As the First World War progressed, the Royal Navy required more, and more modern, warships. In March 1916, within the Eighth War Programme, the British Admiralty ordered three vessels from Yarrow Shipbuilders as part of a wider order of R-classdestroyers.[1] The R class was generally similar to the preceding M class, but differed, primarily, in having geared steam turbines.[2] The Yarrow-built ships differed in retaining the direct drive turbines of the M class and are therefore often called the Yarrow Later M class.[3] They were similar to the preceding Yarrow M class but distinguished by their greater tonnage, narrower beam and sloping sterns.[4]Tyrant was the second of the three to be launched.[5]
Tyrant had a length of 273 ft 6 in (83.4 m) overall, with a beam of 25 ft 7.5 in (7.8 m) and draught of 9 ft (2.7 m). Displacement was 930 long tons (940 t) normal. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons direct-drive steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW). The turbines drove two shafts and exhausted through two funnels. Design speed was 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[6] In trials, the destroyer achieved 39,117 kn (72,445 km/h; 45,015 mph) at a displacement of 780 long tons (790 t).[7] Between 215 and 260 long tons (218 and 264 t) of oil was carried.[4] Design range was 1,860 nautical miles (3,440 km; 2,140 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[8] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[6]
Tyrant was laid down by Yarrow at their shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow, in March 1916, launched on 19 May 1917 and completed in July that year.[5] The ship was the first, and so far only, vessel of the name in service with the Royal Navy.[12] deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla based a Scapa Flow.[13] The flotilla took part in the Royal Navy's engagement with one of the final sorties of the German High Seas Fleet during the First World War, on 24 April 1918, although the two fleets did not actually meet and the destroyer returned unharmed.[14] At the end of the war, the destroyer was part of the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla.[15]
After the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and personnel were culled to save money.[16] The destroyer was transferred to reserve at Portsmouth.[17] It was announced that Tyrant would replace the destroyer Rival as tender to the stone frigateFisgard on 11 September 1925.[18]
On 16 July 1935, Tyrant was one of over 100 ships of the Royal Navy in a fleet review to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of George V.[19] On 1 April the following year, the destroyer was allocated as a tender to Saladin.[20] However, as newer, larger and more powerful vessels were introduced into the Royal Navy, older destroyers were retired. On 15 January 1939, the warship was retired and sold to Cashmore to be broken up at Newport.[21]
Bush, Steve; Warlow, Ben (2021). Pendant Numbers of the Royal Navy: A Complete History of the Allocation of Pendant Numbers to Royal Navy Warships & Auxiliaries. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-526793-78-2.
Colledge, James Joseph; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. London: Chatham Press. ISBN978-1-93514-907-1.
March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC164893555.
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