Difference between revisions of "H.M.S. Sparrowhawk (1912)"

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|name=Sparrowhawk
 
|name=Sparrowhawk
 
|launch=12 Oct, 1912{{Conways1906|p. 75}}
 
|launch=12 Oct, 1912{{Conways1906|p. 75}}
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|comp=May, 1913{{FriedmanBritishDestroyers|p. 307}}
 
|builder=[[Swan Hunter]]{{Conways1906|p. 75}}
 
|builder=[[Swan Hunter]]{{Conways1906|p. 75}}
 
|fate=Sunk
 
|fate=Sunk
 
|pend=H.61 (1914){{DittColl|p. 63}}
 
|pend=H.61 (1914){{DittColl|p. 63}}
 
|fg=white|bg=crimson}}</div name=fredbot:career>
 
|fg=white|bg=crimson}}</div name=fredbot:career>
'''H.M.S. ''Sparrowhawk''''' was one of 20 destroyers of the [[Acasta Class Destroyer (1912)|Acasta class]].
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[[File:Sparrowhawk_31May1916.jpg|thumb|right|256px|''Sparrowhawk'' at Jutland, 31 May, 1916.<br><small>As seen from {{UK-Spitfire}}.<br>© Alan Bush.</small>]]
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'''H.M.S. ''Sparrowhawk''''' was one of twenty destroyers of the [[Acasta Class Destroyer (1912)|''Acasta'' class]].  She was scuttled after being severely damaged in the night action of the [[Battle of Jutland]].
  
 
There was also [[H.M.S. Sparrowhawk (1895)|an earlier]] and [[H.M.S. Sparrowhawk (1918)|a later ''Sparrowhawk'']].
 
There was also [[H.M.S. Sparrowhawk (1895)|an earlier]] and [[H.M.S. Sparrowhawk (1918)|a later ''Sparrowhawk'']].
  
 
==Service==
 
==Service==
In mid-1913, she was with the {{UK-DF|4}}.<ref>''The Navy List'' (July, 1913), p. 377.</ref>
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Upon completion in mid-1913, ''Sparrowhawk'' joined the {{UK-DF|4}}.{{NLJul13|p. 377}}
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On 31 July, 1913 the {{UK-1Ambuscade|f=c}} collided with ''Sparrowhawk''.  The fault was attributed to the other ship's captain.<ref>Coles Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/46/167.|D7603674}}  f. 168.</ref>
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At the [[Battle of Jutland]], she operated with the {{UK-DF|4}} under the command of {{LCommRN}} [[Sydney Hopkins]].  After dark on 31 May, ''Sparrowhawk'' was behind {{UK-Tipperary}} and {{UK-1Spitfire}}, followed by the remainder of 4 D.F., steaming south at 17 knots  five miles astern of the {{UK-BS|2}}.  At 11.30, vessels were sighted on the Starboard quarter overtaking the flotilla and apparently steering the same Course.  The leading ship was observed to have three funnels but hazy conditions did not permit a quick "friend or foe" determination.  Before any decision could be made, the lead enemy ship switched on searchlights and opened fire while displaying recognition signals of red and green lights. Lt. Commander [[Sydney Hopkins|Hopkins]] ordered torpedoes to be fired at the third ship in the enemy line, and one torpedo was fired at a range estimated at less than 1,000 yards.  Crewmen aft judged that it may have hit the target, as they saw an explosion.
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''Sparrowhawk'' had avoided any damage to this point when she was rammed abreast the bridge by the heavily damaged and out-of-control {{UK-1Broke|f=t}}.  With ''Broke'' wedged halfway through her forward, {{UK-Contest|f=p}} also piled into ''Sparrowhawk'' aft, removing her stern.  ''Sparrowhawk'' was fortunate to lose just six men in the misadventure.  Most of the crew was removed to {{UK-Marksman}}, which then attempted to tow the derelict stern-first.  The missing stern section caused the tow wire to part, however.  In the early morning hours of 1 June, after those confidential materials which could be found were removed or burned, ''Sparrowhawk'' was destroyed by gunfire on orders of the Vice-Admiral.{{UKJutlandOD|pp. 34, 44, 320-321}}
  
 
==Captains==
 
==Captains==
 
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
 
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
<div name=fredbot:capts></div name=fredbot:capts>
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<div name=fredbot:officeCapt otitle="Captain of H.M.S. ''Sparrowhawk''">
* Lieutenant & Commander [[Sydney Hopkins]], 14 April, 1913.<ref>''The Navy List'' (July, 1913), p. 377.</ref>
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{{Tenure|rank={{LCommRN}}|name=Sydney Hopkins|nick=Sydney Hopkins|appt=14 April, 1913<ref>Hopkins Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/107.|D7604206}} f. ?.</ref>{{NLJan15|p. 381''a''}}|end=1 June, 1916|note=ship lost under his command at the [[Battle of Jutland]]|succBy=Vessel Lost|precBy=New Command}}
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</div name=fredbot:officeCapt>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sparrowhawk_(1912)}}  
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* [[Fourth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland]]
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{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sparrowhawk_(1912)}}
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* Court of Enquiry into grounding of HMS SPARROWHAWK {{TNA|ADM 156/111.|C2257418}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
  
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{{CatShipDestroyer|UK}}
 
{{CatShipDestroyer|UK}}
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{{CatShipLostInAction|UK}}

Latest revision as of 15:50, 3 May 2020

H.M.S. Sparrowhawk (1912)
Pendant Number: H.61 (1914)[1]
Builder: Swan Hunter[2]
Launched: 12 Oct, 1912[3]
Completed: May, 1913[4]
Sunk: 1 Jun, 1916[5]
Fate: in Battle of Jutland
Sparrowhawk at Jutland, 31 May, 1916.
As seen from Spitfire.
© Alan Bush.

H.M.S. Sparrowhawk was one of twenty destroyers of the Acasta class. She was scuttled after being severely damaged in the night action of the Battle of Jutland.

There was also an earlier and a later Sparrowhawk.

Service

Upon completion in mid-1913, Sparrowhawk joined the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla.[6]

On 31 July, 1913 the Acasta Class destroyer Ambuscade collided with Sparrowhawk. The fault was attributed to the other ship's captain.[7]

At the Battle of Jutland, she operated with the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Sydney Hopkins. After dark on 31 May, Sparrowhawk was behind Tipperary and Spitfire, followed by the remainder of 4 D.F., steaming south at 17 knots five miles astern of the Second Battle Squadron. At 11.30, vessels were sighted on the Starboard quarter overtaking the flotilla and apparently steering the same Course. The leading ship was observed to have three funnels but hazy conditions did not permit a quick "friend or foe" determination. Before any decision could be made, the lead enemy ship switched on searchlights and opened fire while displaying recognition signals of red and green lights. Lt. Commander Hopkins ordered torpedoes to be fired at the third ship in the enemy line, and one torpedo was fired at a range estimated at less than 1,000 yards. Crewmen aft judged that it may have hit the target, as they saw an explosion.

Sparrowhawk had avoided any damage to this point when she was rammed abreast the bridge by the heavily damaged and out-of-control flotilla leader Broke. With Broke wedged halfway through her forward, H.M.S. Contest also piled into Sparrowhawk aft, removing her stern. Sparrowhawk was fortunate to lose just six men in the misadventure. Most of the crew was removed to Marksman, which then attempted to tow the derelict stern-first. The missing stern section caused the tow wire to part, however. In the early morning hours of 1 June, after those confidential materials which could be found were removed or burned, Sparrowhawk was destroyed by gunfire on orders of the Vice-Admiral.[8]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 63.
  2. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 75.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 75.
  4. Friedman. British Destroyers. p. 307.
  5. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 75.
  6. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 377.
  7. Coles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/167. f. 168.
  8. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 34, 44, 320-321.
  9. Hopkins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/107. f. ?.
  10. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 381a.

Bibliography


Acasta Class Destroyer
Admiralty Design
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Christopher Cockatrice
Contest Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Lynx
  Midge Owl  
Thornycroft Specials
Hardy Paragon Porpoise Unity Victor
Other Specials
  Ardent Fortune Garland  
<– Acheron Class Destroyers (UK) Laforey Class –>