HMS Sandfly (1911)

HMS Sandfly was an Acheron-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that served during World War I and was sold for breaking in 1921. She was the seventh Royal Navy ship to be named after the small biting fly of the same name.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Sandfly.

HMS Sandfly
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Sandfly
Builder: Swan Hunter, Wallsend[1]
Launched: 9 July 1911[1]
Fate: Sold 9 May 1921[1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Acheron-class destroyer
Displacement: 750 tons
Length: 246 ft (75 m)
Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m)
Draught: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Installed power: 13,500 shp (10,100 kW)
Propulsion:
  • Three Parsons Turbines
  • Three Yarrows boilers (oil fired)
  • Three shafts
Speed: 28 kn (52 km/h)
Complement: 72
Armament:

Construction

She was built under the 1910-11 shipbuilding programme by Swan Hunter of Wallsend.[1] She had three Parsons turbines, and three Yarrows boilers.[2] Capable of 28 knots,[2] she carried two 4-inch guns, other smaller guns and two 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes and had a complement of 72 men. She was launched on 9 July 1911.[3]

Pennant numbers
Pennant number[4]FromTo
H876 December 19141 January 1918
H991 January 1918Early 1919
H63Early 19199 May 1921

Career

Pre-war

Sandfly served with the First Destroyer Flotilla from 1911 and, with her flotilla, joined the British Grand Fleet in 1914 on the outbreak of World War I.[3]

The Battle of Heligoland Bight

She was present on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, detached from the First Destroyer Flotilla along with Badger, Beaver and Jackal.[5] She shared in the prize money for the engagement.[6]

The Battle of Dogger Bank

On 24 January 1915, the First Destroyer Flotilla, including Sandfly, were present at the Battle of Dogger Bank, led by the light cruiser HMS Aurora.[7] Her crew shared in the prize money for the German armoured cruiser SMS Blücher.[6]

Transfer to Third Battle Squadron

Sandfly was one of seven destroyers to go with the First Destroyer Flotilla when it was transferred from the Grand Fleet to screen the Third Battle Squadron in November 1916.[8]

Conversion to minelayer

In 1917 the Acheron-class destroyers Ferret, Sandfly and Ariel were converted to minelaying destroyers,[9] capable of carrying 40 mines. Sandfly served with the 20th Flotilla, and operated out of Immingham.[10]

SS Miniota

On 31 August 1917 Sandfly went to the aid of SS Miniota of the Canadian Pacific Line when she was torpedoed by SM U-19[11] 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Start Point. Miniota was badly holed and sinking by the bow, which made her difficult to tow, and when efforts to tow her into Portland Harbour failed, she sank in 68 metres (37 fathoms) of water.[12]

Disposal

In common with the survivors of her class, she was laid up after World War I, and on 9 May 1921 she was sold to Thos W Ward for scrap.[4]

References
  1. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. London: Conway's Maritime Press. 1985. p. 75. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  2. "I-class destroyers (extract from Jane's Fighting Ships of 1919)". Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  3. "Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk website - Acheron Class". Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  4. ""Arrowsmith" List: Royal Navy WWI Destroyer Pendant Numbers". Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  5. "Battle of Heligoland Bight - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  6. "An Index of Prize Bounties as announced in the London Gazette 1915 - 1925". Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  7. "Battle of Dogger Bank - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  8. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (November 1916), p. 13.
  9. Minesweeping and Minelaying from the Eleventh edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911
  10. "British Destroyers - Naval history.net website". Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  11. "List of ships sunk by U-19 at Uboat.net". Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  12. "SS Miniota at the Wrecksite database". Retrieved 11 November 2009.
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