Crab Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 My grandfather's first posting, after I assume basic training at HMS NELSON, was as a Stoker 2nd class on HMS BRAZEN from 26 May to 24 July 1909, which was parented by HMS HECLA. As HECLA was a destroyer depot ship can I assume therefore that BRAZEN was a destroyer of some type. I Googled Brazen and 90% was about Prince Andrew and that Brazen and others about the wreck off Newhaven. Please can anyone put flesh on the bones of the 1909 variant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikefry Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 My grandfather's first posting, after I assume basic training at HMS NELSON, was as a Stoker 2nd class on HMS BRAZEN from 26 May to 24 July 1909, which was parented by HMS HECLA. As HECLA was a destroyer depot ship can I assume therefore that BRAZEN was a destroyer of some type. I Googled Brazen and 90% was about Prince Andrew and that Brazen and others about the wreck off Newhaven. Please can anyone put flesh on the bones of the 1909 variant. Generally, I've always found this site to be quite useful when starting research of a ship http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/brazen_class.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 Hello and welcome to the Forum. Here's a photo for starters: Click here Cheers, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARABIS Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 Hello & welcome to the Forum, The British Destroyer by T. D. Manning gives for Brazen:- Built at Clydebank. 345-350 tons. 214 x 20 x 8.3 feet. 5,800 h.p. = 30 knots. Normand boilers. One 12 pounder. Two torpedo tubes. Complement 63. Served in Home waters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 345-350 tons. Hi Arabis. That seems pretty light. I realise the different classes over the years have varied but I thought that destroyers were generally a little heavier than this, around the 1000 ton mark. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 Sorry, ignore that. Just noted that it was pre-war and it seems to have been a t.b.d., torpedo boat destroyer. Not an overly authoritative source but, of pre-war destroyers, Wikipedia states: Between 1890 and 1914 destroyers became markedly larger: initially 300 tons was a good size, but by the start of the First World War 1000 tons was not unusual. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Posted 28 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 February , 2008 Sorry, ignore that. Just noted that it was pre-war and it seems to have been a t.b.d., torpedo boat destroyer. Not an overly authoritative source but, of pre-war destroyers, Wikipedia states: Between 1890 and 1914 destroyers became markedly larger: initially 300 tons was a good size, but by the start of the First World War 1000 tons was not unusual. Martin Gentlemen Many thanks for your welcome to the Forum but more particularly your imediate response to my query and guidance to useful websites. There will be more questions I can assure you. From a Grateful Crab (RAF) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 Crab. The only mention I could find of the Brazen in The Times for this period is her involvement in the annual naval exercises, quite a big affair in 1909. She was part of the Portsmouth Flotilla. The Times, Thursday, Jun 17, 1909 The Naval Mobilization The Fleets which were at Spithead on Saturday last have separated and left for their stations in preparation for the exercises and manoeuvres which at to begin on June 29 and to last for three weeks. To those Fleets, numbering in all 144 vessels, there will be added to-day more than 200 vessels, of which the Mediterranean supplies 15, and there were some 30 small craft in full commission as well. [More] Portsmouth Flotilla Captain Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, in command (Hecla). Torpedo-boat Destroyers.- Bat, Brazen, .. The National Archives have a number of the Brazen's log, including those for this period in two ADM 53 (Ships' Logs) records: Piece ADM 53/18093, 1909 May 8 - 1909 July 8 Piece ADM 53/18094, 1909 July 1 - 1909 Aug 31 regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 28 February , 2008 Share Posted 28 February , 2008 The Brazen appears to have been the name ship of the Brazen Class. There is a photo here of HMS Recruit, which was also of this class. In 1896, The Times reported the coming deployment of the new t.d.b.'s to Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham: The Times, Friday, Jul 31, 1896 Of the 28 30-knot destroyers previously ordered.. ..Portmouth and Devonport will each have ten and Chatham will have eight, as follows:- Portsmouth. - Brazen, Electra, Recruit, Vulture, Star, Whiting, Bat, Chamois,Craven, Flying Fish. Photos of some of the Star Class destroyers are here. Not sure what the differences were between the Brazen Class and Star Class. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Posted 29 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 29 February , 2008 Martin Many thanks for the extract from The Times, of the day, and the two ADM references which I will follow up. Regards Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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