![]() ![]() HMS Ariel was an Acheron Class Destroyer Ariel was laid down at the Woolston yard of John I. ![]() ![]() As part of the Harwich Force, the First Destroyer Flotilla took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914. As part of the First Destroyer Flotilla, she was attached to the Grand Fleet in August 1914, and then to the Third Battle Squadron from the spring of 1916. Achieving 31 knots (57 km/h) on trials, she carried two 4-inch (102 mm) guns, other smaller guns and 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes and had a complement of 70 men. Archer and Attack used steam at higher pressures than the other Acheron-class destroyers and consequently were faster than the standard Admiralty-designed members of their class. She was laid down at the Yarrow & Company yard in Scotstoun, Glasgow, and was launched on 21 October 1911. She was the fourth ship of the name to serve in the Royal Navy. HMS Archer was an Acheron-class destroyer built in 1911, which served during the First World War and was sold in 1921. Most destroyers were fitted with four or six main guns, smaller calibre canon or machineguns, torpedoes, mine sweeping equipment, depth charges and asdic (sonar). Destroyers also had a shallow enough draft that torpedoes would find it difficult to hit them. The combination of light, fast ships was intended to provide effective scouting and reconnaissance, whilst still being able to engage German light forces, and to frustrate attempts at minelaying in the Channel.Įarly-war destroyers had the speed and armament to intercept submarines before they submerged, either by gunfire or by ramming. By the end of the year, there were nine light cruisers, four flotilla leaders and 24 destroyers. ![]() In early 1917, the Harwich Force consisted of eight light cruisers, two flotilla leaders and 45 destroyers. HMS Tempest dropping depth charges in Harwich, Essex on 19th April 1918. ![]()
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