HMS Ithuriel was a Marksman-class flotilla leader of the British Royal Navy, launched on 8 March 1916 by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead. Originally intended to be named Gabriel, her name was changed prior to launch. She measured approximately 324 feet 10 inches in length overall, with a beam of 31 feet 9 inches and a draught of 12 feet. The vessel displaced around 1,440 long tons normally and up to 1,700 long tons at full load. Her propulsion system comprised three sets of Parsons steam turbines powered by four Yarrow three-drum boilers, rated at 36,000 shaft horsepower, enabling her to reach a top speed of 34 knots. Ithuriel’s armament included four 4-inch (102 mm) guns mounted on the centerline, two 2-pounder "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns, and four 21-inch torpedo tubes. She could carry up to 515 tons of oil fuel, providing a range of approximately 4,290 nautical miles at 15 knots. The ship’s complement consisted of 104 officers and men. Commissioned on 2 August 1916, HMS Ithuriel served with the Grand Fleet, initially leading a destroyer flotilla and later a submarine flotilla. During her service, she participated in notable operations such as Operation BB in June 1917, which involved large-scale patrols against German U-boats in the North Sea and around the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Despite the extensive patrols and sightings—61 in total—no submarines were sunk or damaged during this operation. In October 1917, she joined the 13th Submarine Flotilla, operating with K-class submarines, and was involved in anti-submarine and mine-field operations. A significant incident occurred on 31 January 1918, during fleet exercises when K-class submarines K14 and K22 were rammed and damaged, leading to the tragic sinking of K17, K4, and K7, with 103 lives lost. During this period, HMS Ithuriel played a role in rescue efforts, though she narrowly avoided collision with other fleet units. After the war, Ithuriel remained as leader of the 13th Submarine Flotilla, later renamed the 1st Submarine Flotilla, until October 1919. She was then placed in care and maintenance, transferred to the disposal list by February 1921, and sold for scrap to the Slough Trading Company on 8 November 1921. Her scrapping was completed in Germany in 1923, marking the end of her maritime service.

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