HMS Hydra (1912)

HMS Hydra was an Acheron-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1912, fought throughout World War I and was sold for breaking in 1921.

Construction
She was built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank to an Admiralty design, under the 1910–11 programme. She (and her sisters Hind and Hornet) differed from the standard Admiralty I-class destroyer in only having two shafts instead of three. They had two Brown-Curtis type turbines, and twin boilers. Capable of 28 kn, she carried two 4 in guns, other smaller guns and two 21 in torpedo tubes and had a complement of 72 men. She was launched on 19 February 1912.

The Battle of Dogger Bank
Hydra was with the First Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Dogger Bank on 24 January 1915.

The Battle of Jutland
She was present at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. Along with the rest of the flotilla, she was transferred to the 3rd Battle Squadron, based at Portsmouth.

Collision with a merchant vessel
She was in collision with a merchant ship on the night of 11 February 1917 in the English Channel. The captain of Hydra was held liable for the collision because, although the other ship showed him a light, he did not perceive that it was on a crossing course.

Mediterranean Service
From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Hydra was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.

Decommissioning and fate
She was sold on 9 May 1921 to Ward of Portishead for scrap.