HMS Marmion (1915)

Marmion was one of sixteen Admiralty M-class destroyer 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 Laforey class destroyers, required to reach the higher speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers.[1]

The destroyer was 265 feet (80.77 m) long overall, with a beam of 26 feet 7 inches (8.10 m) and a draught of 8 feet 7 inches (2.62 m). displacement was 994 long tons (1,010 t) normal and 1,028 long tons (1,044 t) full load.[2] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph).[3] Two funnels were fitted, two boilers exhausting through the forward funnel. 296 long tons (301 t) of oil were carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[4]

Armament consisted of three 4 in (102 mm) Mk IV QF guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[4] The ship had a complement of 77 officers and ratings.[5]

Construction by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson was started when the ship's hull was laid down on 28 October 1914 at Wallsend and the ship was launched on 28 May the following year. Initially allocated the pennant number H.C2, the ship became G04 in January 1917.[6]

Commissioned on 3 September 1915, Marmion joined the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.[7] Within a month, William Leveson-Gower, who would become uncle to the future Elizabeth II, was appointed as commander. He remained in charge of the vessel until 25 May 1917.[8]

The vessel was initially deployed as part of the Grand Fleet. On 21 December 1916, while undertaking exercises, the flotilla leader Hoste collided with the destroyer Negro.[9] Marmion quickly pulled alongside the stricken destroyer to tow it to safety but when it was only 225 ft (69 m) away, Negro sunk beneath the waves.[10] Five officers and forty-five ratings lost their lives.[11] The ship then took Hoste in tow, along with fellow M-class destroyer Marvel, but that vessel too had to be abandoned once the crew had been evacuated.[9]

Marmion also undertook escort duties. On 14 April 1917, the destroyer formed part of the escort for RMS Olympic, which transported Arthur Balfour on a mission to the US to procure additional destroyers for the fleet. The mission encountered heavy seas that caused substantial damage, but was a success.[12]

In October 1917, Marmion was one of eight destroyers that were escorting convoys between Shetland and Norway.[13] On 20 October, the vessel was sent to escort an outbound convoy heading for Bergen to replace Obedient which was returning for repairs.[14] Another convoy under escort was heading from Bergen at the same time, escorted by the destroyers Sarpedon and Tirade. At 1:30AM on 21 October, Marmion encountered this second convoy rather than the one it was expecting to see, which was at the time some miles north. The ships were passing when Tirade collided with Marmion.[15] The bow of the former vessel was raised by a particularly high swell and sliced Marmion in half.[14] The ship swiftly sank with all hands. Only ten bodies were recovered.[5]