HMS Tipperary facts for kids
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|} HMS Tipperary, launched on 5 March 1915, was a Royal Navy ship. It was a special type of destroyer called a Faulknor-class. Its job was to lead groups of other destroyers. Sadly, Tipperary was sunk in battle on 1 June 1916. This happened during the Battle of Jutland in World War I, when it faced the Imperial German Navy.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Tipperary |
| Builder | J S White, Cowes |
| Launched | 5 March 1915 |
| Fate | Sunk at Jutland, 1 June 1916 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Faulknor-class flotilla leader |
| Displacement | 1,700 tons |
| Length | 331 ft (100.9 m) |
| Beam | 32.6 ft (9.9 m) |
| Draught | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 6 White-Forster type water-tube boilers, steam turbines, 3 shafts, 30,000 shp |
| Speed | 32 knots |
| Complement | 197 |
| Armament |
|
Serving in World War I
Tipperary and its sister ships were first ordered by the country of Chile. However, when World War I began, the Royal Navy bought them instead.
Early Duties
Tipperary started its service in June 1915. It was the second leader for the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla. This group was part of the Harwich Force, a naval unit based in Harwich, England. Later that year, Tipperary also took charge of some destroyers from the 2nd Flotilla. In March 1916, it rejoined the Harwich Force. It was then linked with the Fifth Light Cruiser Squadron.
For a time during the war, Captain (who later became Admiral) Sir Barry Domvile was in command of Tipperary.
Leading the 4th Flotilla
In May 1916, Tipperary became the leader of the 4th Flotilla. This group of destroyers worked closely with the main British fleet, known as the Grand Fleet.
The Sinking of Tipperary
On the night of May 31, 1916, the 4th Destroyer Flotilla was looking for the German High Seas Fleet in the North Sea. This was during the huge naval battle known as the Battle of Jutland. Around 9:58 PM, Tipperary and its group met the German 7th Flotilla. The German ships fired torpedoes, but none hit the British ships. The German destroyers then turned away.
A little later, between 11:15 PM and 11:20 PM, a lookout on another British ship, HMS Garland, saw what looked like enemy ships. A few minutes after that, Tipperary sent out a signal to identify itself. Immediately, searchlights from three German battleships and three light cruisers lit up Tipperary.
From about 11:30 PM to 11:34 PM, around 150 shells were fired at Tipperary. These shells came from German battleships like SMS Westfalen and SMS Nassau. Tipperary was badly hit. Its bridge was damaged, and most of the crew at the front of the ship were injured or killed. This included its commander, Captain Wintour.
Around 2:00 AM on June 1, 1916, the crew had to leave the ship. Tipperary sank in the hours that followed because of the damage it had taken in the battle. Out of its crew of 197, 150 sailors were killed. Some of the survivors were rescued from the sea by the German Navy. They were then taken to Germany as prisoners of war.
Stoker David Eunson, one of the survivors, described the terrible night: "As we floated away on that awful night, many died of sheer exhaustion and suffering. After drifting for well nigh 5 hours we were picked up at dawn. I saw the Tipperary, a mass of flames, keel over".
After the Battle
The place where Tipperary sank is now a special "protected place." This means it is protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. This law helps to preserve the wrecks of military ships as war graves.
