HMS Laforey (1913)

On board the destroyer Laforey at moorings in Harwich harbour
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Laforey
Namesake	Francis Laforey
Ordered	29 March 1912
Builder	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Laid down	9 September 1912
Launched	1913
Fate	Struck a mine off France, 23 March 1917
General characteristics
Class and type	Laforey-class destroyer
Displacement	965–1,300 long tons (980–1,321 t)
Length	269 ft (82 m)
Beam	26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught	9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Installed power	24,500 shp (18,300 kW)
Propulsion	2 × Parsons steam turbines water-tube boilers 2 × shafts
Speed	29 kn (33 mph; 54 km/h)
Complement	73
Armament	3 × QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns 1 × QF 2-pounder (40 mm) AA pom-pom Mk. II gun 4 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2x2)[1]

HMS Laforey was the lead ship of her class of destroyer built for the Royal Navy. Launched a year before the First World War began, she was attached to the Dover Patrol. Laforey saw action in several engagements with German torpedo boats, including the Battle off Noordhinder Bank and the action of 17 March 1917. Laforey was sunk in 1917 by a British mine^[2] after escorting several freighters to France. She was named for Francis Laforey, captain of HMS Spartiate at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.