View source for HMS Nubian (1909)

{{short description|Destroyer of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Nubian}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image               = HMS Nubian 1916.png
| Ship image size          = 200px
| Ship caption             = HMS ''Nubian'' aground on the [[South Foreland]] after her bows had been blown off in October 1916
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header              = 
| Ship country             = United Kingdom
| Ship flag                = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
| Ship name                = HMS ''Nubian''
| Ship owner               = 
| Ship namesake            = 
| Ship ordered             = 
| Ship builder             = [[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
| Ship laid down           = 
| Ship launched            = 20 April 1909
| Ship acquired            = 
| Ship commissioned        = 
| Ship decommissioned      = 
| Ship in service          = 
| Ship out of service      = 
| Ship struck              = 
| Ship reinstated          = 
| Ship honours             = 
| Ship fate                = Torpedoed 27 October 1916; undamaged stern joined with bow of HMS ''Zulu'' and renamed HMS ''Zubian''
| Ship notes               = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header              = 
| Header caption           = 
| Ship class               = {{sclass2|Tribal|destroyer|||1905}}
| Ship displacement        = 
| Ship length              = {{convert|255|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
| Ship beam                = {{convert|25|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
| Ship draught             = {{convert|8|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
| Ship draft               = 
| Ship propulsion          = 
| Ship speed               = {{convert|33|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}}
| Ship range               = 
| Ship complement          = 
|Ship armament=* 2 × [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VIII|{{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}]] guns
* 2 × single [[British 18 inch torpedo|18 in (450 mm)]] torpedo tubes
| Ship armour              = 
| Ship notes               = 
}}
|}
'''HMS ''Nubian''''' was a [[Royal Navy]] {{sclass2|Tribal|destroyer|||1905}}. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] in 1909 and [[torpedo]]ed in 1916. With her [[Bow (ship)|bow]] blown off, the wreck was used to create a new ship by joining the bow of another destroyer of the same class, {{HMS|Zulu|1909|6}}. The resulting ship was given the portmanteau name {{HMS|Zubian}}. She went on to sink the [[U-boat]] {{SMU|UC-50}} in 1918 and was [[Ship breaking|scrapped]] in 1919.

==Commissioning==
''Nubian'' was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 20 April 1909,<ref>{{cite news |title=(Untitled) |newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |date=21 April 1909 |page=5 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19090421/038/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> her [[keel plate]] having been [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 18 May 1908 at the [[John I. Thornycroft & Company|Thornycroft yard]] in [[Woolston, Southampton]]. The ship was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] for service in the [[First Destroyer Flotilla]] by Commander Colin McKenzie at [[Sheerness]] on 3 September 1909. Powered by oil-fired [[steam turbine]]s producing a total of around {{convert|15,500|hp|lk=in}}, she replaced a {{sclass2|River|destroyer|2||1903}} in the flotilla.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Destroyer Nubian |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=25 August 1909 |page=6 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19090825/162/0006 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=(Untitled) |newspaper=Aberdeen Journal |date=4 September 1909 |page=4 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000576/19090904/024/0004 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> [[Sea trial|Steam trials]] had taken place at the mouth of the [[Thames]] in June of that year.<ref>{{cite news |title=New British Destroyer |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=11 June 1909 |page=6 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19090611/127/0006 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

A {{convert|280|ft|m|adj=on}} long, four-[[Funnel (ship)|funnelled]], triple-[[Propeller|screwed]] ship with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|26.5|ft|m}}, ''Nubian'' [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] slightly under 1,000 tons and had a crew of 70. She could sail at {{convert|33|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}} and had a pair of [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VIII|BL {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=3}} guns]], one mounted at the fore and one aft, as well as two [[torpedo tube]]s.<ref name="sentinel"/>

==Movements==
The [[First Destroyer Flotilla]] was based at [[Harwich Dockyard|Harwich]] with the purpose of defending Britain's east coast. It was planned to include 12 ocean-going destroyers capable of 33 knots.<ref name="NEP">{{cite news |title=Defence of East Coast |newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |date=4 September 1909 |page=7 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19090904/069/0007 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>{{efn|Sources differ regarding whether the First Destroyer Flotilla included a further 12 River-class ships, which could attain {{convert|25|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}}, as well as the Tribal class, or whether the Tribal-class ships replaced those of the River class.<ref name="NEP"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Naval Intelligence |newspaper=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |date=30 July 1909 |page=9 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19090730/173/0009 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> At the time of a major gathering of the fleet off the coast of [[Cornwall]], near [[Penzance]], in July 1910, the Flotilla comprised ''Zulu'', ''Viking'', ''Maori'', ''Nubian'', ''Amazon'', ''Saracen'', ''Afrida'', ''Cossack'', ''Tartar'', ''Mohawk'', ''Ghurka'', ''Boyne'', ''Garry'', ''Ness'', ''Nith'', ''Ribble'', ''Rother'', ''Swale'', ''Teviot'', ''Usk'', ''Waveney'', ''Wear'', ''Welland'', and ''Beagle''. Flotilla support vessels at that time were ''Assistance'' and ''Cyclops'' (repair ships), ''Maine'' (hospital), ''Adventure'', ''Blenheim'', ''Boadicea'', ''Pathfinder'', and ''Swift''.<ref name="cornishman"/>}} Within a month of commissioning, ''Nubian'' had taken part in [[Military exercise|exercises]] at the [[Cromarty Firth]] with ships including {{HMS|Saracen|1908|2}}, {{HMS|Mohawk|1907|2}} and {{HMS|Ghurka|1907|2}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=World's Fastest Torpedo Destroyers Take on Fuel at Dundee |newspaper=Dundee Courier |date=11 October 1909 |page=4 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19091011/060/0004 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The flotilla was present at a gathering of the Royal Navy fleet near to [[Penzance]] in July 1910<ref name="cornishman">{{cite news |title=Visit of The Great Fleet |newspaper=The Cornishman |date=28 July 1910 |page=3 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000331/19100728/018/0003 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and in September that year ''Nubian'' had her annual refit at [[Chatham Dockyard]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Destroyer Movements |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=13 September 1910 |page=8 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19100913/225/0008 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In March 1911, she and other members of the flotilla moved from Harwich to [[Portland Harbour|Portland]], while the [[Second Destroyer Flotilla]] moved away from there to [[Plymouth]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Home Fleet Exercises |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=6 March 1911 |page=8 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19110306/152/0008 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> She was at [[Kirkwall]] in May 1911<ref>{{cite news |title=Naval Sports at Kirkwall |newspaper=Aberdeen Journal |date=29 May 1911 |page=6 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000576/19110529/072/0006 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and took part in the huge [[Fleet review (Commonwealth realms)|naval review]] at [[Spithead]] in June.<ref>{{cite news |title=Modern Armada: The Great Naval Review at Spithead : 28 Miles of Warships |newspaper=Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser |date=23 June 1911 |page=12 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/19110623/225/0012 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

''Nubian'' had a refit and basin trials of her machinery at Chatham in May 1912 before joining the [[Fourth Destroyer Flotilla]] at Portland for exercises in the [[English Channel]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Items of Service News: The Navy |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=7 May 1912 |page=7 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19120507/177/0007 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Together with fellow Fourth Destroyer Flotilla Tribal-class ships {{HMS|Amazon|1908|2}} and ''Zulu'', and the cruiser {{HMS|Bristol|1910|2}} from the [[Second Squadron]], ''Nubian'' sailed up the [[Manchester Ship Canal]] on 24 May that year to take part in a [[Whitsuntide]] display at [[Manchester|the city]]. Most sources say that a smaller ship, ''Hope'', was in attendance but some say that it was the battleship {{HMS|Monarch|1911|2}}. Mooring at Trafford Wharf, members of the public were allowed to board the ships over three days.<ref name="sentinel">{{cite news |title=Warships in Manchester |newspaper=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=25 May 1912 |page=8 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19120525/071/0008 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pith of the News |newspaper=Hull Daily Mail |date=24 May 1912 |page=4 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19120524/036/0004 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Our Destroyers: A Visit to Manchester |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=25 May 1912 |page=5 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19120525/157/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The visit coincided with [[Commonwealth Day|Empire Day]] and generated much excitement, with 80,000 people visiting the docks on a single day and an estimated 100,000 being turned away due to overcrowding.<ref>{{cite news |title=H.M.S. Manchester: New Cruiser to Visit the City |newspaper=Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser |date=4 June 1913 |page=7 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/19130604/054/0007 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Another refit took place at Chatham in September 1912<ref>{{cite news |title=Items of Service News |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=5 September 1912 |page=5 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19120905/129/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and it returned there in December.<ref>{{cite news |title=Items of Service News |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=2 December 1912 |page=6 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19121202/140/0006 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> A visit to Sheerness with the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla followed prior to the group returning to its Portland base in January 1913.<ref>{{cite news |title=Destroyer Movements |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=27 January 1913 |page=4 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19130127/109/0004 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> ''Nubian'' had come top of its class in the 1912 battle practice (long range firing under war conditions),<ref name="pen2014">{{cite news |title=Battle Practice |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=29 April 1914 |page=6 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19140429/129/0006 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> scoring 102 points.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fleet Gunnery |newspaper=Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser |date=29 April 1913 |page=12 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/19130429/085/0012 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Some of the flotilla, including ''Nubian'', visited [[Bantry Bay]] and [[Cobh|Queenstown]] in February 1913 during exercises.<ref>{{cite news |title=(Untitled) |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=25 February 1913 |page=5 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19130225/135/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> They returned to Sheerness and then to Chatham in March.<ref>{{cite news |title=Warships in the Gale |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=20 March 1913 |page=4 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19130320/071/0004 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The ship took part in further exercises later that year, at [[Fortrose]] and at [[Longhope, Orkney]], before returning to Portland.<ref>{{cite news |title=Destroyer Flotilla |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=23 August 1913 |page=5 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19130823/151/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In November, she acted as a tow for kites being used as targets in [[anti-aircraft gun]] tests at [[Needles Battery]] on the [[Isle of Wight]], where her speed was remarked on.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aeroplane Destroyers |newspaper=Exeter and Plymouth Gazette |date=29 November 1913 |page=3 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000511/19131129/009/0003 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Admiralty reported that she was among the top placed ships of that year's battle practice.<ref name="pen2014"/>

By February 1914, ''Nubian'' and seven other Tribal-class destroyers were part of the [[Third Destroyer Flotilla]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Destroyer Flotillas |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=19 February 1914 |page=4 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19140219/102/0004 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> but none were so for long. In May 1914, ''Nubian'' became a [[Ship's tender|tender]] for the gunnery establishment {{HMS|Excellent|shore establishment|6}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Third Destroyer Flotilla |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=6 May 1914 |page=4 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19140506/064/0004 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

''Nubian'' was among the ships that successfully hunted the German submarine {{SMU|U-8}} in March 1915, although the fatal blows were delivered by ''Ghurka'' and {{HMS|Maori|909|6}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Destruction of the U8 |newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |date=9 March 1915 |page=1 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19150309/005/0001 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>{{efn|Items taken from  ''U-8'' by a ''Nubian'' crewmember as it was sinking were soon after displayed in a shop at [[Southsea]].<ref>{{cite news |title=German Trophies |newspaper=Portsmouth Evening News |date=20 March 1915 |page=5 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19150320/084/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>}} A month later, it was reported that she had been among many ships that participated in a bombardment of German positions on the coast of Belgium during October–November 1914.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bombardment of the Belgian Coast |newspaper=Aberdeen Journal |date=13 April 1915 |page=5 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000576/19150413/052/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Torpedoing and reconstruction==
[[File:HMS Zubian.jpg|thumb|HMS ''Zubian'', formed from the remains of ''Nubian'' and HMS ''Zulu'']]
During the [[Battle of Dover Strait (1916)|Battle of Dover Strait]], on the night of 26–27 October 1916 off [[Folkestone]] ''Nubian''{{'}}s bow was almost severed by a German [[torpedo]] that exploded almost under her [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]]. She was taken in tow but the tow-ropes severed in the bad weather conditions and she [[Ship grounding|ran aground]] on the [[South Foreland]], near [[Dover]]. The bow then parted completely on a chalk reef and the remainder of the ship was driven under a cliff.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/doverpatrol00bacogoog#page/n8/mode/2up |title=The Dover Patrol 1915-1917 |volume=II |first=Reginald |last=Bacon |authorlink=Reginald Bacon |publisher=George H. Doran Co. |year=1919 |pages=28, 30, 48}}</ref> Two of the crew of ''Nubian'' died and a further thirteen were missing, believed killed.<ref>{{cite news |title=HMS Nubian |newspaper=Aberdeen Journal |date=30 October 1916 |page=3 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000576/19161030/020/0003 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

''Nubian'' was eventually refloated when a cutting was blasted through the rocks.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/doverpatrol00bacogoog#page/n8/mode/2up |title=The Dover Patrol 1915-1917 |volume=II |first=Reginald |last=Bacon |authorlink=Reginald Bacon |publisher=George H. Doran Co. |year=1919 |page=321}}</ref> Another Tribal-class destroyer, ''Zulu'', had her stern blown off by a [[naval mine]] near [[Dunkirk]] on 8 November 1916 and was towed to [[Calais]]. Both wrecks were towed to Chatham Dockyard and ''Zulu''{{'}}s bow was joined to the midsection and stern of ''Nubian''. The resulting destroyer was given the [[portmanteau]] name ''Zubian''.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/doverpatrol00bacogoog#page/n8/mode/2up |title=The Dover Patrol 1915-1917 |volume=II |first=Reginald |last=Bacon |authorlink=Reginald Bacon |publisher=George H. Doran Co. |year=1919 |pages=30, 48}}</ref> This ship served until the end of the war, sinking the mine-laying U-boat {{SMU|UC-50}} on 4 February 1918 off the coast of [[Essex]].

==Fate==
''Zubian'' was [[Ship breaking|broken up]] at [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]] in 1919.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book|last1=Dittmar|first1=F.J.|last2=Colledge|first2=J. J.|title=British Warships 1914–1919|year=1972|publisher=Ian Allan|location=Shepperton, UK|isbn=0-7110-0380-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War|year=2009|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-049-9|authorlink=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Manning|first=T. D.|title=The British Destroyer|year=1961|publisher=Putnam & Co.|location=London|oclc= 6470051}}
* {{cite book|last=March|first=Edgar J.|title=British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans|year=1966|publisher=Seeley Service|location=London |oclc=164893555}}

{{Tribal class destroyer (1905)}}
{{October 1916 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nubian (1909)}}
[[Category:Tribal-class destroyers (1905)]]
[[Category:Ships built in Southampton]]
[[Category:1909 ships]]
[[Category:World War I destroyers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1916]]
[[Category:Ships built by John I. Thornycroft & Company]]