HMS Onslaught (1915)

HMS Onslaught (1915) was a repeat M class destroyer that served with the Grand Fleet from 1916 to the end of the First World War, fighting at Jutland,

The Onslaught was ordered as part of the Third War Programme of late November 1914. She was laid down at Fairfield on 5 February 1915, launched on 4 December 1915 and completed on 3 March 1916.

1916

From February 1916 to April 1918 the Onslaught served with the 12th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.

HMS Onslaught alongside HMS Diligence

In April 1916 she took part in Operation L, a destroyer sweep into the Kattegat to try and intercept ships carrying iron ore from Sweden to Germany. This was a sizable operation – the destroyers would carry out the sweep itself, with a light cruiser squadron close by, a battle cruiser squadron outside the Skagerrak and a battle squadron at sea to support the battle cruisers. However on the eve of the operation it was discovered that the High Seas Fleet was moving, so the entire Grand Fleet was ordered to sea. However by early on 22 April it was known that the Germans were returning to port. The Grand Fleet was now sent on a sweep towards the Skagerrak in the hope that the Germans would turn back and attack. When this didn’t happen the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, supported by the Mischief, Onslaught and Mary Rose were sent into the Skagerrak. They reached some way into the Skagerrak on the night of 22-23 April but didn’t find any suspect ships. The fleet was back at Scapa Flow early on 24 April.

On the eve of Jutland the Onslaught was part of the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla, which was at Scapa Flow, and filled entirely with twelve Repeat M class destroyers. The flotilla put to sea with Admiral Jellicoe and the main body of the Grand Fleet by 10.30pm on 30 May.

The two main fleets finally came together at about 6.30pm on 31 May. By this point the battleships of the German High Seas Fleet were heading north, while the battleships of the Grand Fleet were forming a line running roughly east to west in front of them. For a few minutes the British were able to concentrate their fire on the leading ships of the German line, but the Germans then carried out their famous sixteen point turn, and within a few minutes were heading away south into the North Sea mist. However Admiral Scheer then mis-judged the British movements, and turned back east in the hope that he could pass behind the main British force. Just after 7pm the Germans found themselves steaming straight towards Jelicoe’s battleships, and by 7.15 the bulk of the Grand Fleet was finally able to open fire on the Germans. Once again Scheer was forced to reverse course. During this phase of the battle the destroyer flotillas struggled to keep up with the fast moving battleships and rather disappear from the narrative. After more confused manoeuvres the two fleets came into range of each other for a third time after 8pm, but the Germans turned away for a third time, and disappeared into the mists by 8.35.

Jellicoe was unwilling to risk a night battle, and at 9.17 ordered the fleet into its night cruising formation. The battleships formed up into lines in their divisions, with the destroyers following behind. The entire formation began to move south in an attempt to keep between the Germans and their home bases. By 10pm the destroyer flotillas were in line, with the 12th Flotilla at the eastern (left) end of the line, then the combined 9th and 10th Flotillas, 13th Flotilla, 4th Flotilla and finally the 11th Flotilla at the western (right) end of the line.

The key moment of the night actions came at around 11.30, when the High Seas Fleet finally attempted to pass behind the Grand Fleet and ran into the British destroyers. The Germans would make contact with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, which was towards the right of the British line. There was then a seven mile gap to the 13th Flotilla, with the 9th and 10th Flotilla close by, and the 12th Flotilla to their rear.

In a series of clashes the Germans inflicted heavy damage on the 4th Flotilla, but instead of rushing to their aid, the 13th Flotilla, which was next in line, believed they were the target of the gunfire, and that there were friendly ships between them and the Germans preventing a torpedo attack. The flotilla leader Captain Farie ordered the flotilla to turn away to the east to get out of range, but he failed to signal the move, so only two of the flotilla followed him. His move also forced the 9th and 10th Flotillas and the 12th Flotilla to turn to port to get out of the way. As a result the British destroyers were no longer in the correct place when the High Seas Fleet passed behind the Grand Fleet. As a result the Germans were able to move past almost without being detected and the one clash that did occur was with two cruisers so didn’t cause any alarm.  TheMenace and Nonsuch from the 12th Flotilla clashed with the German cruisers Frankfurt and Pillau and were lucky to escape.

Despite all of the chaos and confusion, a large part of the 12th Flotilla ended up in position to launch one final attack on the High Seas Fleet as it passed behind the Grand Fleet. Twelve destroyers and two flotilla leaders were still together, and had been forced into a position some thirty miles behind the main fleet. As they headlined south they ran into the German fleet. The Germans were sighted at about 1.45am on 1 June. The flotilla commander ordered his 1st Division to attack, and signalled the news of the sighting to Jellicoe. The Germans turned away to avoid the torpedo attack and were briefly lost to sight. However the flotilla soon found them again, and was able to launch a powerful torpedo attack. One torpedo, possibly from the Onslaught, hit the Pommern, which exploded, taking her entire crew with her. The Germans were forced to turn away again, preventing the rest of the flotilla from attacking effectively. However German return fire hit the bridge of the Onslaught, killing her captain, Lt Commander A.G. Onslow, and his first lieutenant.

During the battle five men were killed and two wounded on the Onslaught, all by that single hit. She was fully repaired by 23 June.

The German High Seas fleet put to sea once again in August 1916. The Grand Fleet responded by putting to sea on the afternoon of 18 August, but at the time Admiral Jellico was further south, on the Royalist. The Iron Duke was ordered to leave the fleet and press on ahead to pick up Jellicoe, escorted by the Marvel and Onslaught. By 7.55pm the Iron Duke and Royalist had joined up, but at that point a torpedo track (fired by UB-27) was spotting heading for the Onslaught. It missed, but it was clear that it was too dangerous for the ships to stop and transfer Jellico. Instead they continued on for another hour, before the transfer was finally made at around 9pm.

On 21 August the Onslaught and SS Viola collided in Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow.

On 20 November the Onslaught and SS Pomavon collided, causing damage to Motor boat 385.

On 6 December the Onslaught and King Henry collided off Ronaldsea.

1917

On 13 March 1917 the Obedient and Onslaught collided in the seas between the North Minch and Scapa.

On 17 July the Onslaught ran aground at Port Edgar near Edinburgh.

On 29 October the Onslaught ran aground.

On 16 November the Onslaught collided with both the Obedient and the trawler Aracari in the Firth of Forth.

1918

In May 1918 the Onslaught served with the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet

In June 1918 the Onslaught served with the 12th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet

In July-December 1918 the Onslaught served with the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet

On 7 October the Onslaught collided with the Collier Transport Abus at Peterhead.

The 3rd Flotilla took part in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.

In December 1919 she was in the charge of a Care and Maintenance Party at Portsmouth.

She was sold to be broken up in October 1921.

The Onslaught was awarded a battle honour for Jutland.

Service Record
February 1916-April 1918: 12th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
May 1918: 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
June 1918: 12th Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet
July 1918-December 1918: 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet

British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War, Norman Friedman. A very detailed look at the design of British destroyers from their earliest roots as torpedo boat destroyers, though the First World War and up to the start of the Second World War, supported by vast numbers of plans and well chosen photographs [read full review]

Books on the First World War | Subject Index: First World War

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