HMS Griffon (1896)
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HMS Griffon was a B-class torpedo boat destroyer of the British Royal Navy. She was completed by Laird, Son & Company, Birkenhead, in 1896.
Construction
Griffon was ordered on 9 January 1896 as one of six 30-knotter destroyers programmed to be built by Lairds under the 1895–1896 programme.[1] These followed on from four very similar destroyers ordered from Lairds as part of the 1894–1895 programme.[2]
Griffon was Script error: No such module "convert". long overall and Script error: No such module "convert". between perpendiculars, with a beam of Script error: No such module "convert". and a draught of Script error: No such module "convert".. Displacement was Script error: No such module "convert". light and Script error: No such module "convert". deep load. Like the other Laird-built 30-knotters, Griffon was propelled by two triple expansion steam engines, fed by four Normand boilers, rated at Script error: No such module "convert"., and was fitted with four funnels.[2][3]
Armament was the standard for the 30-knotters, i.e. a QF 12 pounder 12 cwt (Script error: No such module "convert". calibre) gun on a platform on the ship's conning tower (in practice the platform was also used as the ship's bridge), with a secondary armament of five 6-pounder guns, and two 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes.[4][5]
Griffon was laid down as Yard number 622 on 7 March 1896 and launched on 21 November that year.[1] She reached a speed of Script error: No such module "convert". during sea trials,[6] and was completed in November 1897.[1]
Service
Griffon departed for the Mediterranean Squadron, together with sister ship Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., in September 1898,[1] and was still serving in the Mediterranean in January 1900.[7] She visited Greek waters in September 1902,[8] and Lieutenant Harry Charles John Roberts West was appointed in command when she was back at Malta in late October 1902.[9] In early January 1903 she took part in a three-weeks cruise with other ships of her squadron in the Greek islands around Corfu.[10] Griffon returned to British waters in 1906.[1] In early 1910, Griffon, part of the Nore Destroyer Flotilla, was refitted at Chatham Dockyard.[11]
On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyers were to be grouped into classes designated by letters based on contract speed and appearance. As a four-funneled 30-knotter destroyer, Griffon was assigned to the B Class.[12][13] In 1912, older destroyers were transferred to patrol flotillas,[14] with Griffon forming part of the Seventh Flotilla, based at Devonport, by March 1913.[15][14] Griffon remained part of the Seventh Flotilla in June 1914.[16][17] Griffon entered refit at Pembroke Dockyard in July 1914.[18]
In January 1915, Griffon was based at Scapa Flow, as one of a force of 29 destroyers used for local patrols of this key anchorage, the base for the Grand Fleet.[19][20] Griffon remained attached to the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow in February 1918,[21] but by March 1918 had transferred to the Irish Sea Flotilla.[22] On 19 May 1918, she was one of several warships dispatched to investigate a sighting report of a periscope by an airship off the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales. No submarine was destroyed in the resulting operations.[23] Griffon was based at Holyhead on Anglesey for operations in the Irish sea at the end of the war.[24][25]
Disposal
In January 1919, Griffon was listed as being temporarily based at Devonport Naval Base.[26] In April 1920, she was listed as for sale,[27] and she was sold for scrap to Castle of Plymouth on 1 July 1920.[28]
Pennant numbers
| Pennant number[28] | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| D39 | 1914 | September 1915 |
| D81 | September 1915 | January 1918 |
| D45 | January 1918 | Retirement |
References
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Bibliography
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