HMS Tigress (1911)

HMS Tigress was an Acheron-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that served during World War I. She was built under the 1910–11 shipbuilding programme by R. W. Hawthorn Leslie & Company of Hebburn, was launched on 20 December 1911 and was sold for breaking on 9 May 1921.[1]

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

HMS Tigress during World War I
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Tigress
Builder: R. W. Hawthorn Leslie & Company, Hebburn
Launched: 20 December 1911[1]
Fate: Sold 9 May 1921[1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Acheron-class destroyer
Displacement: 770 tons
Length: 75 m (246 ft)
Beam: 7.8 m (26 ft)
Draught: 2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Propulsion:
  • Three shaft Parsons Turbines
  • Three Yarrow boilers (oil fired)
  • 13,500 shp
Speed: 27 kn (50 km/h)
Complement: 72
Armament:

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number[2]FromTo
H926 December 19141 January 1918
H4A1 January 1918Early 1919
H61Early 19199 May 1921

Operational history

HMS Tigress was assigned to the First Destroyer Flotilla, which became part of the Grand Fleet at the outbreak of World War I.

Battle of Dogger Bank

On 24 January 1915, she was present at the Battle of Dogger Bank with the First Destroyer Flotilla.

Mediterranean service

In late 1917 Tigress was sent to join the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, operating in the Mediterranean.[3]

Pursuit of Goeben and Breslau
Main article: Battle of Imbros (1918)

On 19 January 1918, the two German-Turkish ships SMS Breslau and Goeben passed through the Dardanelles to the Aegean. The two ships were shadowed by a Royal Navy flotilla that was stationed there to intercept them, of which Tigress was a part, along with HM Ships Raglan, M28, and Lizard. The German ships outgunned their opposition, sinking the two monitors, M28 and Raglan, but subsequently ran into a minefield. Breslau struck a mine and sank immediately, with the loss of 330 men. Goeben was damaged but managed to escape. The Captain of the Tigress Lt Cdr J B Newill was awarded the DSO for this action. his citation read ''''For the great skill and gallantry displayed by him in handling his ship in the presence of a greatly superior enemy force and under heavy fire. He performed most efficiently his main duty of shadowing the enemy and reporting his movements. He proceeded into the minefield to engage a superior force of enemy destroyers and drove them back to their base. He again entered the minefield at great risk to his ship, and gallantly rescued 162 survivors of the "Breslau" whilst still being fired on from shore batterie's.

Entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles

Tigress was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.[4] The Fleet sighted the minarets of Constantinople at 07:00 on 13 November and anchored an hour later. The destroyers maintained an anti-submarine patrol to the west of the anchored fleet.[4]

Disposal

Tigress was sold on 9 May 1921 to Ward of Milford Haven, Wales[1] for breaking.

References
  1. F. J. Ditmarr & J. J. Colledge. British Warships 1914-1919, p. 62.
  2. ""Arrowsmith" List: Royal Navy WWI Destroyer Pendant Numbers". Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  3. Dreadnought Project page on 5 D.F..
  4. S E Brooks. "The Entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles". Oxford University. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
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