HMS Satyr (1916)

HMS Satyr was an R-class destroyer (1916) destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. Launched on 27 December 1916, Satyr joined the Harwich Force under the command of Commander Hubert de Burgh. In 1917, the destroyer formed part of a force protecting the monitors HMS Erebus (I02) and HMS Terror (I03) in their bombardment of Ostend. As part of this action, Satyr, along with sister ships HMS Taurus (1917), HMS Sharpshooter (1917) and HMS Torrent (1916), sank the German destroyer S20. After the war, the ship served with the Torpedo School at the Devonport. In 1923, the Navy decided to retire many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels and Satyr was sold to be broken up on 16 December 1926.

Design and development
Satyr was one of ten R-class destroyer (1916) destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in December 1915 as part of the Seventh War Construction Programme. The design was generally similar to the preceding M-class destroyer (1913) destroyers, but differed in having geared steam turbines, the central gun mounted differently and minor changes to improve seakeeping.

Satyr was 276 ft long overall, with a beam of 26 ft and a draught of 9 ft. Displacement was 975 LT normal and 1075 LT deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Parsons geared steam turbines rated at 27000 shp and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 36 kn. Three funnels were fitted. A total of 296 LT of fuel oil was carried, giving a design range of 3450 nmi at 15 kn.

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

Construction and career
Satyr was laid down at the William Beardmore and Company shipyard in Dalmuir during April 1916 with yard number 549, launched in December 1916 and completed on 2 February 1917. The destroyer cost £150,103 to build. On commissioning, Satyr joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force. The commanding officer was Commander Hubert de Burgh.

On 4 June 1917, Satyr was deployed as part of a large group of 7 cruisers and 25 destroyers to protect the monitors HMS Erebus (I02) and HMS Terror (I03) in their bombardment of the German held Belgian port of Ostend. Along with sister ships HMS Taurus (1917), HMS Sharpshooter (1917) and HMS Torrent (1916), Satyr sank the German destroyer S20. De Burgh received the Distinguished Service Order for his part in the action, particularly for saving the lives of seven of the crew of S20 while under fire.

Satyr remained part of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla at the end of the war, but by February 1919, had been transferred to the Torpedo School at the Devonport. In 1923, the Navy decided to scrap many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels. Satyr was one of those chosen to retire and was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Milford Haven on 16 December 1926 and broken up.