Definition
HMS Tempest (H71) was a Royal Navy R‑class destroyer that served during the First World War and the interwar period, later being scrapped in 1937.
Overview
Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Govan on the River Clyde, the ship was laid down on 24 June 1916, launched on 26 January 1917, and completed on 20 March 1917. Upon commissioning she joined the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force, operating primarily in the North Sea. Tempest took part in the First Ostend Raid on 23 April 1918, providing escort and fire‑support duties. After the war she served with the 21st Destroyer Flotilla before being placed in reserve. The vessel was sold for scrap on 9 January 1937.
Etymology/Origin
The name Tempest derives from the English word for a violent storm, a traditional Royal Navy naming convention for destroyers intended to convey speed and power.
Characteristics
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Class & Type | R‑class destroyer |
| Displacement | 1,072 tons (standard), 1,225 tons (full load) |
| Dimensions | Length 276 ft (84 m); Beam 27 ft (8.2 m); Draught 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 3 Yarrow water‑tube boilers feeding 2 Parsons geared steam turbines, 27,000 shp, 2 shafts |
| Speed | Designed for 36 kn (67 km/h) |
| Range | Approximately 3,450 nm at 15 kn |
| Armament | • 3 × QF 4‑inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns (fore, aft, and amidships) • 1 × 2‑pdr (40 mm) “pom‑pom” anti‑aircraft gun • 2 × twin 21‑inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes |
| Complement | ~82 officers and ratings |
| Service Highlights | • Escort duties with Harwich Force • Participation in First Ostend Raid (1918) • Post‑war service with 21st Destroyer Flotilla |
Related Topics
- R‑class destroyer – the class of fast, fleet‑destroyers built for the Royal Navy in 1916‑1917.
- Harwich Force – a Royal Navy formation operating in the North Sea during WWI.
- First Ostend Raid – a 1918 Royal Navy operation against the German‑occupied port of Ostend.
- Royal Navy destroyers of World War I – the broader group of destroyers serving in the conflict.
- HMS Tempest (N86) – a later T‑class submarine that also bore the name Tempest.