HMS Seafire

Seafire circa 1918
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Seafire
Ordered:	July 1917
Builder:	John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number:	478[1]
Launched:	10 August 1918
Identification:	Pennant number: G68
Fate:	Handed over for scrapping, 14 September 1936
General characteristics
Class and type:	S-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,075 long tons (1,092 t)
Length:	276 ft (84 m) o/a
Beam:	26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Draught:	9 ft (2.7 m)
Installed power:	27,000 shp (20,000 kW) 3 × Yarrow boilers
Propulsion:	2 Shafts; 2 steam turbines
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range:	2,750 nmi (5,090 km; 3,160 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	90
Armament:	3 × QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns 1 × QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun 2 × twin 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes 2 × single 18-inch (45 cm) torpedo tubes

HMS Seafire was an S-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Description

The S-class destroyers were improved versions of the preceding Modified R class. They displaced 1,075 long tons (1,092 t).^[2] The ships had an overall length of 276 feet (84.1 m), a beam of 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 m) and a draught of 9 feet (2.7 m). They were powered by two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 301 long tons (306 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 2,750 nautical miles (5,090 km; 3,160 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ships' complement was 90 officers and ratings.^[3]

Seafire was armed with three QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns in single mounts and a single 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun. The ship was fitted with two twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes.^[2] Two additional single mounts were positioned abreast the bridge at the break of the forecastle for 18-inch (45 cm) torpedoes. All torpedo tubes were above water and traversed to fire.^[4]

Construction and career

Seafire was ordered as part of the second batch of the S class and was built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank and launched on 10 August 1918.^[1] She saw service during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. She was one of the obsolete destroyers handed over to the shipbreakers Ward in part-payment for RMS Majestic on 14 September 1936, and was then broken up at Inverkeithing.^[1]

Notes

Bibliography

• Dittmar, F.J. & Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allen. ISBN 0-7110-0380-7. 
• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9. 
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5. 
• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7. 

S-class destroyers
Admiralty S	Royal Navy Simoom Scimitar Tribune Scotsman Senator Shark Scythe Scout Sikh Sparrowhawk Sepoy Tilbury Success Seabear Sirdar Seraph Splendid Trojan Swallow Tactician Steadfast Tintagel Seafire Shamrock Trinidad Somme Searcher Serapis Truant Sportive Sabre Sterling Tara Tenedos Stalwart Seawolf Thanet Trusty Spear Strenuous Tasmania Serene Swordsman Tattoo Sesame Spindrift Saladin Stonehenge Stronghold Sardonyx Turbulent Stormcloud Sturdy Shikari Thracian SaturnX SycamoreX  Royal Australian Navy Stalwart Success Swordsman Tasmania Tattoo
Thornycroft S	Royal Navy Torbay Speedy Tobago Toreador Tourmaline  Royal Canadian Navy Champlain (ex-Torbay) Vancouver (ex-Toreador)
Yarrow S	Royal Navy Torch Tomahawk Tryphon Tumult Turquoise Tuscan Tyrian
X Cancelled
Preceded by: R class Followed by: Talisman class
List of destroyers of the Royal Navy