HMS North Star (1916)

The M-class destroyers were designed to meet a requirement for faster destroyers than the previous Laforey-class, in order to match reported German ships. They hoped for a speed of {{convert|36|kn|mph km/h}}, but otherwise, the requirements were similar to those that gave rise to the Laforeys. As part of its 1913–1914 shipbuilding programme, the Admiralty ordered six ships to the standard Admiralty design, together with seven builder's specials from the experienced destroyer builders Yarrow, Thornycroft and Hawthorn Leslie, to the builder's own designs.{{Harvnb|Gardiner|Gray|1985|p=77}}{{Harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=132, 134–135}}{{Harvnb|McBride|1991|p=37}} The outbreak of the First World War resulted in a series of large orders being placed for destroyers to replace expected losses, with the existing M-class being chosen for orders rather than new designs to speed production. North Star was one of four Admiralty Ms{{#tag:ref|{{HMS|Norman|1916|2}}, {{HMS|Northesk|1916|2}}. North Star and {{HMS|Nugent|1916|2}}.|group=lower-alpha}} ordered from Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company as part of an overall order of 22 destroyers of this class under the Third Emergency War Programme in late November 1914.{{Harvnb|Gardiner|Gray|1985|p=79}}{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=155–156}}

War-built Admiralty M-class destroyers like North Star were between {{convert|273|ft|4|in|abbr=on}} and {{convert|273|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} long overall, with a beam of {{convert|26|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} to {{convert|26|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|8|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} at normal load and {{convert|9|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}} to {{convert|9|ft|7|in|m|abbr=on}}. They had a design normal displacement of {{convert|1025|LT|t|abbr=on}} which corresponded to a full load displacement of about {{convert|1250|LT|t|abbr=on}}.{{harvnb|Gardiner|Gray|1985|pp=76, 79}}

The destroyer took part in the Zeebrugge raid in April 1918 and was assigned as an escort ship, along with HMS Phoebe to guard HMS Vindictive.Warner, P. The Zeebrugge Raid, Pen and Sword, 2008.p.155 She was subsequently sunk on 23 April 1918 by German shore batteries {{convert|1|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} off Zeebrugge harbour, during the raid.{{cite web |title=HMS North Star|publisher=Wrecksite|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?966|accessdate=5 October 2016}} According to the official British Admiralty Statement on the Zeebrugge Raid, North Star lost her way in the smoke of the raid and emerged into the light of star-shells, whereupon she was sunk by coastal batteries.{{cite web |title=British Admiralty Statement on the Zeebrugge Raid, 22-23 April 1918|publisher=First World War.com|url=http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/zeebrugge_admiralty1.htm|accessdate=5 October 2016}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite Colledge2006}}
• {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War|year=2009|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-049-9}}
• {{cite book|editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp}}
• {{cite book|last=March|first=Edgar J.|title=British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans|year=1966|publisher=Seeley Service|location=London |OCLC=164893555}}
• {{cite book |last=McBride |first=Keith |chapter=British 'M' Class Destroyers of 1913–14 |pages=34–49 |editor-last=Gardiner |editor-first=Robert |title=Warship 1991 |year=1991 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |isbn=0-85177-582-9}}

{{M class destroyers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:North Star (1916)}}

Category:World War I destroyers of the United Kingdom

Category:1916 ships

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