HMS Fury (1911)
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 Fury | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Fury |
| Builder | A. & J. Inglis, Glasgow |
| Laid down | 3 March 1910 |
| Launched | 23 April 1911 |
| Completed | February 1912 |
| Out of service | 4 November 1921 |
| Fate | Sold to be broken up |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class & type | Acorn-class destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 25 ft 5 in (7.7 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) |
| Installed power | 4 Yarrow boilers, 13,500 shp (10,100 kW) |
| Propulsion | Parsons steam turbines, 3 shafts |
| Speed | 27 kn (50 km/h; 31 mph) |
| Range | 1,540 nmi (2,850 km; 1,770 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 72 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Fury was one of 20 Acorn-class (later H-class) destroyers built for the Royal Navy that served in the First World War. The Acorn class was smaller than the preceding Beagle class but oil-fired and better armed. Launched in 1910, Fury served with the Second Destroyer Flotilla, joining the Grand Fleet at the start of the war. Soon afterwards, in August 1914, the destroyer assisted in the unsuccessful attempt to rescue the stricken dreadnought battleship Audacious. In 1916, the vessel was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, joining the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla. After the Armistice in 1918, the destroyer was placed in reserve. Fury was sold to be broken up in 1921.
After the preceding coal-burning Beagle class, the Acorn-class destroyer saw a return to oil-firing. Pioneered by the Tribal class of 1905 and HMS Swift of 1907, using oil enabled a more efficient design, leading to a smaller vessel which also had increased deck space available for weaponry.[1] Unlike previous destroyer designs, where the individual yards had been given discretion within the parameters set by the Admiralty, the Acorn class was a set, with the propulsion machinery the only major variation between the different ships.[2] This enabled costs to be reduced.[3] The ships was later renamed H class.[4]
Fury had a length of 240 feet (73 m) between perpendiculars and 246 ft (75 m) overall, with a beam of 25 ft 5 in (7.7 m) and a deep draught of 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m). Displacement was 730 long tons (820 short tons; 740 tonnes) normal and 855 long tons (958 short tons; 869 t) full load.[5] Power was provided by Parsons steam turbines, fed by four Yarrow boilers.[6] Parsons supplied a set of direct-drive turbines that drove three shafts.[2] Three funnels were fitted.[7] The engines were rated at 13,500 shaft horsepower (10,100 kW) and design speed was 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph). On trial, Fury achieved 29.3 kn (54.3 km/h; 33.7 mph).[4] The vessel carried 170 long tons (170 t) of fuel oil which gave a range of 1,540 nautical miles (2,850 km; 1,770 mi) at a cruising speed of 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph).[5][6]
Armament consisted of a single BL 4 in (102 mm) Mk VIII gun carried on the forecastle and another aft. Two single QF 12-pounder 3 in (76 mm) guns were mounted between the first two funnels.[8] Two rotating 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes were mounted aft of the funnels, with two reloads carried, and a searchlight fitted between the tubes.[9] The destroyer was later modified to carry a single Vickers QF 3-pounder 2 in (47 mm) anti-aircraft gun and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare.[10] The ship's complement was 72 officers and ratings.[6]
