H.M.S. Onslow (1916)

H.M.S. Onslow (1916)
Pendant Number:	G.29 (1914) F.09 (Jan 1917) F.34 (Jan 1918) H.24 (Apr 1918)^[1]
Builder:	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company^[2]
Ordered:	Nov 1914 (2nd Order)^[3]
Launched:	15 Feb, 1916^[4]
Completed:	Apr, 1916^[5]
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H.M.S. Onslow was one of one hundred and three destroyers of the "M" class built for the Royal Navy during the Great War.

Service

In April, 1916 Onslow was assigned to the newly-created Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.^[6]

At the Battle of Jutland, she screened the First Battle Cruiser Squadron as one of twelve destroyers operating with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla.^[7]^[8]

On 17 February, 1917 the destroyer Oberon collided with Onslow and the flotilla leader Lightfoot. The Admiralty considered that Oberon's Lt. Cdr. Bomford had made a serious error in altering back to his original course after making an eight-point turn to starboard, but satisfaction at how he kept the vessel afloat in the immediate aftermath.^[9]

In November, 1917 Onslow was one of eight "M"s evicted from 13 D.F., being sent directly to the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla where she was under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, Devonport.^[10]

She was reduced to C. & M. Party at the Nore on 25 March, 1920.^[11]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

Lieutenant in Command Alban T. B. Curteis, 29 March, 1916^[12] – 7 May, 1916^[13]
Lieutenant-Commander John C. Tovey, 7 May, 1916^[14] – November, 1917^[15] (in command at Battle of Jutland)
Lieutenant in Command Harold O. Joyce, 11 October, 1917^[16] – 8 August, 1918 (sick)
Commander Malcolm Murray, 8 August, 1918 – 10 May, 1919 (temporary)
Lieutenant R.N.R. (in Command?) Donald McAllister, 27 June, 1918^[17] – 1919