HMS Tribune (1918)
HMS Tribune (1918) was a British Royal Navy destroyer leader of the Shakespeare class. She was built by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company and launched in 1918.
Tribune, along with her sisters, was designed as a fast, heavily armed flotilla leader intended to operate with destroyer flotillas. The Shakespeare class was characterized by its increased size and armament compared to earlier destroyer designs, particularly in its main gun battery. This reflected the evolving naval warfare tactics of the First World War and the need for more capable escort and offensive ships.
Service History:
HMS Tribune entered service near the end of World War I. While she saw limited active service during the war, she participated in post-war duties within the Royal Navy.
In the interwar period, Tribune served as a flagship for various destroyer flotillas, participating in exercises, patrols, and fleet maneuvers. These activities were crucial for maintaining the Royal Navy's readiness and training.
Tribune was scrapped in 1931, considered obsolete as newer destroyer designs became available. Her relatively short service life reflects the rapid pace of naval technological development during this era.
Characteristics:
As a Shakespeare-class destroyer leader, HMS Tribune would have possessed the following general characteristics (specific details may vary slightly):
- Displacement: Approximately 1,660 tons standard, 2,000 tons full load
- Length: Approximately 329 feet (100.3 meters)
- Beam: Approximately 32 feet (9.8 meters)
- Draught: Approximately 12 feet (3.7 meters)
- Armament: Typically included five 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns, one 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun, and six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (in triple mounts).
- Propulsion: Steam turbines driving two shafts
- Speed: Approximately 36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Significance:
HMS Tribune represents a key development in destroyer design during the late stages of World War I. The Shakespeare class, to which she belonged, demonstrated the Royal Navy's commitment to building larger, more powerful destroyers capable of operating independently or as leaders of destroyer flotillas. Although her career was relatively brief, she played a part in the Royal Navy's efforts to maintain naval supremacy in the period following the First World War.