HMS Nereus (1916)

Nereus 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.[1] The M-class was an improved version of the earlier Laforey-class destroyers, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers capable of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[2] The vessel was named after the sea god in Greek mythology.[3]

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 1,025 long tons (1,041 t) at full load.[4] Power was provided by three oil fired Yarrow boilers each exhausting through a single small funnel, which was a distinguishing feature of the class.[5] The boilers fed two Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) which connected directly to two screws via two shafts to give a design speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). 266 long tons (270 t) of oil were carried.[6] The destroyer had a design range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[7]

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.[8] The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings.[5]

Construction by John I. Thornycroft & Company of Woolston, Southampton was started when the hull was laid down during March 1915.[5] Yard number 790 was allocated during construction.[6] The ship was launched on 24 February and completed in May the following year.[9]

On entering service, Nereus joined the Grand Fleet as part of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.[10] The vessel operated in support of convoy operations, specifically as part of a hunting group sent out to search for German warships that threatened convoys in the North Sea in October 1917.[11] The harsh conditions of wartime service, particularly the combination of high speed and the poor weather that is typical of the North Sea, exacerbated by the fact that the hull was not galvanised, meant that the destroyer was soon worn out.[12] After the Armistice, the destroyer was initially moved to Nore and then reduced to Care and Maintenance at Chatham Dockyard on 10 October 1919.[13][14] Decommissioned and sold to Cashmore of Newport on 15 November 1921, Nereus was subsequently broken up July the following year.[15] The ship's bell was retained and currently resides in the Imperial War Museum.[16]