rule broke out in Ireland. Two infantry brigades were ordered from Liverpool to Dublin to reinforce the British forces, with Onslow escorting the transports carrying these troops. She saw action at the Battle of Jutland and was badly damaged, with her speed reduced to 10 kn. Tovey pressed home the attack against first a cruiser and then a line of battlecruisers. Onslow was brought back to Aberdeen despite the damage, having been towed out of action by the destroyer HMS Defender (1911), under heavy fire. The report on the battle by Admiral Beatty stated that:

"Defender, whose speed had been reduced to 10 knots, while on the disengaged side of the battle cruisers, was struck by a shell which damaged her foremost boiler, but closed Onslow and took her in tow. Shells were falling all round them during this operation, which, however, was successfully accomplished. During the heavy weather of the ensuing night the tow parted twice, but was resecured. The two struggled on together until 1pm 1st June, when Onslow was transferred to tugs. I consider the performances of these two destroyers to be gallant in the extreme, and I am recommending Lieutenant-Commander J. C. Tovey of Onslow, and Lieutenant Commander Palmer of Defender, for special recognition..." Both officers were awarded DSOs.

Onslow was sold for breaking up on 26 October 1921.