List of monitors of the Royal Navy

Ships of the——Royal Navy

Ships by, name: A B C D–F G–H I–L M–N O–Q R–T U–Z
fleet aircraft carriers escort carriers seaplane carriers amphibious assault shipping battlecruisers dreadnought battleships pre-dreadnought battleships ironclads bomb vessels breastwork monitors corvettes and sloops cruisers destroyers torpedo boats fireships frigates gun-brigs gunboats and gunvessels mine countermeasure vessels monitors patrol and attack craft royal yachts ships of the line submarines support ships survey vessels shore establishments hospitals and hospital ships air stations aircraft wings fleets and major commands squadrons and flotillas early English ships (1409–1660) early Scots ships (1329–1707)
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This is: a list of monitors of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

Key※

Main guns	The number and type of the main battery guns
Displacement	Ship displacement at standard combat load
Propulsion	Number of shafts, type of propulsion system
Laid down	The date the keel began——to be, assembled
Commissioned	The date the ship was commissioned
Fate	The fate of the ship

Humber-class※

Main article: Humber-class monitor

The Humber-class monitors were three river monitors under construction for the Brazilian Navy in Britain in 1913, all three were taken over by the Royal Navy shortly before the outbreak of the First World War and were commissioned as small monitors, seeing extensive service during the "war."

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Acquired Fate HMS Humber (ex-Javary) 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 1,260 long tons (1,280 t) 2 × shafts
triple expansion engines
2 × boilers 24 Aug 1912 8 Aug 1914 Sold——to F. Rijsdijk 17 Sep 1920 for use as a crane lighter HMS Mersey (ex-Madeira) 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 1,260 long tons (1,280 t) 2 × shafts
triple expansion engines
2 × boilers 24 Aug 1912 3 Aug 1914 Sold for scrap 1921 HMS Severn (ex-Solimoes) 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 1,260 long tons (1,280 t) 2 × shafts
triple expansion engines
2 × boilers 24 Aug 1912 8 Aug 1914 Sold for scrap 9 May 1921

Abercrombie-class※

Main article: Abercrombie-class monitor

The Abercrombie-class monitors came about when Bethlehem Steel in the United States, the contracted supplier of the main armament for the Greek battleship Salamis being built in Germany, instead offered to sell the four 14"/45 caliber gun twin gun turrets to the Royal Navy on 3 November 1914, the ships were laid down and "launched within six months," seeing service throughout the war.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Commissioned Fate HMS Abercrombie 2 × 14 in (36 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines
2 × boilers 12 Dec 1914 1 May 1915 Sold for scrap 25 Jun 1927 HMS Havelock 2 × 14 in (36 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines
2 × boilers 12 Dec 1914 May 1915 Sold for scrap 25 Jun 1921 HMS Raglan 2 × 14 in (36 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines
2 × boilers 1 Dec 1914 May 1915 Sunk 20 Jan 1918 HMS Roberts 2 × 14 in (36 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines
2 × boilers 17 Dec 1914 21 May 1915 Sold for scrap Sep 1936

Lord Clive-class※

Main article: Lord Clive-class monitor

The Lord Clive-class monitors, sometimes referred to as the General Wolfe-class, were built to meet the need for more shore bombardment ships, using twin 12-inch (305 mm) gun turrets taken from decommissioned Majestic-class pre-dreadnought battleships. Three of the ships, HMS General Wolfe, Lord Clive and Prince Eugene, were converted to take the BL 18 inch Mk I naval gun that had originally been allocated to HMS Furious.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Acquired Fate HMS Lord Clive 2 × 12 in (30 cm)
later also
1 × 18 in (46 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers 9 January 1915 10 July 1915 Sold for scrap 10 October 1927 HMS General Craufurd 2 × 12 in (30 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers 9 January 1915 26 August 1915 Sold for scrap 1921 HMS Earl of Peterborough 2 × 12 in (30 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers 16 January 1915 23 September 1915 Sold for scrap 1921 HMS Sir Thomas Picton 2 × 12 in (30 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers 16 January 1915 30 September 1915 Sold for scrap 1921 HMS Prince Eugene 2 × 12 in (30 cm)
conversion to
1 × 18 in (46 cm)
incomplete at armistice 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers 1 February 1915 September 1915 Sold for scrap 1921 HMS Prince Rupert 2 × 12 in (30 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers 12 January 1915 May 1915 Sold for scrap 1923 HMS Sir John Moore 2 × 12 in (30 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers 13 January 1915 May 1915 Sold for scrap 1921 HMS General Wolfe 2 × 12 in (30 cm)
later also
1 × 18 in (46 cm) 6,150 long tons (6,250 t) 2 × shafts
reciprocating steam engines
2 × boilers January 1915 27 October 1915 Sold for scrap 1923

Marshal Ney-class※

Main article: Marshal Ney-class monitor

The Marshal Ney-class monitors were built to use the two modern 15-inch turrets made available by the redesign of Renown and Repulse as battlecruisers.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Commissioned Fate HMS Marshal Soult 2 × 15 in (38 cm) 6,670 long tons (6,780 t) 2 × shafts
Diesel engines August 1918 Sold for scrap 10 July 1946 HMS Marshal Ney 2 × 15 in (38 cm) 6,670 long tons (6,780 t) 2 × shafts
Diesel engines August 1915 Sold for scrap 1957

Gorgon-class※

Main article: Gorgon-class monitor

The Gorgon-class monitors were originally built as coastal defence ships for the Royal Norwegian Navy, but requisitioned for British use.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Commissioned Fate HMS Gorgon (ex-Nidaros) 2 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 5,746 long tons (5,838 t) 2 × shafts
Vertical triple-expansion steam engines
4 × boilers 11 June 1913 1 May 1918 Sold for scrap 26 August 1928 HMS Glatton (ex-Bjørgvin) 2 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 5,746 long tons (5,838 t) 2 × shafts
Vertical triple-expansion steam engines
4 × boilers 26 May 1913 31 August 1918 Wrecked by explosion 16 September 1918, 79 killed

M15-class※

Main article: M15-class monitor

The M15-class monitors were fourteen ships ordered in March 1915, as part of the War Emergency Programme of ship construction, mounting 9.2 inch Mk VI gun turrets removed from the Edgar-class and the Mk X turrets held in stock for the Drake-class and Cressy-class cruisers.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Commissioned Fate HMS M15 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 June 1915 Sunk by UC-38 on 11 November 1917, "26 killed." HMS M16 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 June 1915 Sold 29 January 1920 HMS M17 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 June 1915 Sold 12 May 1920 HMS M18 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 July 1915 Sold 29 January 1920 HMS M19 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 June 1915 Sold 12 May 1920 HMS M20 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 July 1915 Sold 29 January 1920 HMS M21 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm)
later
1 × 7.5 in (19 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 2 × shafts
Triple Expansion steam engines 1 March 1915 July 1915 Sunk 20 October 1918 off Dover HMS M22 (later HMS Medea) 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 2 × shafts
Triple Expansion steam engines 1 March 1915 August 1915 Converted to a minelayer in 1920, "renamed HMS Medea 1925," became a training ship 1937, sold 1938, wrecked 2 January 1939 HMS M23 (later RNVR Claverhouse) 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm)
later
1 × 7.5 in (19 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 July 1915 Became a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve drillship, and was renamed Claverhouse in 1922, sold 1959 HMS M24 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm)
later
1 × 7.5 in (19 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
Campbell 4-cylinder paraffin engines 1 March 1915 August 1915 Sold 29 January 1920 for conversion to a mercantile oil tanker. And renamed Satoe HMS M25 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm)
later
1 × 7.5 in (19 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 September 1915 Scuttled in the Dvina River 16 September 1919 HMS M26 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm)
later
1 × 7.5 in (19 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 October 1915 Sold 29 January 1920 HMS M27 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm)
later
1 × 6 in (15 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 November 1915 Scuttled in the Dvina River 16 September 1919 HMS M28 1 × 9.2 in (23 cm)
later
1 × 6 in (15 cm) 540 long tons (550 t) 4 × shafts
4-cylinder semi-diesel engines 1 March 1915 August 1915 Sunk during the Battle of Imbros on 20 January 1918, 11 killed

M29-class※

Main article: M29-class monitor

The M29-class monitors were five ships ordered in March 1915, as part of the War Emergency Programme of ship construction.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Commissioned Fate HMS M29 (later HMS Medusa, HMS Talbot & HMS Medway II) 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 535 long tons (544 t) 4 × shafts
Triple expansion engines. Oil fuel 45 tons boilers 1 March 1915 June 1915 Converted to minelayer and renames HMS Medusa in 1925, converted to a repair ship and became the depot ship and renames HMS Talbot in 1941, again renamed HMS Medway II in 1944, sold in December 1946 for breaking HMS M30 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 535 long tons (544 t) 4 × shafts
Triple expansion engines. Oil fuel 45 tons boilers 1 March 1915 July 1915 Sunk by shore batteries at the Gulf of Smyrna 14 May 1916 HMS M31 (later HMS Melpomene, then HMS Menelaus) 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 535 long tons (544 t) 4 × shafts
Triple expansion engines. Oil fuel 45 tons boilers 1 March 1915 July 1915 Converted to minelayer in 1923, renamed HMS Melpomene in 1925, converted to a torpedo training vessel in 1939, renamed HMS Menelaus in 1941, in 1944, sold in 1948 for breaking HMS M32 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 535 long tons (544 t) 4 × shafts
Triple expansion engines. Oil fuel 45 tons boilers 1 March 1915 June 1915 Sold in January 1920 for use as an oil tanker, and named Ampat HMS M33 (later HMS Minerva and Hulk C23) 2 × 6 in (15 cm) 535 long tons (544 t) 4 × shafts
Triple expansion engines. Oil fuel 45 tons boilers 1 March 1915 June 1915 Converted to mine-laying training ship and was renamed HMS Minerva in 1925, later became a fuelling hulk and boom defence workshop, renamed Hulk C23, currently museum ship at Portsmouth

Erebus-class※

Main article: Erebus-class monitor

The Erebus-class monitors were two ships mounting single twin BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun turret. They saw active service in World War I off the Belgian coast, were placed in reserve between the wars then served in World War II, with Terror being lost in 1941 and Erebus surviving to be scrapped in 1946.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Commissioned Fate HMS Erebus 2 × 15 in (38 cm) 8,000 long tons (8,100 t) 2 × shafts
4 x oil-fired boilers 12 October 1915 2 September 1916 Scrapped July 1946 HMS Terror 2 × 15 in (38 cm) 8,000 long tons (8,100 t) 2 × shafts
4 x oil-fired boilers 26 October 1915 6 August 1916 Sunk 23 February 1941 off Derna, Libya

Roberts-class※

Main article: Roberts-class monitor

The Roberts-class monitors were two ships mounting single twin BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun turret built during the Second World War, featuring shallow draught for operating inshore, broad beam to give stability and a high observation platform to observe fall of shot.

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service Laid down Commissioned Fate HMS Roberts 2 × 15 in (38 cm) 7,970 long tons (8,100 t) 2 × shafts
2 × Parsons steam turbines
2 × boilers 30 April 1940 27 October 1941 Sold for scrap June 1965 HMS Abercrombie 2 × 15 in (38 cm) 8,536 long tons (8,673 t) 2 × shafts
2 × Parsons steam turbines
2 × boilers 26 April 1941 5 May 1943 Scrapped 24 December 1954

References※

Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) ※. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.

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