HMS Ophelia was an Admiralty M-class destroyer constructed for the Royal Navy during World War I. Laid down on 1 February 1915 by William Doxford & Sons in Sunderland, she was launched on 13 October 1915 and completed in May 1916. The Admiralty M-class was an improved and faster iteration of the Laforey-class, displacing approximately 971 long tons (987 tonnes). The vessel 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 comprised three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving a propeller shaft, powered by four Yarrow boilers, generating a total of 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and enabling 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 a range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 miles) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The crew complement was 76 officers and ratings. Armament on HMS Ophelia included three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns and two QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) anti-aircraft guns, later upgraded to a pair of QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-poms." She was also equipped with two twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes, making her a versatile warship capable of engaging surface and aerial threats. During her service, HMS Ophelia was assigned to the 4th Destroyer Flotilla within the Grand Fleet and participated in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. During the battle, she helped form a screening force for the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron and engaged German ships attempting a torpedo attack, firing one torpedo that missed. Notably, on 10 September 1918, while patrolling with a Kite balloon, she detected and sank the German submarine UB-83 after dropping depth charges that caused a large underwater explosion and oil slick. Following the war, HMS Ophelia was transferred to the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla and was sold for scrap to the Slough Trading Company on 11 November 1921. Her service highlights her role in key naval engagements and anti-submarine warfare during the First World 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.