HMS Paragon (1913)

HMS Paragon was an Acasta-class destroyer that served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. She was launched in 1913, and joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla upon completion, becoming one of the 21 destroyers in that unit. Initially, the flotilla served with the Grand Fleet, but Paragon was not present for the Battle of Jutland. The flotilla moved to the Humber in July 1916. Here, they were responsible for the merchant ships sailing down Britain's East Coast to London. Five ships from the flotilla, including Paragon, were transferred from the 4th Destroyer Flotilla to the 6th over the winter of 1916-1917, thereby joining the Dover Patrol.

Paragon was one of four destroyers sent out to patrol the Dover barrage on the night of 17th March 1917. The ships patrolled individually, despite intelligence that a large German raid was expected. Paragon was torpedoed whilst challenging the lead German destroyer of a group of seven. She sank after a short action. This was the last in a sequence of losses that called into question the effectiveness of the Dover Patrol's commander, Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon. After Paragon's sinking he was given direct orders to change his tactical arrangements in a way that he had previously resisted doing. This immediately produced better results, with the Royal Navy regaining the initiative in the Straits of Dover.