HMS Nomad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Nomad |
| Builder | Alexander Stephen and Sons, Linthouse |
| Launched | 7 February 1916 |
| Fate | Sunk on 31 May 1916 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Admiralty M-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 971 long tons (987 t) |
| Length | 273 ft 4 in (83.31 m) o/a |
| Beam | 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 3 Shafts; 3 steam turbines |
| Speed | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range | 2,100 nmi (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 76 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Nomad was a special type of warship called a destroyer. It was built for the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom during the First World War. Sadly, the ship was sunk in a huge sea battle called the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Contents
What Was HMS Nomad Like?
HMS Nomad was part of the Admiralty M-class destroyers. These ships were faster and better than earlier models. They weighed about 971 tonnes.
The ship was about 83 meters (273 feet) long. It was 8.1 meters (26 feet 8 inches) wide. The ship also had a depth of 2.9 meters (9 feet 8 inches) below the water.
Power and Speed Nomad had three powerful steam turbines. These engines used steam from four large boilers. They gave the ship a total of 25,000 horsepower. This power let the ship travel very fast, up to 34 knots (about 63 kilometers per hour).
The ship could carry enough fuel oil to travel 2,100 nautical miles (about 3,900 kilometers). This was when it was moving at a speed of 15 knots. A crew of 76 sailors worked on board.
Weapons The destroyer was armed with three 4-inch guns. It also had two smaller anti-aircraft guns. These were first 1.5-pounder guns, later changed to 2-pounder "pom-pom" guns. For attacking bigger ships, Nomad carried two sets of twin torpedo tubes. These could fire 21-inch torpedoes.
Nomad was ordered in November 1914. It was built by a company called Alexander Stephen and Sons. Their shipyard was in Linthouse, Scotland.
The ship was officially launched into the water on February 7, 1916. It was finished and ready for duty in April 1916. Lieutenant-Commander Paul Whitfield was the ship's first commander. Nomad then joined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla. This group of ships was part of the large Grand Fleet.
The Battle of Jutland
The Fight Begins
Nomad was with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla during the Battle of Jutland. This huge naval battle happened on May 31, 1916. Around 4:09 PM, Admiral Jellicoe ordered the 13th Flotilla to attack German battlecruisers with torpedoes.
At almost the same time, Admiral Hipper of the German fleet also ordered a torpedo attack. This led to a fierce fight between the two groups of destroyers. During this fight, Nomad was hit by a shell. The hit damaged its engine room, making the ship unable to move.
Nomad's Last Stand
Later that afternoon, Nomad was still stuck. Its sister ship, Nestor, was also disabled. German battleships then found and attacked both ships. Nomad fired all its torpedoes at the German ships. However, none of them hit.
Several German battleships, including Friedrich der Grosse and Kaiser, fired their smaller guns at Nomad. The ship was hit many times. The damage was so bad that the crew had to leave the ship. A final hit caused the front part of Nomad to explode. The destroyer sank at 5:30 PM. Nestor sank shortly after.
Eight of Nomad's crew members were killed. The remaining 72 survivors, including Commander Whitfield, were rescued by German torpedo boats. They became prisoners-of-war.
Finding the Wreck
The wreck of Nomad is now a protected place. This means it is against the law to disturb it. It was found by accident in 2001 by a dive team. The ship's bell from Nomad can be seen at the Jutland shipwreck museum.
