HMS Lydiard (1914)


HMS Lydiard was a built for the Royal Navy during the 1910s.

Description

The Laforey class were improved and faster versions of the preceding. They displaced. The ships had an overall length of, a beam of and a draught of. Lydiard was powered by two Brown-Curtis direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of and gave a maximum speed of. The ships carried a maximum of of fuel oil that gave them a range of at. The ships' complement was 74 officers and ratings.
The ships were armed with three single QF Mark IV guns and two QF 1.5-pounder anti-aircraft guns. These latter guns were later replaced by a pair of QF 2-pounder "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns. The ships were also fitted with two above-water twin mounts for torpedoes.

Construction and service

The ship was ordered as Waverley from Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company as part of the 1912–13 programme, but was renamed Lydiard before being launched on 26 February 1914. She served with the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, and fought at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914, where she was credited with torpedoing the German light cruiser.
Lydiard also took part in the Battle of Jutland in 1916, where she formed part of the 9th Destroyer Flotilla, along with her sister ships, and, supporting Admiral Beatty's battlecruisers. She was transferred to escort duties after 1917, and sold for breaking in November 1921.