HMS Arabis was an Arabis-class sloop of the Royal Navy, launched on 6 November 1915 by D. and W. Henderson and Company in Glasgow. The vessel measured 268 feet (81.69 meters) in length overall, with a beam of 33 feet 6 inches (10.21 meters) and a draught of 11 feet (3.35 meters). She had a displacement of approximately 1,200 long tons (1,200 tonnes) and was powered by two cylindrical boilers driving a four-cylinder triple expansion steam engine, which produced 2,000 indicated horsepower, enabling a top speed of 16 knots (30 km/h). Her armament consisted of two 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns, complemented by two 3-pounder (47 mm) anti-aircraft guns, and she carried a crew of 90 officers and ratings. Initially assigned to the 10th Sloop Flotilla upon commissioning, Arabis was tasked with minesweeping and fleet support duties during the First World War. Her service was marked by her involvement in a minesweeping operation off Dogger Bank on the night of 10 February 1916. During this operation, Arabis and her flotilla encountered a force of German torpedo boats. Despite the British Admiralty’s decision not to recall vessels due to intelligence from Room 40, Arabis remained near a dan buoy after the other sloops moved away. She was attacked by multiple German torpedo boats, sustaining damage to her steering gear and radio. After a brief exchange of gunfire, two torpedoes struck her, sinking the vessel and causing the loss of 56 crew members. Notably, her commanding officer, Lieutenant-Commander Hallowell-Carew, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1919 for his actions during this engagement. Arabis's career was brief but illustrative of the perilous nature of wartime naval operations, especially in anti-submarine and minesweeping roles. Her loss underscored the dangers faced by auxiliary vessels in the North Sea during World War I and highlights her role in the broader context of maritime warfare during that period.

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