HMS Afridi (1907)
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| History | |
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| Name: | HMS Afridi |
| Builder: | Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick |
| Launched: | 8 May 1907 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrap, 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Tribal-class destroyer |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | |
| Beam: | 25 ft (7.62 m) |
| Draught: | 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h) |
| Armament: |
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HMS Afridi was a Tribal class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1907 and sold for scrap in 1919.
During the First World War she served in the North Sea and the English Channel with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla and as part of the Dover Patrol.
It is assumed - though never definitely confirmed - that explosive sweeps deployed by the Afridi were responsible for the destruction of the German U-Boat UB-13, which on 23 April 1916 departed Zeebrugge for a patrol off the mouth of the Thames and was never heard from again.
HMS Afridi was ordered from Armstrong Whitworth in September 1905, one of five Tribal-class destroyers ordered for the Royal Navy as part of the 1905–06 shipbuilding programme. Design of the ships was left to the builders, with the Admiralty only laying down loose requirements, although the builder's designs did need to be approved by the Director of Naval Construction before orders were placed. The destroyers were required to reach 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph), and have a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at cruising speed and an endurance of eight hours at full speed. The ships were required to be powered by steam turbines, with cruising turbines fitted to improve range, fed by oil-fired boilers. Freeboard was to be at least 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m) at the ship's bow. Armament was two be three 12-pounder (3 inch, 76 mm) guns, with the older 12 cwt gun chosen to save money, and two 18 in (450 mm) torpedo tubes. It was realised during construction that the armament of the Tribals was too light, with the two ships ordered as part of the 1906–07 programme being armed with two 4 inch (102 mm) guns. In October 1908, it was decided to strengthen the armament of the first five Tribals, including Afridi, by adding another two 12-pounder guns. This was done to Afridi prior to acceptance by the Royal Navy.
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