HMS TB 11 (1907) facts for kids
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|} HMS TB 11 was a small but important warship of the British Royal Navy. It was originally named HMS Mayfly. This ship was a special kind of torpedo-boat or coastal destroyer, part of the Cricket-class.
TB 11 was built by a company called Yarrow between 1905 and 1907. During the First World War, it helped patrol the coast. Sadly, the ship was sunk by a German mine in the North Sea on March 7, 1916.
How TB 11 Was Designed
The Cricket-class ships were created to be smaller and cheaper than other large destroyers. They were meant to work in coastal areas, like the English Channel. In May 1905, the British Admiralty (the navy's leaders) ordered twelve of these ships.
Different shipbuilders made their own designs. Yarrow built TB 11. This ship was about 175 feet 9 inches (53.57 m) long and 18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m) wide. It had a shallow bottom, only 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) deep.
The ship had two funnels and a special curved front deck. It used two Yarrow water-tube boilers to make steam. This steam powered Parsons steam turbines, which turned three propellers. This system gave the ship 4,000 shaft horsepower (3,000 kW) of power. It was designed to travel at 26 knots (30 mph; 48 km/h).
For weapons, TB 11 had two 12-pounder (76 mm) guns. It also carried three 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. Torpedoes are underwater missiles. The ship had a crew of 39 sailors.
TB 11's Service and Fate
The building of TB 11 began on November 23, 1905, at Yarrow's shipyard in Poplar, London. In 1906, the ships of this class, including Mayfly, were renamed. Mayfly became TB 11.
The ship was launched into the water on January 29, 1907. During its tests at sea, it reached a speed of 27.16 knots (31.26 mph; 50.30 km/h). It was fully ready for service in July 1907.
In August 1910, TB 11 had a small accident. It hit a sea wall at Dover harbour during a practice torpedo attack. This damaged the front of the ship. It was repaired at Sheerness dockyard. The ship also had more repairs in 1911.
By March 1913, TB 11 was based at Chatham Dockyard. It was ready for duty, but with a smaller crew. It stayed at Chatham until July 1914.
When the First World War began in August 1914, the Royal Navy called up its reserve forces. By November 1914, TB 11 was part of the Local Defence Flotilla for The Nore. This group of ships protected the Thames Estuary. The flotilla included many old destroyers and torpedo boats.
TB 11 continued its patrol duties in this group. On March 7, 1916, it was sunk by a mine. This happened off Longsand Head, on the east coast of Britain. Sadly, 23 of its crew members died. Another destroyer, Coquette, was lost in the same minefield just before TB 11. A German submarine, UC-10, had laid these mines on March 6.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS TB 11 |
| Builder | Yarrow, Poplar, London |
| Laid down | 23 November 1905 |
| Launched | 29 January 1907 |
| Completed | July 1907 |
| Fate | Sunk by mine, 7 March 1916 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Cricket-class coastal destroyer |
| Displacement | 291 long tons (296 t) |
| Length | 175 ft 9 in (53.57 m) oa |
| Beam | 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m) |
| Draught | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Installed power | 4,000 shp (3,000 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 26 kn (30 mph; 48 km/h) |
| Complement | 39 |
| Armament |
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