HMS Goldfinch

Goldfinch was laid down at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's Govan, Glasgow shipyard on 23 February 1910 and was launched on 12 July 1910 and was completed in February 1911. On commissioning, Goldfinch joined the Second Destroyer Flotilla. On the night of 11 March 1911, a fire broke out in the radio room of Goldfinch while alongside at Devonport, destroying the radio equipment. Goldfinch remained part of the Second Flotilla in February 1913. On the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, including Goldfinch, joined the newly established Grand Fleet. Goldfinch ran aground on Start Point, Sanday in the Orkney Islands in fog on the night of…

Ordered as part of the 1909–1910 Naval Programme, the Acorn-class ships were improved versions of the earlier . The ships displaced 778 LT at normal load and 873 LT at deep load. They had an overall length of 246 ft, a beam of 25 ft and a draught of 9 ft. The ship was powered by a single Parsons steam turbine set which drove three propeller shafts using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers. The turbine was rated at 13500 shp and was intended to give a speed of not less than 26 kn. During her sea trials Goldfinch reached 28.1 kn from . The Acorns carried a maximum of 153 LT of fuel oil in wartime that gave them a range of 1620 nmi at 15 kn. Their crew numbered 70 officers and ratings.