HMS Acasta (1912)

HMS ''Acasta'' was an of the Royal Navy, and the name ship of that class. She was built between 1911 and 1913, and was initially designated a K-class torpedo boat destroyer, having at various times the pennant numbers G40, H59 (1914) or H00 (1918). She saw extensive service during the First World War, including at the Battle of Jutland, where she was badly damaged. She was sold for breaking up in 1921.

Construction

''Acasta'', originally intended to be named ''King'', was laid down at John Brown's shipyard at Clydebank on 1 December 1911, launched on 10 September 1912 and completed the following month. Powered by two shaft Brown-Curtis steam turbines she had a maximum speed of and had a complement of 75-77 men. After completion she joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla.

Service during the First World War

''Acasta'' served with the Grand Fleet from the outbreak of the First World War. Her depot ship was . On 16 December 1914 she was in the 4th Destroyer Flotilla attached to a battle group sent to challenge several German ships intent on bombarding the North Yorkshire coast.

Battle of Jutland

During the Battle of Jutland, the 4th Flotilla was attached to Admiral David Beatty's Battlecruiser Fleet based at Rosyth, and assigned to cover the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron, screening the cruiser . ''Acasta'' was commanded by Lieutenant Commander J. O. Barron. The squadron left Pentland Firth in the evening of 30 May 1916 and engaged the enemy at 5.40pm on 31 May.

During the battle, destroyer was crippled by gunfire and was offered assistance by the already damaged ''Acasta'' but declined. In the same action, against at that time a superior enemy force, ''Acasta'' was hit by two shells from , which left her with six dead and one wounded, and unable to stop or steer. A signal from at 6.40pm reported ''Acasta'' in danger of sinking. Admiral Beatty's report on the battle mentions an unknown, disabled destroyer which, from the time (about 7pm) may refer to ''Acasta''. At 6.47 , the Grand Fleet's flagship, passed the disabled destroyer whose crew lined the sides to cheer the battleship as she passed. According to an eye-witness aboard , ''Acasta'' was "badly holed, with standing by her."

''Acasta'' was able to effect some emergency repairs during the next six hours, but broke down again and was eventually taken in tow by and reached Aberdeen two days after the battle, so badly damaged she practically had to be rebuilt. She claimed a torpedo hit on but this was not officially confirmed. The German Admiralty's report of the battle on 1 June included the claim that ''Acasta'' had been destroyed.

After Jutland

After extensive repairs, completed by 2 August, ''Acasta'' went back into service, joining one of the destroyer flotillas (4th or 6th) in one of the English Channel bases of Portsmouth, Devonport or Dover. She sustained damage, with three casualties, following a collision in the English Channel on 22 December 1917.

Post-war service

On 6 and 8 August 1919 ''Acasta'' attended the newly commissioned heavy cruiser on torpedo trials in Freshwater Bay. (Note: ref describes ''Hawkins'' as a light cruiser, probably incorrectly)

Fate

''Acasta'' was sold on 9 May 1921 to Ward, Hayle for breaking up.

References

Further reading

Map and timelines of Battle of Jutland
* Corbett, Sir Julian, ''History of the Great War - Naval Operations'', Vol. 3, Longmans, 1921. Full text online a

External links

*

Imperial War Museum: Lives of the First World War: HMS ''Acasta'' at the Battle of Jutland
* Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project
HMS Acasta Crew List

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acasta
Acasta-class destroyers
World War I destroyers of the United Kingdom
1912 ships
Ships built on the River Clyde