Difference between revisions of "H.M.S. Tiger (1913)"

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In August, 1918, in recognition of shortcomings in the use of directing guns, it was ordered that ''Tiger'' should be fitted with a second tripod-type{{INF}} director aft, as ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' had been configured.  It seems that supplies of sights were insufficient to meet this goal, however.  In November 1918, an alternative source for the equipment was considered, but the changing circumstances put an end to the plan.<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships'', p. 18.</ref>
 
In August, 1918, in recognition of shortcomings in the use of directing guns, it was ordered that ''Tiger'' should be fitted with a second tripod-type{{INF}} director aft, as ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' had been configured.  It seems that supplies of sights were insufficient to meet this goal, however.  In November 1918, an alternative source for the equipment was considered, but the changing circumstances put an end to the plan.<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships'', p. 18.</ref>
  
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==Captains==
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{{CAPTAINS}}
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Dates of appointment given:
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*{{CaptRN}} [[Henry Bertram Pelly|Henry B. Pelly]], 3 August, 1914.<ref>''Navy List'' (October, 1915).  p. 398''q''.</ref>
 
*{{CaptRN}} [[Henry Bertram Pelly|Henry B. Pelly]], 3 August, 1914.<ref>''Navy List'' (October, 1915).  p. 398''q''.</ref>
 
*Captain [[Rudolf Walter Bentinck|Rudolf W. Bentinck]], 29 June, 1916.<ref>''Navy List'' (Deceember, 1916).  p. 398''r''.</ref>
 
*Captain [[Rudolf Walter Bentinck|Rudolf W. Bentinck]], 29 June, 1916.<ref>''Navy List'' (Deceember, 1916).  p. 398''r''.</ref>

Revision as of 14:21, 11 July 2012

H.M.S. Tiger
Career Details
Pendant Number: 91 (April, 1918)[1]
Ordered: 1911-1912 Programme
Built By: John Brown, Clydebank
(Ship no. 418)[2]
Laid Down: 20 June, 1912
Launched: 15 December, 1913
Commissioned: 3 October, 1914
Sold: February, 1932
Fate: Scrapped
Characteristics

Construction and Service

Letters inviting tenders were sent to ten firms on 21 December, 1911. That of John Brown and Company of Clydebank was accepted on 4 April, 1912, and she was laid down on 20 June of that year.[3] Tiger was launched on 15 December, 1913, by Lady Helen Vincent, wide of Sir Edgar Vincent. Captain Edward S. Fitzherbert, Captain Superintendent, Contract Built Ships, Clyde District, was present on behalf of the Admiralty.[4]

Of the ship's chief commissioning officers, the first to be appointed was the Gunnery Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Evan Bruce-Gardyne, on 13 March, 1914. The Torpedo Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Walter N. Lapage, was appointed on 19 June. Captain Henry B. Pelly was appointed in command on 3 August, closely followed by Commander Henry G. Sherbrooke as Commander on the sixth and Commander Edward R. Jones as Navigating Officer on the eighth.[5] The First Lieutenant was apparently the retired Lieutenant James Bayley, appointed on the twenty-second.[6] The ship commissioned at Clydebank on 3 October,[7] and joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa on 6 November.[8] On the tenth the Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, wrote to Lord Fisher, the First Sea Lord, objecting to the removal of a battle cruiser from his command:

I explained that Tiger is absolutely unfit to fight yet. Even if trained (which she is not), her one dynamo that is effective cannot do the work of the fire control instruments, lighting, etc., and she would be a present to the Germans.[9]

On the 13th Vice-Admiral Sir David R. Beatty, Vice-Admiral Commanding the First Battle Cruiser Squadron referred in a letter to Jellicoe to "TIGER being as yet unfit" to take the place of Princess Royal, detached.[10] Jellicoe flatly replied on the 17th that "TIGER will be with you when next at sea."[11] Beatty informed Fisher on the 15th:

You are probably not aware that Tiger is not yet fit to fight. Three out of her four dynamos are out of action for an indefinite period, and her training is impeded by bad weather, which might continue for many weeks at this time of year, and at present she is quite unprepared and inefficient.[12]

On 14 December Commander Arthur J. Davies replaced Commander Sherbroke.[13]

Dogger Bank

In the wake of Dogger Bank, Vice-Admiral Beatty complained to the Second Sea Lord, Sir Frederick T. Hamilton, that "the Tiger had a very mixed Ship's Company, with a large number of recovered deserters, and that it was an uphill task for the Captain to pull them together in War Time, and the same efficiency could not be expected from the Tiger as from the other ships."[14] Lieutenant-Commander Patrick Macnamara succeeded Bruce-Gardyne as Gunnery Officer on 9 March, 1915.[15] Vice-Admiral Sir F. D. Doveton Sturdee, commanding the Fourth Battle Squadron, told his Rear-Admiral, Alexander L. Duff of the relief, who noted in his diary:

He also told me what I am extremely sorry to hear, viz, that Bruce Gardyne is to be taken out of Tiger on account of bad shooting both in action & in at target practice. I was afraid it might happen. I am sorry for his mother who is so proud of him being Lieut (G) of so fine a ship. Shall we gain by swapping horses while crossing the stream? I doubt it.[16]

Post-War

Under the terms of the London Naval Treaty of 1930, Tiger was one of five capital ships to be removed from the effective list.[17] Before paying off she participated in the Spring Cruise of the Atlantic Fleet. She fired her guns for the last time on the night 13-14 March, 1931, and with her last salvo straddled the target.[18] On 30 March the Atlantic Fleet sailed out of Gibraltar for home. At a signal from Sir Michael Hodges, the Commander-in-Chief, Tiger proceeded at full speed from her position at the rear of the battle cruisers up the line of ships of the fleet, whose crews cleared lower deck and cheered her, whilst the bands of the Royal Marines played "Heart of Oak" and other tunes. At the head of the line she shaped course for Devonport, 200 miles distant, and sailed into the mist, with her band playing "Auld Lang Syne."[19]

Alterations

In 1913, Tiger was slated as part of the twelve ship order to receive a director system for her main battery. It was fitted sometime after the war started but prior to May, 1915.[20]

In October, 1914, it was decided that Tiger should receive a Open Director Sight for each of her turrets. They were fitted between April 1916 and June 1917.[21]

By the end of 1915, she had been equipped with a Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark I in her TCT.[22]

In August, 1918, in recognition of shortcomings in the use of directing guns, it was ordered that Tiger should be fitted with a second tripod-type[Inference] director aft, as Lion and Princess Royal had been configured. It seems that supplies of sights were insufficient to meet this goal, however. In November 1918, an alternative source for the equipment was considered, but the changing circumstances put an end to the plan.[23]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. p. 35.
  2. ↑ Johnston. Clydebank Battlecruisers, Footers.
  3. ↑ Records of Warship Construction during the War. 1914—1918. Volume I. ADM 1/8547/430. p. 78.
  4. ↑ "The Launch of H.M.S. Tiger" (News). The Times. Tuesday, 16 December, 1913. Issue 40396, col C, pg. 12.
  5. ↑ Navy List (November, 1914). p. 385a.
  6. ↑ Navy List (October, 1915). p. 398q.
  7. ↑ Roberts. p. 123.
  8. ↑ Parkes. p. 557.
  9. ↑ Fear God and Dread Nought. III. p. 68.
  10. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 137/2134. f. 32.
  11. ↑ The National Archives. ADM 137/2134. f. 34.
  12. ↑ Fear God and Dread Nought. III. p. 71.
  13. ↑ Navy List (October, 1915). p. 398q.
  14. ↑ Beatty Papers. I. p. 249.
  15. ↑ Navy List (October, 1915). p. 398q.
  16. ↑ Diary entry of 7 March, 1915. Duff Papers. National Maritime Museum. DFF 15.
  17. ↑ "Naval Estimates" (News). The Times. Friday, 6 March, 1931. Issue 45764, col A, pg. 9.
  18. ↑ "End of Famous Ship" (News). The Times. Tuesday, 31 March, 1931. Issue 45785, col B, pg. 11.
  19. ↑ "Passing of the Tiger" (News). The Times. Thursday, 2 April, 1931. Issue 45787, col D, pg. 8.
  20. ↑ The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, pp. 9-10.
  21. ↑ The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, p. 18.
  22. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915, p. 60.
  23. ↑ The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, p. 18.
  24. ↑ Navy List (October, 1915). p. 398q.
  25. ↑ Navy List (Deceember, 1916). p. 398r.
  26. ↑ Navy List (December, 1918). p. 920.
  27. ↑ "Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 15 March, 1919. Issue 42049, col G, pg. 16.
  28. ↑ Dewar Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 59.
  29. ↑ "Naval, Military, and Air Force" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 30 December, 1929. Issue 45397, col D, pg. 3.

Bibliography

Template:Tiger Class (1913)

Template:CatShipUKBattlecruiser

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