Parker class Flotilla Leader

United Kingdom (Built 1914-16):
HMS Parker, Grenville, Hoste, Seymour, Saumarez, Anzac 1916-1935

The Parker class were essentially repeat Kempenfelt class leaders ordered in February 1915. HMS Grenville and Frobisher (renamed Parker before launch) were followed by three more in July and by December 1915 a last 6th from Denny Bros, Anzac. They were designed essentially to be more seaworthy, with more freeboard, a bridge pushed back, with a slower roll, and they became the first with superfiring gun positions (A-B) as well as boilers changes. They were also the last with three propeller shafts. Overall, a success, albeit they arrived too late for Jutland. They served until 1931, even 1935 for HMAS Anzac.

Development

Early in 1916 the C-in-C and Commodore (T) asked for modifications to future leaders, suggesting that they should have more freeboard, more guns bearing ahead, and the bridge moved further aft. There was also a request for a slower roll, as the Kempenfelts had a very rapid period of roll. The DNC said that it would be extremely difficult to increase freeboard in most of the new leaders as frames were already being bent, but it might be feasible in Saumarez and Anzac (Nos 5 and 6), which could have 0.3 m (1 feet) higher forecastles.

This was finally approved only for Anzac. The bridge could be moved 4 meters (13 feet) aft by reducing the boiler rooms from three to two, allowing one 102mm gun to be put on a superimposed platform in ‘B’ position. As the forward boiler room now had two boilers the forward uptakes were combined in one thicker funnel, which was raised to keep smoke clear of the compass platform. The new profile was a great improvement, and the Parker class were a great success. Anzac’s higher forecastle and squarer-section funnels made her easy to distinguish from her sisters. All were distinguishable by the thick tall fore funnel. Overall, they were an inspiration for the next British destroyers, the “standard” V-W of 1918. If there has been no 1929 financial crash and budget cuts they might have been proved still useful as escorts in WW2.

Operations with the Marksman class and previous leaders indeed led to reports from skippers that more freeboard was desirable, as well as increased firepower, a bridge less exposed to waterspray in heavy weather, so ideally further aft. Both could be solved in one stroke with a longer and a bit taller forecastle. This the new designed had the bridge moved further aft, but it was only possible by reducing the boiler rooms from three to two, less security and redundancy, but having the two forward boilers in a single room spared useful free length also, and the profile, from four fell to three funnels but with the foremost funnel much thicker and taller. The superfiring gun was a brand new endeavour, the recipe was known for battleships, which had armour lengths issues to solve, but they were wider and more steady to absorb this top weight. It was until then, avoided like plague for destroyers given their flimsy and narrow design.

However, by moving back the boilers and bridge and making the forecastle longer, it added extra buoyancy that pushed the center of balance further aft and making for a more reasonable metacentric height. This compensated for this extra top weight end enable to add a new gun on a shelter deck. This was a worldwide game-changing feature for destroyers, so successful it defined the trend for future destroyer designs, with the last change in the deletion of the “Q” amidship gun relocated aft in another superfiring position X-Y. However this new boiler arrangement was found less practical for a 3-shaft design, so it was also decided the Parker class would be the last, if that would be kept in future class. Now the two forward guns had an unobstructed firing arc, and superfiring “B” gun was not out of reach of water spray unlike the deck gun, and now usable in heavy seas, even with the forecastle awash.
HMS Anzac was also innovative in its own right as seen, the only ship of the class with increased freeboard, as the decision to do so was made after the construction began on the other ships.

Another design improvement over previous types was the adoption of the Royal Navy’s new director firing system for destroyers and leaders, a more spartan version of that on its battleships. Rather than having individual gun crews lay and fire their guns independently, the director on the bridge indicated the elevation and training for all the guns, and a gyroscope within the director fired them simultaneously “on the roll”. This system improved accuracy, and was adopted as standard from the “V and W” destroyer class of 1917 onwards.

Design of the class

The Parkers were based on the design of the preceding Marksman-class leaders and shared the same hull design and dimensions but with detailed modifications.

Hull and general design

The Parker class, named after ancient admirals (apart ANZAC), displaced 1,670 long tons (1,700 t), for an overall length of 325 ft (99 m), a beam of 31 ft 9 in (9.68 m) and a draught of 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m). As said above, basically a copy-paste of the Marksman, however the forecastle was longer, the bridge pushed back, with still the same style with an enclosed and an open bridge above. The biggest change was the new gun platform in front, a redesigned set of wings, the fire control system and of course the three funnels. Like the Marksman the aftermost two were the same, thin and moderately tall, but the forward funnel was much taller and composed of two exhausts, and thus beefier.

Between the forefunnel and aft funnel there was a pompom mount, and between the aftermost two funnels was located the “Q” gun, with a limited field of fire, and “X” stille on deck at the stern. Not superfiring arrangement yet there. There were two raked masts, one forward aft of the bridge, one shorter aft with a platform. The two twin torpedo tubes banks were located in front of the quarterdeck house aft, relatively close together. The prow and chin were almost straight and there was a small bulward at the tip.

Powerplant

As said above, these ships had in standard four Yarrow-type boilers like the previous ships, and three Parsons steam turbines, for three shafts and about the same output as before at 36,000 shp for a top speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). Their endurance was now based on 415 tons of fuel oil for 2,500 nautical miles (4650 km) at 15 knots (28 kph). As said above, the boiler arrangement was a “T” shape, with the furthermost single boiler room deleted, and the next boiler now united with the first in a single boiler room, followed like in the previous design, with the last two boilers separated. So four boilers, but three rooms. The redundancy was lowered given now two boilers could be out in case of a flooding, but there were still two aft. HMAS Anzac differed from the others by having Brown-Curtis Boilers instead of Yarrow.

Armament

QF 4-in (101.6 mm) Mark IV

The four QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mark IV guns, mounting P Mk. IX
Essentially a masked destroyer gun, the same as used on the L and M classes, but on CP III mountings if not the P.IX. The QF 4-inch gun Mk IV was introduced in 1911 as a faster-loading light gun, successor to the BL 4 inch Mk VIII. 1,141 were produced, and of these, 939 were still available in 1939. They evolved later into the XII and Mk XXII variants which armed British interwar and World War II submarines as deck guns. The Mark IV remained in service on all WWI destroyers as standard, but the late war V-W classes. In order they were called “A” (forecastle), “Q” and “R” (amidship) and “X” (aft deck). They used P. IX mountings. Usual round provision was 120 rounds (per gun), with 36 common, 84 lyddite, 19 practice rounds, but no illumination rounds. If elevation was possible up to 20 degrees the sight only reached 15 degrees whereas the range dial only went to 12.5 degrees, that is the equivalent of 7,900 yards. Later, additional sight strips graduated to 10,200 yards were provided.

⚙ Specs

2,750 pounds (1,250 kg) barrel & breech, barrel 160 in (4.064 m) bore, 40 cal.
Shell: Separate QF, 4-inch (101.6 mm) 31 pounds (14.06 kg
MV: 2,370 feet per second (720 m/s)
Horizontal sliding-block, elevation PIX Mount -10° to +20°.
Max range: 11,580 yards (10,590 m) at +30°

QF 2-Pdr pom-pom Mark II

Ubiquitous AA gun of the RN in WWI, still used in WW2 in many new versions. Two were usually placed abaft the bridge on the aft upper deck (forecastle extension). The issue with this position was their inability to cross-fire. Later designed tended to have them relocated on an amidship platform, where the “Q” gun was located. In many cases, ships ended 1919 with up to three of them, two close to the bridge and a third aft on deck.

⚙ specifications 2-pdr pompom

Mass: 850 lb (390 kg), length 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m).
Shell: 40×158mmR 40.4 mm (1.59 in) filling 71 g (2.5 oz)
Feed system: 14-round steel-link belt, 115 rpm, 732 m/s (2,400 ft/s)
Effective firing range: 3,960 m (13,300 ft) A/A ceiling

Torpedo Tubes

Two twin banks were aft. Cranes for reload but no spares. They were likely of the 21″ (53.3 cm) Mark II quadruple or five star type entering service in 1915 and 1916, possibly later upgraded to the Mark III or IV in 1917-18. At least UIthuriel was confirmed to have the Mark II-5 star.

⚙ Specs Mark II****

Weight 2,950 lb (1,340 kg), Length: 22 ft (6.7 m), warhead 400 lb (180 kg) TNT
Range and speed: 18,000 yd (16,000 m) at 18 kn (33 km/h), 15,000 yd (14,000 m) at 23 kn (43 km/h), 6,000 yd (5,500 m) at 35 kn (65 km/h), 4,500 yd (4,100 m) at 44.5 kn (82.4 km/h).

⚙ Specs Mark II*****

Weight: 2,953 lb (1,339 kg); Length: 22 ft (6.7 m), warhead 400 lb (180 kg) TNT
Range and speed: 18,000 yd (16,000 m) at 19 kn (35 km/h), 15,000 yd (14,000 m) at 24 kn (44 km/h), 6,000 yd (5,500 m) at 35 kn (65 km/h), 4,500 yd (4,100 m) at 45 kn (83 km/h).

⚙ Parker class specifications
Displacement	1,670 long tons (1,700 t)
Dimensions	325 ft x 31 ft 9 in x 10 ft 6 in (99 x 9.68 x 3.20 m)
Propulsion	3 shafts steam turbines, 3 Yarrow* boilers: 36,000 shp
Speed	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range	415 tons oil, 2500 nm at 15 kts
Armament	4× QF 4-in Mk.IV guns, 1× 12-pdr Mark II, 2× 2-pdr Mk.II AA, 2×2 21-in TTs
Crew	116

*Brown Curtis for Anzac.

Career of the Parker class

HMS Parker (1916)

Parker (ex-Frobisher) was built by Cammell Laird and Company, Birkenhead, laid down 19 June 1915, launched 19 April 1916, and completed 13 November 1916. Sold for breaking up 5 November 1921. Her pennants were G49, G71, G95, G75. She took the lead of the 15th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet, Scapa Flow as leader, with Grenville. From 15 June 1917 they took part in Operation BB, a large scale operation against German submarines (53 destroyers and leaders, 17 submarines) on their transit route as showed by room 40 from the North Sea and around the Orkneys and Shetlands, the dreaded “Western Approaches”. Parker led her twelve destroyers the east of Shetland. 61 sightings were made but very few kills. They were recalled on 24 June after just 12 attacks and no kill.

In July 1917, the 15th Flotilla was relocated to Rosyth. On 20 August 1917, Parker attacked an U-Boat with depth charges, but no confirmation. In October 1917, she took part in another large sweep of 30 cruisers and 54 destroyers in eight groups across the North Sea in order to opposed a new massive sortie of the Hochseeflotte. She was in the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron. But after a while only the cruisers Bremse and Brummer were spotted and managed to evade after succesfully attacking a convoy between Norway and Britain on 17 October, all ships and their escort.
From 31 October to 2 November 1917, the 15th Flotilla supported by HMS Cardiff, Calypso, Ceres and Caradoc, sortied into the Kattegat, and sank German Q-ship K (Kronprinz Willhelm) on 2 November plus nine German trawlers.

She led Sorceress, Ready, Rigorous, Rocket, Rob Roy and Trenchant that day and was awarded the sinking. On 21 November 1918, Paker escorted the German High Seas Fleet to the Firth of Forth before being interned at Scapa Flow. She was paid off into reserve by December 1918, the crew joining Campbell. By July 1919, she was recommissioned and led the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet, in Irish waters during the troubles, and until August 1919, then placed in reserve at Chatham by December 1919. She was sold for BU on February 1921 purchased on 15 November 1921 and towed from Chatham on 16 May 1923 for scrapping at Cashmore’s Newpor.

HMS Grenville (1916)

Grenville, after Richard Grenville built by Cammell Laird, laid down 19 June 1915, launched 16 June 1916 and completed 11 October 1916. Pennants G61, G85, G75, G95, F54. She joined the 15th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow as co-leader of HMS Parker. In December 1916, she was sent to reinforced the reinforce the Harwich Force, for thise departed to the Dover Patrol to defend the English Channel. She left on 18 December and arrived two days later. On 22 January 1917, the German 6th TBF (11 torpedo boats) left Helgoland for Flanders to reinforce the the Belgian ports forces. So after Room 40 Decoded radio signal the Harwich Force was sent in interception in the night of 22/23 January. Grenville led six destroyers in the entrance to the River Maas, others to the Schouwen Bank and cruisers patrolled between the Hinder and Maas. V69 and G41 stumbed on them and ended badly damaged. But they broke contact. When the battle was heard, many ships departed but Grenville so the Germans slipped through apart a straggler, SMS S50 which sank the HMS Simoom before escaping. On 23 January a German submarine fired at Grenville but missed, and als passed under Meteor.

On 29 January 1917, new intel make believe the Hochseeflotte was about to leave, when in fact this was German light cruiser Graudenz and the II, IX TBF to the Hoofden, so Grenville was verctored there with all 12 destroyers, first off Lowestoft, then Harwich. Only British subs spotted them, like E29 that attacked and missed. In July 1917, the 15th Flotilla was relocated to Rosyth. On 25 July, Grenville escorted a convoy of 5 empty oilers from the US when ambushed by UC-41, which sank SS Oakleaf. Grenville by 21 November 1918 escorted the the Hochseeflotte for her internment in the Firth of Forth. By early 1919, the Grand Fleet was disbanded, replaced by the Atlantic Fleet and Grenville led the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, sent in Irish waters by April-June. After repairs at Rosyth and Devonport by November–December 1919 she was deployed to the Baltic in support of the white Russians. From December 1919 to February 1920. Back home she ended in reserve on 3 March 1920, recommissioned on 27 February 1924 for manoeuvres, but back into reserve at Chatham in August. After a refit at Devonport in 1925-1926 twice briefly was recommissioned for trials. She was sold for BU to Edgar G Rees on 17 December 1931, scrapped from February 1932.

HMS Hoste (1916)

Hoste, after William Hoste built by Cammell Laird, laid down 1 July 1915, launched 16 August 1916 and completed November 1916. Hoste joined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet as G90. On 19 December she left Scapa Flow for exercises between Shetland and Norway. A day later she suffered a steering failure at high speed and cut the path of other ships. She had to fold back for repairs at Scapa with Negro as escort. But on the night of 20-21 December poor weather with gale-force winds caused Hoste’s rudder to jam again, cauuing a sudden turn to port. Negro was then 400 yards (370 m) behind and collided with her. This knocked two depth charges at her stern which exploded. Negro’s hull was badly damaged, her her engine room flooded and she sank quickly. Hoste lost her stern, and despite the efforts of HMS Marmion to rescue survivors very few were saved. Marmion and Marvel tried to tow Hoste back to Scapa but after three hours, she also started to sink. The rescue then started, but the ships board to board could not be kept aside. She desperately closed again twelve time. Marvel also had her forecastle damaged by all these boardings, but did a miracle by rescuing all but four of the crew before sinking. Her wreck was rediscovered in August 2023, under 100 metres (330 ft) in two parts, stern 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) apart, south of Fair Isle.

HMS Seymour (1916)

Seymour was built by Cammell Laird, laid down 23 November 1915, launched 31 August 1916 and completed 30 November 1916. She was converted to minelayer right after completion, but served in the 11th Destroyer Flotilla, and as leader from 4 December with Kempenfelt, second leader. In July 1917 they departed for Rosyth. From 15 June 1917 they took part in Operation BB, the large U-Boat hunt (see above) which resulted in several attacks but no conformed kills. Seymour led the 11th and 13th Flotillas east of Orkney. She detached Narborough and Oriana to look for the submarine J1 which signalled an U-Boat, but for naught. This was repeated on October 1917, and they sailed east of the Dogger Bank to find mine nets. Seymour led 10 destroyers east of the Moray Firth and Firth of Forth however for 10 days. On 21 November 1918, Seymour escorted the German High Seas Fleet to Scapa Flow captivity, with a photograph on board to take the shot of the battle line, and signalled a crew stranded at sea, from an aircraft that crashed close. She rescued them. In December 1918 she was in the 21st Destroyer Flotilla at Rosyth, until February 1919, and in March the 4th DF until October 1919. From October she entered the reserve of Portsmouth, later refitted at Pembroke Dock, June–July 1923. In July 1924 she was commissioned for naval exercises but returned to the reserve. Stricken, she was sold to John Cashmore on 7 January 1930, scrapped from 13 February.

HMS Saumarez (1916)

Saumarez (after James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez) was built by Cammell Laird, laid down 2 March 1916, launched 14 November 1916 and completed 21 December 1916. She joined the 12th Destroyer Flotilla as leader and flagship Captain (D). On 17 May 1917, UC-31 attacked and torpedoed two Swedish merchant ships east of the Orkneys (Viken and Aspen) and Saumarez nearby spotted some of the latter’s boats, detached HMS Michael to investigate. She picked up survivors, found Aspen still afloat and with a tug, brought her to safety in Kirkwall. In July 1917, she moved to Rosyth. From 15 June 1917 her flotilla took part in Operation BB (see above). On 17 November 1917, she was part of another sweep in the North Sea to prey on German minesweepers in the Heligoland Bight with Saumarez escorting the covering force of the 1st Battle Squadron, behind the main force, thus missing the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight.

Saumarez ended the war without nothing more to notice. The Grand Fleet was disbanded and she ended at HMNB Devonport without flotilla. By March 1919 she led however the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, until placed into reserve at Devonport from 15 October 1919. She was recommissioned briefly for exercises, acted as tender for the Keyham TS and was eventually sold Thos. W. Ward on 8 January 1931.

Anzac

HMAS Anzac, named after commonwealth Australian and New Zealand troops, was built by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, laid down 31 January 1916, launched 11 January 1917 and completed 24 April 1917. She was transferred to the RAN in March 1919;, but before this she started service in the 14th DF, Scapa Flow and made a few sweeps in the North Sea and the English Channel. On 26 June she assisted HMS K1, which ran aground. In August 1918 she was damaged by heavy weather, lost her funnels and boats. Postwar she ended in reserve at Portsmouth. On 21 March 1919 she joined five S-class destroyers to the RAN as a gift by the British Gvt. for the Austrlian effort in this war. Anzac was recommissioned, RAN, on 27 January 1920, leaving Plymouth on 26 February for Australia but she apparently ran on a reef was had a propeller damaged, and serviced back to Plymouth, departing again on 10 March, arrived in Sydney on 29 April, via Gibraltar, Suez, Aden, Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, Surabaya, and Thursday Island.

In RAN service she went both over the southern and eastern coasts of Australia and by December 1922, her current captain was replaced by his twin brother, also a captain. She visited New Guinea in June-July 1924, May 1926. She was at last decommissioned on 4 August 1926 but recommissioned on 10 January 1928. She was a standby rescue ship for Charles Kingsford Smith’s pioneering flights in June (Southern Cross) and September or a trans-Tasman flight. She later visited New Guinea and the Solomon Islands by September 1930 and was eventually paid off for disposal on 30 July 1931, sold to a company in New South Wales on 8 August 1935, but eventually stripped down instaed, towed outside Sydney Heads on 7 May 1936 to be sunk as target ship, rusting away as a coral host for a hundred years.