HMS Pheasant (1916) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Pheasant |
| Ordered | May 1915 |
| Builder | Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Glasgow |
| Launched | 23 October 1916 |
| Commissioned | December 1916 |
| Fate | Sunk by naval mine, 1 March 1917 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Admiralty M-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 972 long tons (988 t) (normal) |
| Length | 273 ft 4 in (83.3 m) (o/a) |
| Beam | 26 ft 8 in (8.1 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 3 shafts; 1 steam turbine set |
| 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 Pheasant was a fast warship called a destroyer. She was one of 85 similar ships built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. Sadly, Pheasant hit an underwater mine and sank in 1917, just a few months after she was finished.
Contents
What was HMS Pheasant like?
The Admiralty M-class destroyers, like Pheasant, were improved versions of earlier warships. They were designed to be very fast.
Size and Power
Pheasant was about 273 feet 4 inches (83.3 m) long. That's longer than a football field! She was 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 m) wide and sat 8 feet 6 inches (2.6 m) deep in the water. The ship weighed about 972 long tons (988 t).
To make her move, Pheasant used a special type of engine called a steam turbine. This engine got its power from steam made by three large boilers. The turbines gave the ship 25,000 shaft horsepower (18,642 kW) of power. This allowed Pheasant to reach a top speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph), which is very fast for a ship.
Range and Crew
The ship could carry enough fuel to travel about 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) (around 3,890 kilometres (2,420 mi)) when going at a steady speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). This meant she could travel long distances without needing to refuel. A crew of 76 sailors worked on board Pheasant.
Weapons and Defense
Pheasant was armed with several powerful weapons. She had three main guns, each 4-inch (102 mm) (about 10 cm) in size. These were used to fire shells at enemy ships or targets.
For defense against aircraft, she had a smaller 2 pound[convert: unknown unit] (40 mm (1.6 in)) "pom-pom" gun. This gun was designed to shoot down enemy planes. The ship also carried two sets of twin torpedo tubes. These could launch 21-inch (533 mm) (about 53 cm) torpedoes, which were powerful underwater missiles used to sink enemy ships.
Building and Service of HMS Pheasant
Pheasant was ordered in May 1915 as part of a special program to build warships quickly during the war. She was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland.
Launch and First Mission
The ship was launched into the water on 23 October 1916. She was completed and ready for duty in December of the same year. Pheasant then joined the Grand Fleet, which was the main fleet of the Royal Navy. She became part of the 15th Destroyer Flotilla.
The Sinking of HMS Pheasant
On 1 March 1917, Pheasant was on a regular patrol. She was guarding the western entrance to Scapa Flow, a very important naval base in the Orkney Islands. Other smaller ships, called armed trawlers, were with her.
While off the island of Hoy, the trawlers saw a huge explosion. Pheasant had hit an underwater mine. The destroyer sank very quickly. Sadly, 89 sailors lost their lives in the sinking. Only one body and a small amount of wreckage were found by the trawlers.
Finding the Wreck
It's not completely clear where the mine came from. It might have been a mine that had drifted from a German minefield laid in 1915–1916. Or it could have been a mine laid by a German submarine in January 1917.
The wreck of Pheasant was found many years later on 13 May 1996. Divers from the Army Sub-Aqua Club discovered it lying about 82 metres (269 ft) (269 feet) deep in the water. The wreck is now a protected site.
