H.M.S. Flirt (1897)

H.M.S. Flirt (1897)
Pendant Number:	P.87 (1914) D.56 (Sep 1915)
Builder:	Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Ordered:	1896-97 Programme
Laid down:	5 Sep, 1896
Launched:	15 May, 1897
Commissioned:	Apr, 1899
Sunk:	27 Oct, 1916
Fate:	at Battle of Dover Strait

H.M.S. Flirt was one of forty "C" class destroyers built for the Royal Navy — a "30 knotter".

Service

A 13-knot, eight hours coal consumption trial was conducted at Portsmouth between the Needles and Ryde on 6 January, 1899 in mild weather on a smooth sea. With 475 i.h.p., the engine developed 154 revolutions, yielding 13.05 knots at a rate of consumption of 1.88 pound per unit of power per hour.

In late 1905, she was one of eight destroyers in the First Division of the Channel Fleet's Destroyer Flotilla. By February 1906, the strength had increased to 12 T.B.Ds. and the formation had taken the name of the First Destroyer Flotilla.

By March 1910 she was with the Second Destroyer Flotilla, operating as part of the First Division, Home Fleet.

She, Flirt and Star of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla were paid off on 30 April 1912 and re-commissioned the following day.

By late April, 1912, Flirt was operating with the newly re-organised Sixth Destroyer Flotilla, a Patrol Flotilla based at Portsmouth. She would continue in this assignment throughout her service career.

Lieutenant in Command Andrew Nevill Swainson was cautioned by Vice-Admiral, Dover to be more careful after Flirt collided with a Swedish steamer on 6 March, 1916. Swainson would be drowned in a boat accident while returning to his vessel on the night of 1 June, 1916.

On the night of 26-27 October, 1916, Flirt was in the eastern English Channel, protecting a line of anti-submarine drifters when six raiding German destroyers arrived and started ravaging her charges, sinking six. Flirt lowered a boat and turned on her searchlight to help save lives, and was taken under fire by two destroyers and rapidly sunk.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Lieutenant & Commander Edward A. Thomas, 18 September, 1899 – 18 September, 1900
• Lieutenant Michael H. Hodges, 18 September, 1900 – 8 January, 1901
• Lieutenant Henry W. Osburn, 16 October, 1901 – 22 February, 1902
• Commander Brian H. F. Barttelot, 1 August, 1902 – 3 April, 1903
• Lieutenant & Commander Henry C. R. Brocklebank, 3 April, 1903 – 1 May, 1903
• Lieutenant & Commander Harold D. Briggs, 21 July, 1903 – 15 August, 1903  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1903)
• Lieutenant & Commander Reginald J. N. Watson, 14 July, 1904 – 1904  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1904)
• Lieutenant & Commander John Kiddle, 28 October, 1904 – 15 November, 1904
• Lieutenant & Commander The Hon. Hubert G. Brand, 15 November, 1904 – 20 December, 1904
• Commander Harry L. d'E. Skipwith, 21 December, 1904 – 10 November, 1905
• Lieutenant-Commander Bertram O. F. Phibbs, 10 November, 1905 – 15 October, 1906
• Lieutenant-Commander Leopold G. D. Way, 5 February, 1907 – 20 March, 1909
• Lieutenant & Commander Alan F. W. Howard, 20 March, 1909  (possibly cancelled, per his service record)
• Lieutenant & Commander John P. Landon, June, 1911 – 30 April, 1912
• Lieutenant & Commander Stuart E. Holder, 8 November, 1912 – 15 April, 1913
• Commander Robert H. Coppinger, 15 April, 1913 – 2 February, 1914
• Lieutenant in Command Hubert S. Braddyll, 2 February, 1914 – 14 September, 1915
• Lieutenant in Command Andrew N. Swainson, 14 September, 1915 – 1 June, 1916  (drowned while in command)
• Lieutenant Richard P. Kellett, 5 June, 1916 – 27 October, 1916  (killed in command when vessel lost at the Battle of Dover Strait)

See Also

• Wikipedia