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HMS Acheron (1911)
Encyclopedia
HMS Acheron was the name ship of the Acheron-class destroyer
of the British
Royal Navy
. She is named after the River Acheron
, believed in Greek Mythology
to be a branch of the River Styx
. She was the fifth ship of the Royal Navy
to bear the name.
, and launched on 27 June 1911. Capable of 29 knots (56.8 km/h), she carried two 4 inches (102 mm) guns, other smaller guns and 21 inches (533.4 mm) torpedo tubes and had a complement of 70 men.
.
, led by the light cruiser Aurora
.
on 31 May 1916 as part of her flotilla.
and Ariel
, Acheron was searching for a German submarine reported by the trawler Man Island near Aberdeen
. At 10:10am Attack sighted U-12 and opened fire. Ariel sighted the submarine at 10:12am at about 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) and all three destroyers turned towards it. U-12 dived and rasied her periscope, which Ariel sighted at a distance of 200 yards (182.9 m). She turned to ram, sighting the conning tower under the water in the final moments before she struck the submarine at a fine angle. Within two minutes the submarine had returned to the surface so that the crew could escape, but they found the conning tower hatch jammed, and most of the survivors managed their escape via the other hatches. Acheron and the other destroyers opened fire as the submarine lay on the surface, killing and injuring some of the escaping sailors. At 10:30am U-12 sank approximately in position 56°15′N 1°56′W, and the destroyers picked up 10 survivors; 19 lives had been lost. The damage to Ariels bows was so serious that she had to be towed into port.
. She was sold again on 20 September 1923 to J J King.
Acheron class destroyer
The Acheron class was a class of twenty-three destroyers of the British Royal Navy, all built under the 1910-11 Programme and completed between 1911 and 1912, which served during World War I. A further six ships were built to the same design for the Royal Australian Navy as River-class destroyers...
of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She is named after the River Acheron
Acheron
The Acheron is a river located in the Epirus region of northwest Greece. It flows into the Ionian Sea in Ammoudia, near Parga.-In mythology:...
, believed in Greek Mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
to be a branch of the River Styx
Styx
In Greek mythology the Styx is the river that forms the boundary between the underworld and the world of the living, as well as a goddess and a nymph that represents the river.Styx may also refer to:-Popular culture:...
. She was the fifth ship of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
to bear the name.
Pennant numbers
| Pennant Number | From | |To |
|---|---|---|
| H00 | 6 December 1914 | |1 January 1918 |
| H02 | 1 January 1918 | |Early 1919 |
| H05 | Early 1919 | |9 May 1921 |
Construction
With her sister, Ariel, she was a "Thorneycroft special", and as such was slightly longer and more powerful than the standard destroyer of her class. Acheron was ordered during the building programme of 1910–11, laid down at the Woolston yard of John I. Thornycroft & CompanyJohn I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
, and launched on 27 June 1911. Capable of 29 knots (56.8 km/h), she carried two 4 inches (102 mm) guns, other smaller guns and 21 inches (533.4 mm) torpedo tubes and had a complement of 70 men.
Career
Serving with the First Destroyer Flotilla, she became part of the Grand Fleet at the outbreak of war.The Battle of Heligoland Bight
She was present with First Destroyer Flotilla on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, led by the light cruiser FearlessHMS Fearless (1912)
HMS Fearless was an Active-class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 12 June 1912.On commissioning she was assigned to the Harwich Force with her sisters, and was the leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla...
.
The Battle of Dogger Bank
On 24 January 1915 the First Destroyer Flotilla, including Acheron were present at the Battle of Dogger BankBattle of Dogger Bank (1915)
The Battle of Dogger Bank was a naval battle fought near the Dogger Bank in the North Sea on 24 January 1915, during the First World War, between squadrons of the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet....
, led by the light cruiser Aurora
HMS Aurora (1913)
HMS Aurora was an Arethusa-class light cruiser launched on 30 September 1913 at Devonport Dockyard.Construction started in 1912 and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy and saw service as part of the Grand Fleet from 1914 to 1915, as leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla...
.
The Battle of Jutland
Acheron served at Battle of JutlandBattle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
on 31 May 1916 as part of her flotilla.
Sinking of U-12
On 10 March 1915, in company with her sisters AttackHMS Attack (1911)
HMS Attack was an Acheron-class destroyer built in 1911, which served during the First World War and was sunk in 1917 in the Mediterranean by a German U-Boat...
and Ariel
HMS Ariel (1911)
HMS Ariel was an Acheron-class destroyer built in 1911, which served during the First World War and sank in 1918 after striking a mine...
, Acheron was searching for a German submarine reported by the trawler Man Island near Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. At 10:10am Attack sighted U-12 and opened fire. Ariel sighted the submarine at 10:12am at about 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) and all three destroyers turned towards it. U-12 dived and rasied her periscope, which Ariel sighted at a distance of 200 yards (182.9 m). She turned to ram, sighting the conning tower under the water in the final moments before she struck the submarine at a fine angle. Within two minutes the submarine had returned to the surface so that the crew could escape, but they found the conning tower hatch jammed, and most of the survivors managed their escape via the other hatches. Acheron and the other destroyers opened fire as the submarine lay on the surface, killing and injuring some of the escaping sailors. At 10:30am U-12 sank approximately in position 56°15′N 1°56′W, and the destroyers picked up 10 survivors; 19 lives had been lost. The damage to Ariels bows was so serious that she had to be towed into port.
Mediterranean service
From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Acheron was present at the entry of the Allied fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.Disposal
Acheron was sold on 9 May 1921 to Ward for breakingShip breaking
Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
. She was sold again on 20 September 1923 to J J King.