HMS Nereus (1916)  HMS "Nereus" was a which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 24 February 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet until the end of the conflict. The vessel operated as part for Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla in support of convoy operations. After the conflict, the destroyer was worn out by the demands of high speed operation in poor weather. "Nereus" was placed in reserve and subsequently scrapped on 15 November 1921 after less than six years service. "Nereus" was one of sixteen destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in September 1914 as part of the First War Construction Programme. The M-class was an improved version of the earlier destroyers, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers capable of . The vessel was named after the sea god in Greek mythology. The destroyer was long overall, with a beam of and a draught of . Displacement was normal and at full load. Power was provided by three oil fired Yarrow boilers each exhausting through a single small funnel, which was a distinguishing feature of the class. The boilers fed two Parsons steam turbines rated at which connected directly to two screws via two shafts to give a design speed of . of oil were carried, giving a design range of at . Armament consisted of three Mk IV QF guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for torpedoes. The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings. Construction by John I. Thornycroft & Company of Woolston, Southampton was started when the hull was laid down during March 1915. Yard number 790 was allocated during construction. The ship was launched on 24 February and completed in May the following year. On entering service, "Nereus" joined the Grand Fleet as part of the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla. The vessel operated in support of convoy operations, specifically as part of a hunting group sent out to search for German warships that threatened convoys in the North Sea in October 1917. The harsh conditions of wartime service, particularly the combination of high speed and the poor weather that is typical of the North Sea, exacerbated by the fact that the hull was not galvanised, meant that the destroyer was soon worn out.