HMS Nomad was an Admiralty M-class destroyer constructed for the Royal Navy during the First World War, representing an improved and faster iteration of the Laforey-class. Displacing approximately 971 long tons (987 tonnes), she measured 273 feet 4 inches (83.3 meters) in length, with a beam of 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 meters) and a draught of 9 feet 8 inches (2.9 meters). Her propulsion system consisted of three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each powering a single propeller shaft, fueled by four Yarrow boilers. These turbines generated a total of 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW), enabling her to reach a top speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). She carried up to 237 long tons (241 tonnes) of fuel oil, which provided her with a range of about 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 miles) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Her crew complement was around 76 officers and ratings. Armament on HMS Nomad included three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns and initially two QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) anti-aircraft guns, later replaced by two QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" guns. She was also equipped with two twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. Launched on 7 February 1916 by Alexander Stephen and Sons at Linthouse and completed by April of the same year, Nomad was commissioned under Lieutenant-Commander Paul Whitfield. She briefly served with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. Her notable service occurred during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, where she participated in a torpedo attack ordered by Admiral Jellicoe. During the engagement, Nomad was struck by a shell in her engine room, which disabled her. Despite efforts to attack German battleships with her torpedoes, she was heavily damaged—fired upon by German battleships, and ultimately, her forward magazine exploded, sinking her at 17:30 hours. Eight crew members lost their lives, while 72 survivors, including her commanding officer, were rescued by German torpedo boats and taken prisoner. The wreck of HMS Nomad was discovered in 2001 and is protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. Her ship’s bell is displayed at the Jutland shipwreck museum. Her service and tragic sinking make her a significant vessel in maritime history, exemplifying the perilous nature of WWI naval combat.

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