HMS Tenedos refers primarily to an S-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy, launched in 1918. The name "Tenedos" has been borne by several ships of the Royal Navy, typically named after the Greek island of Tenedos (now Bozcaada, Turkey).
Construction and Design: HMS Tenedos (pennant number H04) was one of 67 destroyers of the S-class, built towards the end of World War I. These destroyers were designed for fast anti-submarine warfare and escort duties. She was ordered in July 1917 and built by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company Limited at Hebburn. She was launched on 21 October 1918 and completed in June 1919.
- Displacement: Approximately 1,075 tons standard
- Length: 276 feet (84.1 m) overall
- Beam: 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m)
- Draught: 10 feet 9 inches (3.28 m)
- Propulsion: Three oil-fired Yarrow boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, producing 27,000 shp (20,000 kW)
- Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
- Range: 2,900 nautical miles (5,400 km; 3,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
- Armament:
- 3 × single 4-inch (102 mm) QF Mk V guns
- 1 × single 2-pounder (40 mm) QF Mk II "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun
- 2 × twin 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
- Complement: 90 officers and ratings
Service History: Following her completion in 1919, Tenedos saw service in various capacities during the inter-war period, often assigned to different fleets or reserve squadrons. She spent a significant portion of her career in the Far East.
With the outbreak of World War II, Tenedos was assigned to the British Eastern Fleet, operating in the Indian Ocean and the waters around Malaya and Singapore. Her duties primarily involved convoy escort and patrolling.
Loss: HMS Tenedos played a role in the desperate defence of Malaya and Singapore against the Japanese invasion in late 1941. On 7 December 1941, she was part of Force Z, a British naval squadron led by HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, intended to intercept Japanese invasion convoys. However, Tenedos was detached from Force Z on 9 December to return to Singapore due to low fuel. This detachment inadvertently saved her from the fate of Prince of Wales and Repulse, which were sunk by Japanese air attacks on 10 December 1941.
Tenedos continued to operate out of Singapore, participating in escort duties and attempts to evacuate personnel as the Japanese advanced. On 13 December 1941, while en route to Singapore from a patrol, she was attacked by Japanese aircraft near the mouth of the Johore River. She was heavily damaged and subsequently sunk. While the exact circumstances and position are debated, it is generally accepted she was scuttled or sank after being bombed to prevent her capture by the advancing Japanese forces.
Other Ships Named Tenedos: At least three other Royal Navy ships have borne the name Tenedos:
- HMS Tenedos (1812): A 38-gun fifth-rate frigate launched in 1812, which saw service in the War of 1812.
- HMS Tenedos (1870): An iron screw gunvessel launched in 1870.
- HMS Tenedos (1904): A Cadmus-class sloop launched in 1904.