{{short description|Destroyer of the Royal Navy}} {{Other ships|HMS Wolverine}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Use British English|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=HMSWolverine1910.jpg |image_caption=HMS ''Wolverine'' }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United Kingdom |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |name=HMS ''Wolverine'' |ordered= |awarded= |builder=[[Cammell Laird]], [[Birkenhead]] |original_cost= |yard_number= |way_number= |laid_down= |launched=15 January 1910 |sponsor= |christened= |completed= |acquired= |commissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |refit= |struck= |homeport= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |fate=Sunk in collision, 12 December 1917 |notes= |badge= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class={{sclass|Beagle|destroyer}} |displacement= |length={{convert|274|ft|m|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|28|ft|m|abbr=on}} |draught={{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}} |power={{convert|12500|ihp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}} |propulsion=[[Steam engine]]s |speed={{convert|27|kn|lk=in}} |range= |capacity= |complement=96 |armament=*1 × [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VIII|BL {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} L/40 Mark VIII guns]] *3 × [[12-pounder gun|QF 12 pdr 12 cwt Mark I]] *1 × [[Ordnance QF 3-pounder Vickers|3-pounder]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft gun]] *2 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s |armour= |notes= }} }} '''HMS ''Wolverine''''' was a {{sclass|Beagle|destroyer}} of the [[Royal Navy]] launched on 15 January 1910. She was built by [[Cammell Laird]] at [[Birkenhead]].
==Design and construction== ''Wolverine'' was one of three {{sclass|Beagle|destroyer}}s ordered from the shipbuilder [[Cammell Laird]] as part of the 1908–1909 shipbuilding programme.<ref name="Friedman p118,305-6">Friedman 2009, pp. 118, 305–306.</ref><ref name="Manning p56">Manning 1961, p. 56.</ref> The ''Beagle''s were not built to a standard design, with detailed design being left to the builders of individual ships in accordance with a loose specification.<ref name="grand p68">Brown 2010, p. 68.</ref> ''Wolverine'', like the other two Laird-built ships, was {{convert|266|ft|m|1}} long, with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|28|ft|m|1}} and a [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|8|ft|8|in|m|1}}.<ref name="Manning p57">Manning 1961, p. 57.</ref> [[Displacement (ship)|Displacement]] was {{convert|914|LT|t}} normal.<ref>{{cite journal|title=542a: Wolverine, 1. ''Torpedo boat destroyer''|journal=The Navy List|date=March 1913|page=397a|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=94248162|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> Five [[Yarrow boiler]]s fed direct-drive Parsons [[steam turbine]]s driving three propeller shafts.<ref name="conways06 p73">Gardiner and Gray 1985, p. 73.</ref> The machinery was rated at {{convert|12500|shp|kW}} to meet the design speed of {{convert|27|kn}}.<ref name="Manning p54,7">Manning 1961, pp. 54, 57.</ref> Gun armament consisted of one [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VIII]] and three [[QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder 12 cwt]] guns.{{#tag:ref|"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 12cwt referring to the weight of the gun.|group=lower-alpha}} Torpedo armament consisted of two [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] torpedo tubes. Two spare torpedoes were carried.<ref name="Friedman p116,8">Friedman 2009, pp. 116, 118.</ref><ref name="conways06 p73-4">Gardiner and Gray 1985, pp. 73–74.</ref>
''Wolverine'' was [[keel laying|laid down]] at Laird's [[Birkenhead]] shipyard on 26 April 1904 and was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 15 January 1910.<ref name="Fried p306">Friedman 2009, p. 306.</ref> She reached a speed of {{convert|27.1|kn}} on her [[sea trials]],<ref>Hythe 1912, p. 249.</ref> meeting the contract requirement of 27 knots, and was completed in September 1910.<ref name="Fried p306"/>
==Service history== On commissioning, ''Wolverine'' joined the [[First Destroyer Flotilla]], part of the [[Home Fleet]].<ref name="Manning p25,55">Manning 1961, pp. 25, 55.</ref><ref name="nmm">{{cite web|url=http://www.rmg.co.uk/upload/pdf/Warship_Histories_Vessels_iv.pdf|title=NMM, vessel ID 378955|work=Warship Histories, vol iv|publisher=[[National Maritime Museum]]|access-date=20 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014122904/http://www.rmg.co.uk/upload/pdf/Warship_Histories_Vessels_iv.pdf|archive-date=14 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 1912, the Royal Navy's destroyer flotillas were re-organized, with the ''Beagle''s joining the [[Third Destroyer Flotilla]].<ref name="Manning p25">Manning 1961, p. 25.</ref> ''Wolverine'' remained part of the Third Flotilla until August 1913,<ref name="nmm"/><ref>{{cite journal|title=Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad: Flotillas of the First Fleet|journal=The Navy List|date=September 1913|page=269a|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=94306206|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> but had transferred to the [[Fifth Destroyer Flotilla]], part of the Royal Navy's [[Mediterranean Fleet]] by November that year.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad: Mediterranean Fleet|journal=The Navy List|date=November 1913|page=270a |url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=94327994 |access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref>
At the outbreak of the [[World War I|First World War]], ''Wolverine'' was still in the Mediterranean, as a member of the [[5th Destroyer Flotilla]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Fleets and Squadrons in Commission at Home and Abroad: Mediterranean Fleet|journal=The Navy List|date=August 1914|page=270|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=91884238&mode=fullsize|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref> The flotilla, including ''Wolverine'', was involved in the [[Pursuit of Goeben and Breslau|pursuit]] of the [[Imperial Germany|German]] [[battlecruiser]] {{Ship|SMS|Goeben||2}}. ''Wolverine'' was one of eight destroyers deployed by [[Rear Admiral]] [[Ernest Troubridge]] to assist his squadron of [[Armoured cruiser]]s in stopping the German ships escaping to Austrian waters. When it was realised that ''Goeben'' and ''Breslau'' were not heading to Austria, Troubridge left these destroyers behind as they did not have sufficient coal left for a high speed pursuit, and set off southwards on the night of 6/7 August 1914 with his four Armoured cruisers. He called off his pursuit later that night because he could not intercept the German squadron until daylight, when ''Goeben''{{'}}s superior speed and armament would give the Germans a significant advantage.<ref name="Massie p41-3">Massie 2007, pp. 41–43.</ref><ref name="Marderv2 p25-8">Marder 2013, pp. 25–28.</ref><ref>''The Naval Review'' Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 514–519.</ref> On 1 November 1914 she and the destroyer {{HMS|Scorpion|1910|2}} sank a [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] armed yacht, believed to be involved in minelaying operations, in the [[Gulf of Smyrna]].<ref name="navopv1 p363">Corbett 1920, p. 363.</ref>
In 1915, along with numerous other ''Beagle'', {{sclass2|River|destroyer|5||1903}} and {{sclass|Laforey|destroyer (1913)|0}} destroyers, she took part in the [[naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign]]. Early operations involved escorting trawlers when they attempted to sweep Turkish minefields in the narrows of the [[Dardanelles]].<ref name="navopv2 p173">Corbett 1921, p. 173.</ref> During the initial [[Landing at Anzac Cove|landings at ANZAC Cove]] and at [[Landing at Cape Helles|Cape Helles]], ''Wolverine'' joined several other destroyers in minesweeping operations in the Dardanelles straits to allow Allied battleships to bombard Turkish positions. On 28 April, ''Wolverine'' was sweeping in conjunction with sister ship {{HMS|Racoon|1910|2}} (the sweep wire was run between the two ships) when she was hit on the ship's bridge by a Turkish shell, which killed [[Commander (Royal Navy)|Commander]] Osmond J. Prentis, ''Wolverine''{{'}} s captain and two more men.<ref>Dorling 1932, pp.66–67.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kindell|first=Don|work=World War 1 - Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies|title= 1st - 30th April 1915: in date, ship/unit & name order|publisher=naval-history.net|date=15 February 2011|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1915-04Apr.htm|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> On the night of 12/13 May, the [[pre-dreadnought battleship]]s {{HMS|Goliath|1898|2}} and {{HMS|Cornwallis|1901|2}} were anchored in [[Morto Bay]], supporting French troops. To protect the two battleships, ''Beagle'' and ''Bulldog'' patrolled the north side of the straits, with ''Scorpion'' and ''Wolverine'' patrolling the southern side and {{HMS|Pincher|1910|2}} in the centre of the straits. Despite these patrols, the Turkish destroyer {{ship|Ottoman destroyer|Muavenet-i Milliye||2}} managed to sneak past ''Beagle'' and ''Bulldog'' on the northern side of the straits and torpedoed and sunk ''Goliath'' before successfully escaping. On releasing that ''Goliath'' had been torpedoed, ''Wolverine'' and ''Scorpion'' attempted to cut off the Turkish destroyer, but ''Muavenet-i Milliye'' evaded them.<ref name="Navopv2 p406-8">Corbett 1921, pp. 406–408.</ref>
Work included [[naval artillery]] support, particular at the Cape Helles beachhead.<ref>Dorling 1932, p. 72</ref> On 28 June ''Wolverine'' provided support for the advancing forces at the [[Battle of Gully Ravine]], helping to break up a Turkish counter attack.<ref>Corbett 1923, p. 71.</ref> She provided cover for the final evacuation from Cape Helles on the night of 8/9 January 1916.<ref>Dorling 1932, pp. 88–89.</ref><ref>Corbett 1923, pp. 248–255.</ref> From March 1916, ''Wolverine'' operated in the Aegean, patrolling the [[Dodecanese]], [[Sporades]] and [[Cyclades]] and the Turkish coast, carrying raiding parties of Greek and Cretan irregular troops commanded by the classical scholar [[John Myres]] which carried out cattle raids on the Turkish coast.<ref>Dorling 1932, pp. 95–100.</ref>
''Wolverine'' was recalled to home waters and assigned to the [[2nd Destroyer Flotilla]] now based at [[Buncrana]], near [[Lough Swilly]] in the north of Ireland in October 1917.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Supplement to the Monthly Naval List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: XI—Mediterranean Fleet|journal=The Navy List|date=September 1917|page=21|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=94242350}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Supplement to the Monthly Naval List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: VII.—Coast of Ireland Station|journal=The Navy List|date=October 1917|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/pageturner.cfm?id=92176702|page=17}}</ref> On 12 December 1917, ''Wolverine'' was part of an escort group on the way to rendezvous with a Britain-bound Atlantic convoy off the northwest coast of [[Ireland]], when the force's senior officer, aboard {{HMS|Hardy|1912|2}} ordered a course change. After carrying out the manoeuvre, ''Wolverine'' was rammed by the fleet sweeping [[Arabis-class sloop|sloop]] {{HMS|Rosemary||2}}, with the destroyer rolling over and sinking as a result of the damage received.<ref>Kemp 1999, p. 60.</ref><ref name="hepp112">Hepper 2006, p. 112</ref> Two of ''Wolverine''{{'}}s crew were killed.<ref name="hepp112"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Kindell|first=Don|title=1st - 31st December 1917: in date, ship/unit & name order|work=World War 1 - Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1917-12Dec.htm|date=22 February 2011|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> The collision was blamed on ''Rosemary''{{'}}s bridge crew, and in particular her officer of the watch, who had carried out the course change too early, and then reversed the manoeuvre, putting the sloop on collision course with the destroyer, with there being no time for successful evasive action.<ref name="hepp112"/>
==Notes== {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Citations== {{reflist}}
==References== *{{cite book|last=Brown|first=David K.|title=The Grand Fleet: Warship Design and Development 1906–1922|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-085-7}} *{{cite book|last=Corbett|first=Julian S.|title=History of the Great War: Naval Operations: Vol. I: To the Battle of the Falklands|year=1920|publisher=Longmans, Green and Co.|location=London|url=https://archive.org/details/navaloperations01corb}} *{{cite book|last=Corbett|first=Julian S.|title=History of the Great War: Naval Operations: Vol. II|year=1921|publisher=Longmans Green|location=London| url=https://archive.org/details/navaloperations00newbgoog |oclc=1185863}} *{{cite book|last=Corbett|first=Julian S.|title=History of the Great War: Naval Operations: Vol. III|year=1923|publisher=Longmans Green|location=London| url=https://archive.org/details/navaloperations03corb }} *{{cite book|last1=Dittmar|first1=F.J.|last2=Colledge|first2=J.J.|title=British Warships 1914–1919|year=1972|publisher=Ian Allan|location=Shepperton, UK|isbn=0-7110-0380-7}} *{{cite book|last=Dorling|first=Taprell|title=Endless Story: Being an account of the work of the Destroyers, Flotilla-Leaders, Torpedo-Boats and Patrol Boats in the Great War|year=1932|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton|location=London|oclc= 55531197}} *{{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War|year=2009|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-049-9}} * {{cite book|editor-last1=Gardiner|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Gray|editor-first2=Randal|title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-245-5}} * {{cite book |last=Hepper |first=David |title=British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860–1919 |year=2006 |location=London |publisher=Chatham Publishing |isbn=9781861762733}} *{{cite book|editor=Viscount Hythe|title=The Naval Annual 1912|year=1912|publisher=J. Griffin & Co.|location=Portsmouth, UK}} *{{cite book|last=Kemp|first=Paul|title=The Admiralty Regrets: British Warship Losses of the 20th Century|year=1999|publisher=Sutton Publishing|location=Stroud, UK|isbn=0-7509-1567-6}} *{{cite book |last = Manning | first =T. D. |title = The British Destroyer |publisher = Putnam| date = 1961 | location = London|oclc=6470051}} *{{cite book|last=Marder|first=Arthur J.|title=From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow: The Royal Navy in the Fisher Era 1904–1919: Volume II: The War Years: To the Eve of Jutland 1914–1916|year=2013|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-163-2}} *{{cite book|last=Massie|first=Robert K.|title=Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany and the Winning of the Great War at Sea|year=2007|publisher=Vintage Books|location=London|isbn=978-0-099-52378-9}} *{{cite journal|title=Narrative from a Destroyer During the Goeben and Breslau Hunt|journal=[[The Naval Review]]|volume=7|issue=4|pages=514–519|url=http://www.naval-review.com/issues/1910s/1919-4.pdf#Page%3D130&View%3DFit|access-date=21 June 2015|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001009/http://www.naval-review.com/issues/1910s/1919-4.pdf#Page%3D130&View%3DFit|url-status=dead}}
{{Beagle class destroyer}} {{December 1917 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolverine (1910)}} [[Category:Beagle-class destroyers]] [[Category:Ships built on the River Mersey]] [[Category:1910 ships]] [[Category:World War I destroyers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Ships sunk in collisions]] [[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]] [[Category:Shipwrecks of Northern Ireland]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in December 1917]] {{Coord|55.166|-8.685|display=title|region:GB_scale:200000}}