HMS Tara (1918)
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_IWM_SP_1415.jpg) HMS Tara undertaking trials in 1919 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Tara |
| Ordered | June 1917 |
| Builder | Beardmore, Dalmuir |
| Yard number | 590 |
| Laid down | 21 November 1917 |
| Launched | 12 October 1918 |
| Completed | 9 December 1918 |
| Out of service | 17 December 1931 |
| Fate | Sold to be broken up |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | S-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 265 ft (80.8 m) p.p. |
| Beam | 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) mean |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 36 knots (41.4 mph; 66.7 km/h) |
| Range | 2,750 nmi (5,090 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h) |
| Complement | 90 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Tara was an S-class destroyer, which served with the Royal Navy. Launched on 7 August 1918, the vessel entered service at the closing of the First World War. The ship joined the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet but was placed in Reserve at Nore in 1919. Tara deteriorated over the following years and was sold to be broken up on 17 December 1931 after the signing of the London Naval Treaty that limited the amount of destroyer tonnage the Navy could retain.
Tara was one of thirty-three Admiralty S class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in June 1917 as part of the Twelfth War Construction Programme. The design was a development of the R class introduced as a cheaper and faster alternative to the V and W class.[1] Differences with the R class were minor, such as having the searchlight moved aft.[2]
Tara had an overall length of 276 ft (84 m) and a length of 265 ft (81 m) between perpendiculars. Beam was 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) and draught 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m). Displacement was 1,075 long tons (1,092 t) normal and 1,220 long tons (1,240 t) deep load. Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) at normal loading and 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph) at deep load. Two funnels were fitted. The ship carried 301 long tons (306 t) of fuel oil, which gave a design range of 2,750 nautical miles (5,090 km; 3,160 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]
Armament consisted of three QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline.[4] One was mounted raised on the forecastle, one between the funnels on a raised platform and one aft.[5] The ship also mounted a single 40-millimetre (1.6 in) 2-pounder pom-pom anti-aircraft gun for air defence. Four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes were fitted in two twin rotating mounts aft.[4] The ship also carried two 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes on single rotating mounts mounted under the bridge, one to port and the other starboard. They were intended to be used during night attacks and controlled directly by the commanding officer using toggle ropes.[2] The ship had a complement of 90 officers and ratings.[6]
