| The
River Class destroyer marked the break between torpedo boats and true
destroyers and set the destroyer programmes of Britain and other major
naval powers until 1916. The class served the Royal Navy well and was
used during WWI for patrol and escort duties. due to their higher
silhouette which made them more visible they were less suited for
surprise torpedo attacks. The River Class destroyers were built by
various boat yards including Palmer, Yarrow, Hawthorn Leslie, Laird,
Thornycroft and White. |
| HMS Ribble |
19th March 1904 |
Broken up in 1920. |
| HMS Teviot |
7th November 1903 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Usk |
25th July 1903 |
Broken up in 1920. |
| HMS Derwent |
14th February 1903 |
Mined and sunk off Le Havre on 2nd May 1917. |
| HMS Eden |
13th February 1903 |
Collided with another vessel in 1916 and
sank. |
| HMS Foyle |
25th February 1903 |
Mined and sunk in 1917. |
| HMS Itchen |
17th March 1903 |
Torpedoed and sunk in 1917. |
| HMS Kennet |
4th December 1903 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Jed |
16th February 1904 |
Broken up in 1920. |
| HMS Welland |
14th April 1904 |
Broken up in 1920. |
| HMS Cherwell |
23rd July 1903 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Dee |
10th September 1903 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Arun |
29th April 1903 |
Broken up in 1920. |
| HMS Blackwater |
25th July 1903 |
Sunk after colliding with another vessel in
1909. |
| HMS Waveney |
16th March 1903 |
Broken up in 1920. |
| HMS Chelmer |
8th December 1904 |
Broken up in 1920. |
| HMS Colne |
21st May 1905 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Ure |
25th October 1904 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Wear |
21st January 1905 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Liffey |
23rd September 1904 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Moy |
10th November 1904 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Ouse |
7th January 1905 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Boyne |
12th September 1904 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Doon |
8th November 1904 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Kale |
8th November 1904 |
Mined and sunk in 1918. |
| HMS Rother |
5th January 1904 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Gala |
7th January 1905 |
Never completed. Sunk after colliding with
another vessel in 1908. |
| HMS Garry |
21st May 1905 |
Broken up in 1919 after colliding with the
Attentive. |
| HMS Ness |
5th January 1905 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Nith |
7th March 1905 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Swale |
20th April 1905 |
Broken up in 1919. |
| HMS Stour |
3rd June 1905 |
Sold for scrapping in August 1919. |
| HMS Test |
6th May 1905 |
Sold for scrapping in August 1919. |
| HMS
Ribble
On the afternoon of the 27th April 1908 , the eastern destroyer Flotilla,
consisting of 15 vessels, in company with the scouts HMS Adventure and
HMS Attentive, left Harwich for the purpose of firing exercise and
night ,maneuvers. a little after midnight all the vessels having their
lights masked, HMS Gala one of the destroyers came into collision
with HMS Attentive being struck by the latter's ram in the after part of
the engine room and cut in two. Fortunately in this case all the crew
were saved, except Engineer Lieutenant F A Fletcher, who was drowned.
HMS Attentive afterwards came into collision with another of the
destroyers HMS Ribble which received damage sufficiently serious to
oblige her to put back to sheerness. The fore part of HMS Gala sunk
almost immediately, but the after part, with all the crew clinging
to it remained afloat for some time, sinking while an attempt was being
made to tow it into shallow water.
|
|
HMS Ribble. Submitted
by George Needham |
HMS Ribble.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD0037 |
|
HMS Teviot |
|
HMS Teviot, 1906.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP1517
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP1517 |
HMS Teviot, 1910.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP1518
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP1518 |
|
HMS Teviot pictured c. 1910. ©Walker Archive
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD038 |
HMS Teviot.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD03A |
|
HMS Teviot.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD480 |
|
HMS Derwent |
|
HMS Derwent.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD380 |
|
HMS Eden |
|
HMS Eden -
Name History |
|
The second “EDEN” is a turbine torpedo-boat
destroyer, launched at Hawthorn Leslie’s Yard in 1903.
She is of 555 tons, 7000 horse-power, and 25 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 220ft., 23ft., and 9ft.
Early in the morning of January 28th, 1910, this
destroyer, while commanded by Lieutenant Oliver M. F. Stokes, broke away
from her moorings in bad weather, and sank at the Harbour Jetty, under
East Cliff, Dover. She was
got afloat again on January 30th. |
|
HMS Dee |
|
HMS Dee |
|
HMS
Dee - Name History |
|
The fourth “DEE” is a twin-screw torpedo-boat
destroyer, built at Palmers Yard at Jarrow and launched on the Tyne in
1903. She is of 545 tons,
7000 horse-power, and 27 knots speed. Her length, beam, and draught were 225ft., 23ft., and 10ft.
In September 1905 the “Dee,” while commanded by Lieutenant
and Commander Harold E. Sulivan, and in company with the “Exe,”
demonstrated her good qualities by successfully passing through a severe
typhoon between Wei-hai-wei and Shanghai.
At the beginning of the passage the barometer stood at 30.20, and
there was only a slight breeze. In
two days the glass had dropped to 27.78 and the wind had increased to
force 11. By the third day
the barometer and wind were both normal.
An observer in the “Exe,” who was watching the “Dee,”
noted that “. . .The extraordinary attitudes she assumed, and the
conditions she went through, were more interesting than re-assuring.
At times she would be poised on her crest of a sea, her fore part
high and dry (so to speak), leaving her keel visible up to the conning
tower; the after part also naked, showing her propellers racing in the
air. The she would take a dive, an intervening wave would blot out
this merry picture, and then to one’s relief as the wave passed by, a
mast would appear waving on the other side until, thank goodness, one
would catch sight of her funnels and then her hull, still above water. .
.” The “Dee,” was
sighted at a bad period f the typhoon by a passing mail steamer.
The passengers gave the little ship up as lost, and it is said
that a clergyman among them offered up prayers for the repose of their
souls. The commanding
officer of the “Dee,” was much struck by the contrast afforded by
the blue sky and comparative calm which he experienced in the centre of
the storm, and by the number of kingfishers and other land birds which
took refuge on board the ship when she got into this calm vortex. The ship was in situation of considerable peril for some
forty-eight hours, and was only saved by good work of her builders, and
the seamanlike skill of her Commander.
The whole affair reflected the greatest possible credit on the
British destroyer officers, and the reader who wishes to read fuller
details will find them in the second edition of Admiral Sir Christopher
Cradock’s Whispers from the fleet, where they appear in the form of a
letter from Commander Allan F. Everett of the “Exe,” who was the
senior officer of the two vessels. |
|
HMS Arun |
|
HMS
Arun - Name History |
|
The Arun is a twin-screw torpedo-boat destroyer,
launched at Birkenhead in 1903. She
is of 550 tons, 7000 horsepower, and 27 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 225ft, 23ft, and 10ft.
On August 13th, 1904, the “Arun” while
commanded by commander Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, collided with the
torpedo-boat destroyer “Decoy” off the Scilly Island.
The “Decoy” sank and was never recovered, but no lives were
lost. |
|
HMS Arun, 1904.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP1519
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP1519 |
HMS Arun.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD375 |
|
HMS Blackwater |
|
HMS Blackwater, 1906.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP1520
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP1520 |
|
HMS Waveney |
|
HMS Waveney 1908 ©Walker Archive
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD039 |
|
HMS Chelmer |
|
HMS Chelmer running dispatched Balkan War 1912. ©
Christopher Swindlehurst
|
|
HMS Chelmer ships company at Salina, Malta ©
Christopher Swindlehurst |
HMS Chelmer crew on board ship © Christopher
Swindlehurst |
|
HMS Colne |
|
HMS Colne, 1905.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP1521
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP1521 |
|
HMS Ure |
|
HMS Ure
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD173 |
HMS Ure, 1905.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP1516
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP1516 |
|
HMS Wear |
|
HMS Wear.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD469 |
|
HMS Boyne |
|
HMS Boyne c.1905 |
HMS Boyne in 1906 A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD040 |
|
HMS Doon |
|
HMS Doon.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD307 |
HMS Doon in dry dock at Harwich.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD410 |
|
HMS Welland |
|
HMS Welland.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD468 |
|
HMS Cherwell |
|
HMS Cherwell. A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD042 |
HMS Cherwell c.1904 A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD043 |
|
HMS Cherwell.Contributed
by email. |
HMS Cherwell.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD377 |
|
HMS Rother |
|
HMS Rother, 1907.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP1515
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP1515 |
|
HMS Gala On
the afternoon of the 27th April 1908 , the eastern destroyer Flotilla, consisting
of 15 vessels, in company with the scouts HMS Adventure and HMS
Attentive, left Harwich for the purpose of firing exercise and
night ,maneuvers. a little after midnight all the vessels having their
lights masked, HMS Gala one of the destroyers came into collision
with HMS Attentive being struck by the latter's ram in the after part of
the engine room and cut in two. Fortunately in this case all the crew
were saved, except Engineer Lieutenant F A Fletcher, who was drowned.
HMS attentive afterwards came into collision with another of the
destroyers HMS Ribble which received damage sufficiently serious to
oblige her to put back to sheerness. The fore part of HMS gala sunk
almost immediately, but the after part, with all the crew clinging
to it remained afloat for some time, sinking while an attempt was being
made to tow it into shallow water. |
|
HMS Gala c.1908 before she sank. A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD044 |
|
HMS Garry |
|
HMS Garry.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD500 |
|
HMS Garry. Sent in by Mark
McCauley |
HMS Garry. ©Walker Archive
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD045 |
|
HMS Ness |
|
HMS Ness. Sent in by |
|
HMS Ness c.1908 ©Walker Archive A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD046 |
A Crew member of HMS Ness ©Walker
Archive
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD047
|
|
HMS Nith |
|
HMS Nith.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHD483 |
|
HMS Nith |
Crew member of HMS Nith sent in by Steve Corbet... who
asks, where can I find
crew lists for HMS Nith to confirm the name of the sailor in the
photo? --- Any info? contact our message board |
| |
|
Naval Historians, Crew & Family
Noticeboard
River Class destroyers, Message Board for
naval enthusiasts and crew descendents of River Class Destroyers. This
website is not part of any governmental body or official websites of River
Class Destroyers.
Photographs and information on historical events about the
aforementioned destroyers requested for this new website. If you have any
information you would like to send us including photographs of crew
members serving on any of these destroyers and also photographs of the
ships please USE
OUR MESSAGE FORM
MESSAGES HMS
DERWENT. . I
am seeking information of any kind relating to HMS Derwent which was mined
and sunk off Le Havre on 2nd May 1917. Thanks in anticipation. Contact me
at dwcraig@btinternet.com HMS DEE.. I have
recently come across a voice pipe from this vessel mounted on a silver
coloured stand. Any further information about this ship contact me at raymond.cullis@ntlworld.com HMS USK... I am trying to find information on this WWI destroyer. It was
mentioned briefly relating to Gallipoli and was listed as one of the ships
in the campaign. If anyone has any further information or photographs
please contact Chris Sunman at chris.sunman@virgin.net HMS
GARRY
WILLIAM CORBETT.. I am trying to find out all I can
about HMS Garry.. my grandfather served on her... William Corbett (went on
to be Lt Commander RN) Hope you can help Contact
Here
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE USE
OUR MESSAGE FORM |
|
