HMS Scott (1917)

HMS Scott
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Scott
Namesake:	Sir Walter Scott
Ordered:	April 1916
Launched:	18 October 1917
Fate:	Sunk, 15 August 1918
General characteristics
Class and type:	Admiralty type destroyer leader
Displacement:	1,801 long tons (1,830 t)
Length:	332 ft 6 in (101.35 m)
Beam:	31 ft 9 in (9.68 m)
Draught:	12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Installed power:	40,000 ihp (30,000 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × steam engines 2 × shafts
Speed:	36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	164-183
Armament:	5 × BL 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mk I guns 6 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Notes:	Prototype flotilla leader

HMS Scott was the first of a new destroyer leader class built to be flotilla leaders for the V- and W-class destroyers. She was ordered during the First World War in 1916, and the class would unofficially be named after her. The ship herself was the first to bear the name Scott and was named after Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet.^[1]

Career

Scott was launched on 18 October 1917; on 15 August 1918, however, she was sunk off the Dutch coast — less than a year after entering service - in the same accident with the R-class destroyer HMS Ulleswater. The cause of her sinking is unclear. It is assumed that a German U-boat torpedoed and sunk her, but it is also possible that she hit a mine. Nevertheless, the German submarine U-17 — which had been patrolling and mining the area — is usually credited with her sinking.^[2]

Legacy

Although Scott herself did not have an extensive career, the class as a whole served for many years. Five of the class survived the First World War, and two more were subsequently completed. Six saw action throughout the Second World War (HMAS Stuart with the Royal Australian Navy) and none were lost in that conflict.

Wreck

The wreck of Scott is approximately 20 nmi (37 km; 23 mi) off the Dutch coast. The wreck lies upright with the stern in 35 m (115 ft) of water, and the bow in 28 m (92 ft). The keel and the engines are still visible.

References

1. David A Thomas, A companion to the Royal Navy, 1988, ISBN 0-245-54572-7
2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: HMS Scott". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.