Beagle class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Beagle class (officially redesignated as the G class in 1913) was a class
of sixteen destroyer
s of the Royal Navy
, all ordered under the 1908-1909 Programme and launched in 1909 and 1910. The Beagles served during World War I
, particularly during the Dardanelles Campaign
of 1915.
After the oil-burning Tribal or F class
of 1905 and of 1907, the Beagles marked a return to a smaller, more useful design, although still significantly larger than the River or E class
. The Admiralty had concern over the availability of oil
stocks in the event of a war, so the Beagles were coal-burners
, the last British destroyers to be so fueled.
Unlike their predecessors, the Beagles had a more-or-less uniform appearance, with three funnels, although thicknesses varied between ships according to builders' preferences. Although designed to carry five 12-pounder gun
s, they had the 4 inches (102 mm) gun (introduced in the last of the Tribals) and only three 12-pounder guns, and the 21 inches (533 mm) torpedo (introduced in the singleton Swift) fitted as standard. Importantly, the 12-pounder guns were redistributed, the guns mounted at the fo'c'sle break, which had been standard since the first torpedo boat destroyers, and were prone to being swamped in heavy seas being relocated amidships. Additional improvements included a higher bridge and taller bandstand mount for the 4 inches (102 mm) gun on the fo'c'sle to improve the ability to fight and con the ship in heavy seas.
Being coal-fired, they were obsolete by the end of the First World War and the surviving ships were all scrapped by the end of 1921.
, Clydebank
, launched 16 October 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, launched 13 November 1909, sold for breaking up 21 September 1920. — built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, launched 11 December 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by J. Samuel White & Company, Cowes
, launched 27 November 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by J. Samuel White & Company, Cowes, launched 9 February 1910, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan
, launched 22 October 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan, launched 27 January 1910, sold for breaking up 31 August 1920. — built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan, launched 19 February 1910, sold for breaking up 26 October 1921. — built by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company
, Bow Creek
, launched 30 March 1910, renamed 16 December 1913, sold for breaking up 21 September 1920. — built by William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, launched 15 March 1910, wrecked on Seven Stones reef
, Land's End
24 July 1918. — built by Cammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead
, launched 13 November 1909, sold for breaking up 31 August 1920. — built by Cammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead, launched 15 January 1910, sunk in collision with sloop
in Lough Foyle
12 December 1917. — built by Cammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead, launched 15 February 1910, wrecked on Irish coast
9 January 1918 during blizzard. — built by Harland & Wolff, Glasgow
, launched 14 March 1910, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921. — built by John I. Thornycroft & Company
, Woolston, launched 10 March 1910, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921. — built by R. W. Hawthorn Leslie & Company, Hebburn
, launched 11 February 1910, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of sixteen destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, all ordered under the 1908-1909 Programme and launched in 1909 and 1910. The Beagles served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, particularly during the Dardanelles Campaign
Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign
The naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign of the First World War were mainly carried out by the Royal Navy with substantial support from the French and minor contributions from Russia and Australia. The Dardanelles Campaign began as a purely naval operation...
of 1915.
After the oil-burning Tribal or F class
Tribal class destroyer (1905)
The Tribal or F class was a class of destroyer built for the Royal Navy. Twelve ships were built between 1905 and 1908 and all saw service during World War I, where they saw action in the North Sea and English Channel as part of the 6th Flotilla and Dover Patrols.-Design:The preceding River or E...
of 1905 and of 1907, the Beagles marked a return to a smaller, more useful design, although still significantly larger than the River or E class
River class destroyer
The River-class destroyer was a heterogeneous class of torpedo boat destroyer built to assorted builders' designs for the Royal Navy at the turn of the 20th century, which saw extensive service in World War I...
. The Admiralty had concern over the availability of oil
Fuel oil
Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from petroleum distillation, either as a distillate or a residue. Broadly speaking, fuel oil is any liquid petroleum product that is burned in a furnace or boiler for the generation of heat or used in an engine for the generation of power, except oils having a flash...
stocks in the event of a war, so the Beagles were coal-burners
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, the last British destroyers to be so fueled.
Unlike their predecessors, the Beagles had a more-or-less uniform appearance, with three funnels, although thicknesses varied between ships according to builders' preferences. Although designed to carry five 12-pounder gun
12-pounder gun
12-pounder gun or 12-pdr, usually denotes a gun which fired a projectile of approximately 12 pounds.Guns of this type include:* A cannon sized for a 12 pound ball, see Naval artillery in the Age of Sail*Canon de 12 de Vallière French canon of 1732...
s, they had the 4 inches (102 mm) gun (introduced in the last of the Tribals) and only three 12-pounder guns, and the 21 inches (533 mm) torpedo (introduced in the singleton Swift) fitted as standard. Importantly, the 12-pounder guns were redistributed, the guns mounted at the fo'c'sle break, which had been standard since the first torpedo boat destroyers, and were prone to being swamped in heavy seas being relocated amidships. Additional improvements included a higher bridge and taller bandstand mount for the 4 inches (102 mm) gun on the fo'c'sle to improve the ability to fight and con the ship in heavy seas.
Being coal-fired, they were obsolete by the end of the First World War and the surviving ships were all scrapped by the end of 1921.
Ships
— built by John Brown and CompanyJohn Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
, Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
, launched 16 October 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, launched 13 November 1909, sold for breaking up 21 September 1920. — built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, launched 11 December 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by J. Samuel White & Company, Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
, launched 27 November 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by J. Samuel White & Company, Cowes, launched 9 February 1910, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
, launched 22 October 1909, sold for breaking up 1 November 1921. — built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan, launched 27 January 1910, sold for breaking up 31 August 1920. — built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan, launched 19 February 1910, sold for breaking up 26 October 1921. — built by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company
Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company
The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Limited was a shipyard and iron works straddling the mouth of Bow Creek at its confluence with the River Thames, at Leamouth Wharf on the west side and at Canning Town on the east side...
, Bow Creek
Bow Creek
Bow Creek is a long tidal estuary of the River Lea and is part of the Bow Back Rivers. Below Bow Locks the creek forms the boundary between the London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, in east London....
, launched 30 March 1910, renamed 16 December 1913, sold for breaking up 21 September 1920. — built by William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, launched 15 March 1910, wrecked on Seven Stones reef
Seven Stones reef
Seven Stones reef is a rocky reef at 50° 03' North, 6° 04' West to the west of Land's End and the north east of the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, UK.The reef is a navigational hazard for shipping which has caused many shipwrecks including the Torrey Canyon...
, Land's End
Land's End
Land's End is a headland and small settlement in west Cornwall, England, within the United Kingdom. It is located on the Penwith peninsula approximately eight miles west-southwest of Penzance....
24 July 1918. — built by Cammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, launched 13 November 1909, sold for breaking up 31 August 1920. — built by Cammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead, launched 15 January 1910, sunk in collision with sloop
Arabis class sloop
The Arabis class was the third class of minesweeping sloops to be built under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower Class", which were also referred to as the "Cabbage Class", or "Herbaceous Borders"...
in Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle , is the estuary of the River Foyle in Ulster. It starts where the Foyle leaves Derry. It separates the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.-Transport:...
12 December 1917. — built by Cammell Laird & Company, Birkenhead, launched 15 February 1910, wrecked on Irish coast
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
9 January 1918 during blizzard. — built by Harland & Wolff, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, launched 14 March 1910, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921. — built by John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
, Woolston, launched 10 March 1910, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921. — built by R. W. Hawthorn Leslie & Company, Hebburn
Hebburn
Hebburn is a small town situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in North East England, sandwiched between the towns of Jarrow and Bill Quay...
, launched 11 February 1910, sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.