HMS Acorn was the lead ship of her class of destroyers built for the British Royal Navy, constructed by John Brown and Company at their Clydebank shipyard. Laid down on 12 January 1910 and launched on 1 July 1910, she was completed by December of that year. The vessel measured 240 feet (73.15 meters) between perpendiculars and 246 feet (74.98 meters) overall in length, with a beam of 25 feet 3 inches (7.70 meters) and a draft ranging from 7 feet 4½ inches (2.248 meters) to 8 feet 10 inches (2.69 meters), depending on load. Displacing 760 long tons (770 tonnes) normally and up to 855 long tons (869 tonnes) at full load, HMS Acorn was powered by four Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons steam turbines, rated at 13,500 shaft horsepower, which enabled a design speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph). The ship’s crew comprised 72 officers and enlisted personnel. Armament included two 4-inch (102 mm) BL Mk VIII guns—one fore and one aft—and two 12-pounder (76 mm) QF 12 cwt guns positioned amidships between the funnels. Her torpedo complement consisted of two 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes with two reload torpedoes, mounted aft of the funnels with a searchlight between them. HMS Acorn served actively during World War I, initially joining the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the Royal Navy’s Home Fleet and participating in various naval operations, including the Coronation Fleet Review in 1911. Early in her service, she experienced a collision with her sister ship, Redpole, and was among several destroyers that suffered hull leaks during the 1911 Naval Manoeuvres. In August 1914, with the outbreak of war, Acorn joined the Grand Fleet and later transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet’s 5th Destroyer Flotilla, arriving in Malta at the end of 1915. During 1917, she was involved in hydrophone trials, and in June 1918, she was involved in a friendly fire incident, firing upon a U.S. Navy submarine chaser in the Strait of Otranto, although without effect. After the war, HMS Acorn remained with the Mediterranean Fleet, serving in the Aegean Squadron based at Mudros. She was placed in reserve at Devonport in March 1919 and was ultimately sold for scrap to Marple & Gillot of Saltash on 29 November 1921. Her service record reflects the typical operational life of early 20th-century destroyers, contributing to the Royal Navy’s wartime efforts and maritime dominance during her active years.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.