H.M.S. Ambuscade (1913)

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H.M.S. Ambuscade (1913)
Pendant Number: H.62 (1914)
H.05 (Jan 1918)[1]
Builder: John Brown & Company[2]
Launched: 25 Jan, 1913[3]
Completed: Jun, 1913[4]
Sold: Sep, 1921[5]

H.M.S. Ambuscade was one of twenty destroyers of the Acasta class.

Service

On 31 July, 1913, Ambuscade collided with Sparrowhawk due to an error in judgement on the part of her own Lt. Cdr. Gordon Alston Coles, who had handled Ambuscade in a "faulty manner".[6]

While still under the command of Coles, Ambuscade was one of seven Acasta class destroyers of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla that saw action during the Scarborough Raid on 16 December 1914, acting as a member of the four-ship first division.[7]

At the Battle of Jutland, she operated with the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Coles.[8] The divisional commander spoke highly of Cole's performance in the battle, firing three torpedoes thanks to his crew's rapid reloading under fire.[9]

From mid-1917 to late 1918, she was busy with anti-submarine patrol and convoy escort work, most often with Cockatrice and Christopher, who were at her side almost continuously.[10]

In November, 1918, the three destroyers left the 4 D.F. to join the Northern Patrol Force.[11]

She reduced to C. & M. Party at Devonport 15 October, 1919.[12]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 63.
  2. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 75.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 75.
  4. Friedman. British Destroyers. p. 307.
  5. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 75.
  6. Coles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/167. f. 168.
  7. Naval Operations. Volume II. pp. 26-30.
  8. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 34, 44.
  9. Coles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/167. f. 168.
  10. Christopher's logs at The National Archives. 53/37734. through ADM 53/37737.
  11. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). pp. 17, 19.
  12. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 726.
  13. Coles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/167. f. 168.
  14. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 392a.
  15. Coles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/167. f. 168.
  16. Scott Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/82. f. ?.
  17. The Navy List. (October, 1916). p. 392b.
  18. Scott Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/82. f. ?.
  19. Nash Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/183. f. 551.
  20. Nash Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/183. f. 551.
  21. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  22. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  23. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 729.

Bibliography


Acasta Class Destroyer
Admiralty Design
Acasta Achates Ambuscade Christopher Cockatrice
Contest Shark Sparrowhawk Spitfire Lynx
  Midge Owl  
Thornycroft Specials
Hardy Paragon Porpoise Unity Victor
Other Specials
  Ardent Fortune Garland  
<– Acheron Class Destroyers (UK) Laforey Class –>