HMS Obdurate (1916)

Obdurate was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Greenock with the yard number 465 in May 1915, launched on 21 January the following year and completed on 23 March.^[6] The ship was the first of the name to serve with the navy.^[7] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.^[8]

On 30 May 1916, the destroyer sailed with the Grand Fleet to confront the German High Seas Fleet in what would be the Battle of Jutland.^[9] Obdurate was one of fourteen M-class destroyers that were allocated to form part of the screen to protect the battlecruisers of the Fleet.^[10][11] Led by the light cruiser Champion, Obdurate and sister ship Moresby took part in the attack of the German fleet that led to the destruction of the battleship Pommern.^[12] As the warships broke apart, Champion sped away in pursuit of the German fleet, leaving the majority of the destroyers behind, with only Moresby and Obdurate able to keep up.^[13]

The small flotilla sought for the main German fleet, and at 2:15 turned westwards towards gunfire.^[14] They saw four German cruisers with their attendant destroyers but did not engage as the enemy ships sped away, later narrowly missing attacking four destroyers before they disappeared into the haze.^[15] Returning to the British lines, the three ships were spotted by the German torpedo boats G40 and V45, which launched torpedoes, but both sides escaped without recording a hit.^[16] In the aftermath of the battle, Obdurate rescued two sailors from the destroyer Ardent, which had been sunk in the action.^[17]

On 4 May 1917, Obdurate was escorting the light cruisers Dublin and Sydney when the flotilla came under attack from submarines and airships. The destroyer attacked what was thought to be a submarine periscope and received minor damage when a bomb dropped by Zeppelin L 43 narrowly missed but was otherwise unharmed.^[18] On 16 November that year, Obdurate was part of the destroyer screen for the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, led by Lion, that provided distant cover at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight but did not engage with the enemy.^[19] The vessel was also involved in escorting merchant ships in the convoys that crossed the Atlantic Ocean.^[20]

After the armistice, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of service, and surplus vessels were culled. Obdurate was initially allocated to the Local Defence Force at Nore.^[21] On 15 November 1921, the vessel was sold to Cashmore of Newport, Wales, and was broken up from the following May.^[22] It was announced that the ship's bell was to be sold on 31 March 1928.^[23]