HMS Marmion was an Admiralty M-class destroyer constructed for the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched in May 1915, the vessel measured approximately 273 feet 4 inches (83 meters) in overall length, with a beam of 26 feet 7 inches (8.1 meters) and a deep load draught of 8 feet 7 inches (2.6 meters). Displacing around 1,028 long tons (1,044 tonnes) normally and up to 1,250 long tons (1,270 tonnes) at deep load, Marmion was built for high-speed operations, with a design speed of 34 knots, powered by three Yarrow boilers driving Brown-Curtis steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower. Its armament comprised three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) guns positioned along the centreline, two twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes, and a single QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun. Post-February 1916, it was also equipped with depth charge chutes for anti-submarine warfare. The ship had a complement of 77 officers and ratings. Constructed by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend, the hull was laid down in October 1914, and the vessel was launched in May 1915. Commissioned on September 3, 1915, Marmion served primarily with the Grand Fleet, joining the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla. Notably, William Leveson-Gower, who would become the uncle of Queen Elizabeth II, commanded the ship until May 1917. During its service, Marmion participated in exercises, convoy escort duties, and rescue operations, including towing damaged ships after collisions. On December 21, 1916, Marmion was involved in a rescue attempt following a collision between the flotilla leader Hoste and the destroyer Negro, which resulted in the sinking of Negro and the loss of 50 lives. On October 21, 1917, while escorting convoys off the Shetland Islands, Marmion was accidentally struck by the destroyer Tirade amid rough seas, which caused the ship to break in half and sink rapidly with all hands. Only ten bodies were recovered from this tragic incident, marking the end of HMS Marmion’s service. The vessel’s operational history underscores its role in wartime convoy escort and fleet exercises, reflecting the crucial but perilous duties performed by destroyers during the Great 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.