HMS Tornado was an R-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, constructed during the First World War as part of the Eighth War Construction Programme. Ordered from Alexander Stephen and Sons in March 1916, she was launched at the company's Linthouse shipyard on 4 August 1917 and completed by November of the same year. The vessel measured 276 feet (84.12 meters) in overall length, with a beam of 26 feet 6 inches (8.08 meters) and a draught of 9 feet (2.74 meters). Displacing 975 long tons (991 tonnes) normally and 1,075 long tons (1,092 tonnes) at deep load, Tornado was designed for high speed and agility. Her propulsion system comprised three Yarrow boilers powering two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower, facilitating a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h). The ship carried 296 tons of oil, which provided a range of approximately 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h). Armament included three QF 4-inch Mk IV guns positioned along the centerline—one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised bandstand, and another between the second and third funnels—along with a single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun. She was also equipped with four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes in two twin mounts. The crew complement consisted of 82 officers and men. Upon commissioning, HMS Tornado joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force, primarily tasked with convoy escort duties. Notably, on 22 December 1917, Tornado was part of an escort convoy to the Netherlands when the destroyer Valkyrie was damaged by a mine. Tragically, on 23 December 1917, Tornado encountered a German minefield along with her sister ships HMS Surprise, HMS Torrent, and HMS Radiant. During this engagement, HMS Torrent was sunk after striking a mine, and in the subsequent rescue efforts, Tornado also struck two mines and sank. Only two survivors were rescued from her crew of 75, with the total loss from the incident amounting to 12 officers and 240 other ranks. The sinking marked a significant and tragic event in Royal Navy wartime operations, underscoring the dangers faced by destroyers operating in mined waters during the war.

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