Laforey Class Destroyer (1913)

Twenty-two destroyers of the Laforey Class were completed, twenty as part of the 1912-1913 Programme, and two as part of the 1914 War Emergency Programme.

They were the first Royal Navy destroyers to ship twin torpedo tubes, effectively doubling their outfit.

Overview of 22 vessels
Citations for this data available on individual ship pages
Name	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Completed	Fate
Llewellyn	Beardmore		30 Oct, 1913		Mar, 1922
Lennox	Beardmore		17 Mar, 1914		Oct, 1921
Loyal	Denny		11 Nov, 1913		Nov, 1921
Legion	Denny		3 Feb, 1914		May, 1921
Laforey	Fairfield		28 Mar, 1913		Mined 25 Mar, 1917
Lawford	Fairfield		30 Oct, 1913		Aug, 1922
Louis	Fairfield		30 Dec, 1913		Mined 31 Oct, 1915
Lydiard	Fairfield		26 Feb, 1914		Nov, 1921
Laertes	Swan Hunter		5 Jun, 1913		Dec, 1921
Lysander	Swan Hunter		18 Aug, 1913		Jun, 1922
Lance	Thornycroft		25 Feb, 1914		Nov, 1921
Lookout	Thornycroft		27 Apr, 1914		Aug, 1922
Laurel	J. S. White		6 May, 1913		Nov, 1921
Liberty	J. S. White		15 Sep, 1913		Nov, 1921
Lark	Yarrow		26 May, 1913		Jan, 1923
Landrail	Yarrow		7 Feb, 1914		1 Dec, 1921
Laverock	Yarrow		19 Nov, 1913		May, 1921
Linnet	Yarrow		16 Aug, 1913		Nov, 1921
Lochinvar	Beardmore		9 Oct, 1915		Nov, 1921
Lassoo	Beardmore		24 Aug, 1915		Mined 13 Aug, 1916
Leonidas	Palmers		30 Oct, 1913		May, 1921
Lucifer	Palmers		29 Dec, 1913		Dec, 1921

Performance

The ships averaged a little over 30 knots on their 8 hour trials, with a few units making only a little over 29.5 knots.^[1]

Anti-rolling tanks were tried in at least some of the ships. Turning circles had the same perplexing variety as seen in other classes. At 35 degrees helm, Laurel averaged 535 yards, whereas Liberty reported 953 yards. and Landrail 1127 yards. Leonidas required a full 1405 yards! Yarrow-built specimens and Lydiard were most fuel economical, using 17.5 tons less fuel on 8 hour full power trials. Landrail burnt 33.01 tons and Laurel 51.33 tons in a 24 hour test.^[2]

The ships had recurrent problems with their dynamos. By October 1914, the issue was proving so serious that a reversion to reciprocating engines from the turbo generators was requested. The generators ran so hot that the hatches to the compartment were often left open, admitting spray which caused stoppages.^[3]

In May 1915, Lark's commander said the ship was very unreliable in steering at speeds over 20 knots, that helm less than 15 degrees did little, and that 20-25 degrees did more than 35 degrees did. At the Battle of Dogger Bank, the ship proved utterly unresponsive five times to full helm despite the gentle sea conditions, prompting him to state, "I consider H.M.S. Lark to be dangerous at high speed..." He recommended that the ship either lead its division or be tail-end charlie to reduce the peril. Lark was moved to the last position in her division and a comparative turning trial with Miranda confirmed the dismal turning performance. Sister ships with the same rudder, propellors and design did not seem to experience the same issues.^[4]

Armament

4-in Guns

Three 4-in Q.F. Mark IV guns on P IX mountings on the centre line. These quick-firing guns had also been fitted to the last seven of the previous Acasta class, but their use here reflected their standardisation over the earlier B.L. models.^[5] There were 120 rounds per gun.

The mounting could elevate 20 degrees and depress 10 degrees, but its sight could only elevate 15 degrees and the range dial was actually only graduated to 12.5 degrees (7,900 yards). "This was soon remedied by the supply of additional sight strips graduated to the extreme range of 10,200 yards."^[6]

These gear-worked sights had gearing constants of 26.66 and range dials for 2200 fps, and 1-in aiming rifle. M.V. could be corrected by a cam pointer allowing for a decrease to 2000 fps.

Unlike some P IX sights, these were not F.T.P. sights.

The midship gun was supplied with ammunition from the forward stores.^[7]

The deflection gearing constant was 52.6 with 1 knot equal to 3.18 arc minutes, corresponding to 2200 fps at 2000 yards. Drift was corrected by inclining the sight about pivot pins 2 degrees.

The layer's telescope sight line was 12.5 inches above the bore, and 21.45 inches left. The trainer's telescope sight line was 12.5 inches above and 17.4 inches right. Open sights were 13.3 inches above the bore and 24.35 inches left for layer and 20.3 inches right for trainer.

The sight had a temperature correcting scale plate and a "C" corrector.

The layer had an open sight. The trainer's sight could be used as a free sight with a counterweight.

During the war, some of the ships were required to land their aft gun to accommodate depth charges.^[8]

Other Guns

Originally, the ships may have been provided a single .303-in Maxim machine gun on a portable mounting.^[9]

By 1920, some or all had one 2-pdr pom-pom for air defence.^[10]

Torpedoes

Two twin 21-in tubes on the centre line (4x2) enjoying 50 degree arcs centered on the beam.^[11]

These were the first British destroyers to have double tubes, a doubling of previous torpedo armament standards. The "W" class was to debut the triple mounting in 1917.^[12]

The new double tubes were found satisfactory, but were slow to train and the slow action of the firing lever would make firing when under helm worrisome. Laurel's tubes were found to require 4 men working the training wheel and 4 additional pushing the ends of the tubes around. Lysander reported better :two men could barely train the tubes when loaded.^[13]

Other Weapons

The ships were able to accomodate four Vickers Elia Mark IV mines and had a hatch and derrick to support their laying and handling. The mines had 220 pounds TNT and weighed about one half ton.^[14]

The "H" type mine replaced the Mark IV in 1917, but only Lawford and Legion may have been switched over to the new munition, presumably removing minelaying from the job description for the other ships.^[15]

Depth charges were added to most of these destroyers during the war, requiring some of this class to surrender their aft gun.^[16]

Fire Control

By 1915, at least, these ships also had fixed voice pipes installed between decks with the last lengths being flexible (one voice pipe for gunnery, one for torpedoes) fitted between bridge and guns, torpedo tubes, and searchlights. A third voicepipe, entirely flexible, ran from bridge to the forward gun.^[17]

Range and Order Instruments^[18]
Applicable to Lassoo and Lochinvar only.

Being completed later than their sisters, Lassoo and Lochinvar had or were to be provided the same range and order data system being given the "M" class.^[19] The scheme placed the combined transmitter on the forebridge, and a combined receiver near the sightsetter position of each gun. Ranges from 0 to 9900 yards in increments of 100 yards, and orders were "Independent", "Control" and "Fire" with illuminated indicators and a red indicator on the receivers to signal loss of power from the battery pack located below decks.

By 1920, the ships in Acorn to Laforey classes had Wise Pressure Telegraphy Systems in place to support fire control.^[20]

Rangefinders

Directors

Torpedo Control

Alterations

By November 1918, Legion was fitted to carry 38 mines, as she was operating with the Twentieth Destroyer Flotilla which was uniformly capable in this regard. The torpedo tubes and guns removed when the mines were shipped could be placed back aboard with enough notice.^[21]

Footnotes

↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 134.
↑ March. British Destroyers. pp. 139-140.
↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 141.
↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 142.
↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. p. 11.
↑ Technical History and Index, Vol 4, Part 34, p. 13.
↑ March. British Destroyers. Plate 17/A.
↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. p. 14.
↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 133.
↑ Technical History and Index, Vol 4, Part 34, p. 16.
↑ March. British Destroyers. Plate 17/A.
↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 513.
↑ March. British Destroyers. pp. 138-9.
↑ March. British Destroyers. p. 142.
↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 76.
↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. p. 14.
↑ Manual of Gunnery, Vol. III., 1915., p. 150.
↑ Admiralty. Handbook of Fire Control in Torpedo Boat Destroyers of "M" Class and Later and Flotilla Leaders, 1915, Plate XVI.
↑ Admiralty. Handbook of Fire Control in Torpedo Boat Destroyers of "M" Class and Later, and Flotilla Leaders, 1915, Plate XVI.
↑ Technical History and Index Vol. 4, Part 34, pp. 15-16.
↑ Admiralty. Annual Report of the Torpedo School Mining Appendix, 1917-1918, p. 11. Plate 7.

Bibliography

Gray, Randal (editor) (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).
March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892-1953. London: Seeley Service & Co. Limited. (on Bookfinder.com).
Admiralty, Technical History Section (1920). The Technical History and Index: Alteration in Armaments of H.M. Ships during the War. Vol. 4, Part 34. C.B. 1515 (34) now O.U. 6171/20. At The National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom.