HMS TB 12 (1907) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS TB 12 |
| Builder | Yarrow, Poplar |
| Laid down | 23 November 1905 |
| Launched | 15 March 1907 |
| Completed | July 1907 |
| Fate | Mined 10 June 1915 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Cricket-class 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 |
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| Speed | 26 kn (30 mph; 48 km/h) |
| Complement | 39 |
| Armament |
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HMS TB 12 was a small but important ship in the British Royal Navy. She was originally named HMS Moth. This ship was a special type of coastal destroyer or torpedo-boat. She was built by a company called Yarrow between 1905 and 1907. During the First World War, HMS TB 12 helped patrol the coast. Sadly, she was sunk by a German mine in the North Sea on June 10, 1915.
Contents
Building the Cricket-Class Ships
The Cricket-class ships were designed to be smaller and cheaper than the larger, faster Tribal-class destroyers. They were especially useful for patrolling coastal areas like the English Channel.
In May 1905, the British Admiralty (the group in charge of the Royal Navy) ordered twelve of these new ships. Five ships were ordered from Thornycroft, five from J. Samuel White, and two from Yarrow.
How Yarrow Built TB 12
Each shipbuilding company built their ships slightly differently. However, they all used the same type of engines and weapons. Yarrow's ships, including TB 12, were about 175 feet 9 inches (53.57 m) long. They had a width (called a beam) of 18 feet 0 inches (5.49 m).
These ships had two water-tube boilers that used oil for fuel. These boilers created steam for three special Parsons steam turbines. These turbines powered three propellers, pushing the ship through the water. The engines were designed to produce 4,000 shaft horsepower (3,000 kW) of power. This allowed the ships to reach a speed of 26 knots (30 mph; 48 km/h).
Weapons on Board
The Cricket-class ships were armed with two 12-pounder (76-mm) guns. They also had three 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. These tubes could launch torpedoes, which are underwater missiles. Each ship had a crew of 39 sailors.
HMS TB 12's Service and Fate
Both of Yarrow's torpedo-boats from the 1905–1906 plan, HMS Mayfly and HMS Moth, began construction on November 23, 1905. This happened at their shipyard in Poplar, London.
In 1906, all ships in this class, including Moth, were renamed as torpedo-boats. This meant they lost their original names. Moth became TB 12. She was launched into the water on March 15, 1907, and was fully ready for service by July 1907.
Patrol Duties
In early 1911, TB 12 joined the Nore Flotilla, a group of ships. Before this, she had been working at the Dartmouth Naval College, a training school for naval officers. She was also repaired and updated at Sheerness in 1911.
The Final Mission
On June 9, 1915, a German submarine (likely U-10) sank six fishing boats. Because of this, the Nore Local Defence Flotilla started a big search for the submarine. Five destroyers and six torpedo-boats, including TB 12, took part in this search.
At 3:30 AM on June 10, TB 12 was about 2 miles northeast of the Sunk Light Vessel. Suddenly, a huge explosion destroyed the front part of the ship. Her sister ship, TB 10, tried to tow TB 12 to safety. But shortly after, another explosion hit TB 10, causing her to break in two and sink quickly.
Attempts to save TB 12 also failed, and she sank at 10:55 AM. At the time, people thought the ships had been hit by torpedoes. However, it was later discovered that both torpedo-boats had actually been sunk by hidden mines. Sadly, 23 of TB 12's crew members lost their lives in the incident.
