HMS Pelican (1916)

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Pelican
NamesakePelican
OrderedMay 1915
BuilderWilliam Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir
Yard number537
Laid down25 June 1915
Launched18 March 1916
Completed1 April 1916
Out of service9 May 1921
FateSold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and typeAdmiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 994 long tons (1,010 t) normal
  • 1,250 long tons (1,270 t) full load
Length273 ft 6 in (83.4 m)
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.2 m)
Draught8 ft 5 in (2.57 m)
Propulsion
Speed34 knots (63.0 km/h; 39.1 mph)
Range3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement76
Armament

HMS Pelican was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. Launched on 18 March 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet, taking part in significant actions on 19 August 1916 and 4 May 1917, as well as the fight between the British and German battlecruisers in the Battle of Jutland. The destroyer also undertook the other more general roles were typical of the type, including anti-submarine sweeps and escort duties for convoys. The destroyer had success driving away German submarines but did not sink any. After the end of the war, Pelican initially joined a Local Defence Flotilla but within a year had been placed in reserve and was subsequently sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.