HMS Urchin was a Modified Admiralty R-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 7 June 1917 by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company at Jarrow, it was the first of its class constructed by this yard and was completed by August of the same year. The vessel measured 276 feet (84.1 meters) in overall length, with a beam of 27 feet (8.2 meters) and a draught of 11 feet (3.4 meters). Its displacement was approximately 1,035 long tons at normal load, increasing to 1,085 long tons at deep load. The ship was powered by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, producing 27,000 shaft horsepower and enabling a top speed of 36 knots (67 km/h). The Urchin’s armament consisted of three single 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V QF guns positioned along the centerline—one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform, and one between the funnels—along with an increased elevation range to extend their effective reach to 11,000 meters. It was also equipped with a single 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun and twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. The vessel carried a complement of 82 officers and ratings and had a fuel capacity of 296 long tons, providing a range of approximately 3,450 nautical miles at 15 knots. Urchin served prominently with the Grand Fleet, notably participating in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November 1917, where it supported the 1st Cruiser Squadron and engaged German ships with torpedoes. After the war, it remained part of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla until early 1919, and in 1928, it notably transported a Spanish naval delegation to the Cowes Regatta. The destroyer was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1930, marking its maritime service as a significant part of Britain’s wartime naval efforts and post-war activities.

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