**DEFINITION:**
HMS Romola was a Royal Navy R-class destroyer launched during World War I, serving primarily in escort and patrol duties before being decommissioned in the early 1920s.
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**HMS Romola**
HMS Romola was an R-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, commissioned in 1916 during the First World War. Designed for speed and agility, she was part of a class intended to improve upon earlier destroyer designs with enhanced armament and propulsion systems.
### Design and Specifications
The R-class destroyers, including HMS Romola, typically displaced around 1,000 tons and measured approximately 276 feet in length. They were powered by steam turbines enabling speeds up to 36 knots. Armament generally consisted of three 4-inch guns, a single anti-aircraft gun, and torpedo tubes.
### Service History
HMS Romola served mainly in escorting convoys and patrolling the North Sea and English Channel. Her role was crucial in protecting merchant vessels from German U-boat attacks during the latter part of the war. After the war, she was placed in reserve and eventually sold for scrap in the early 1920s as newer destroyer classes entered service.
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**META_DESCRIPTION:**
HMS Romola was a Royal Navy R-class destroyer launched in 1916, serving in escort and patrol roles during World War I before being decommissioned in the early 1920s.