HMS Lurcher (1912)
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HMS Lurcher
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Lurcher |
| Builder: | Yarrow & Company, Scotstoun, Glasgow |
| Yard number: | 1305 |
| Launched: | 1 June 1912 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrapping, 9 June 1922 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Acheron-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 990 tons |
| Length: | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Beam: | 7.8 m (26 ft) |
| Draught: | 2.7 m (8.9 ft) |
| Installed power: | 20,000 shp (15,000 kW) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 35 knots (65 km/h) |
| Complement: | 70 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Lurcher was a modified Acheron-class destroyer, named after the lurcher-type dog, and the fifth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name; when new she was the fastest ship in the Royal Navy.
Sir Alfred Yarrow maintained that it was possible to build strong, seaworthy destroyers with a speed of 32 kn (59 km/h), and a contract for three such boats was placed with Yarrow & Company of Scotstoun, Glasgow. The "Firedrake Specials", "Special I class" or "Yarrow Specials" were a little larger than the rest of the class but carried the same armament. Lurcher, Firedrake and Oak were, however, distinctive in appearance and at least 4 knots faster than the rest of their class. They all exceeded their contract speed, Lurcher making over 35 knots (65 km/h); she became part of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla.
At the start of World War I Lurcher and Firedrake were assigned to the Eighth Submarine Flotilla under the command of Commodore Roger Keyes, and were based at Parkeston Quay, Harwich. Both ships were employed in escorting, towing and exercising with submarines of their flotilla, and the more notable episodes are detailed below:
On 26 August 1914 Keyes hoisted his broad pennant in Lurcher, leading Firedrake, two D-class and six E-class submarines eastwards into the North Sea. Also at sea were the destroyers of Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt. The plan was to place elements of the High Seas Fleet between Royal Navy surface ships and bottomed Royal Navy submarines. Unknown to Keyes and Tyrwhitt, the Admiralty had added significant reinforcements at the last minute.
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