HMS Ladybird (1916)
Encyclopedia
HMS Ladybird was an Insect-class gunboat
of the Royal Navy
, launched in 1916. This class are also referred to as "Large China Gunboats".
Originally built to patrol the River Danube
during World War I
, she was later shipped to China
to serve on the Yangtze River
.
On 12 December 1937, Ladybird, along with Bee
became involved in the Panay incident
and came under fire from a Japanese artillery unit near Wuhu on the Yangtze River
. Ladybird was hit by six shells and Bee dodged a shell as she came upon the scene.
In 1939 the original 2 6 inch Mk VII 45-calibre guns
were replaced by more modern and 30 inches longer 6-inch Mk XIII 50-calibre guns from the decommissioned HMS Agincourt
.
Ladybird was allocated to Singapore
in 1940 and then, along with five others of the class, stripped down and towed to the Mediterranean. During the journey she sustained damage which meant she was limited to a speed of 7 knots (13 km/h) due to a misaligned hull. She was initially used to guard Port Said
.
In late December 1940 and early January 1941 Ladybird was engaged at close range in bombarding the Italian port of Bardia in Libya, in preparation and support of the Allied assault and capture of Bardia on 5th January 1941 as part of Operation Compass
.
On 25 February 1941 she landed a Royal Marines unit during Operation Abstention
, an ill-fated attempt to seize the Italian island of Kastelorizo
, where she was hit by an aerial bomb.
Later, acting in support of the Tobruk
garrison, she shelled the Gazala
airfield and ferried in supplies. During this duty, on 12 May 1941, she was severely damaged by dive bombers and set on fire, settling on an even keel in ten feet of water. Still above water, her three inch gun was used in an anti-aircraft role. Gnat
then replaced Ladybird in supporting Tobruk.
Insect class gunboat
The Insect class patrol boats were a class of small, but well-armed Royal Navy ships designed for use in shallow rivers or inshore. They were intended for use on the Danube...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, launched in 1916. This class are also referred to as "Large China Gunboats".
Originally built to patrol the River Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, she was later shipped to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to serve on the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
.
On 12 December 1937, Ladybird, along with Bee
HMS Bee (1915)
HMS Bee was an Insect class gunboat of the Royal Navy, launched on 8 December 1915. This class are also known as "Large China Gunboats".Initially built for service on the River Danube, after World War I the Insects were transported to China and served on the Yangtze River...
became involved in the Panay incident
Panay incident
The USS Panay Incident was a Japanese attack on the American gunboat while she was anchored in the Yangtze River outside Nanking , China on December 12, 1937. Japan and the United States were not at war at the time. The Japanese claimed that they did not see the American flags painted on the deck...
and came under fire from a Japanese artillery unit near Wuhu on the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
. Ladybird was hit by six shells and Bee dodged a shell as she came upon the scene.
In 1939 the original 2 6 inch Mk VII 45-calibre guns
BL 6 inch Mk VII naval gun
The BL 6 inch Gun Mark VII was a British naval gun dating from 1899, which was mounted on a heavy traveling carriage in 1915 for British Army service to become one of the main heavy field guns in the First World War, and also served as one of the main coast defence guns throughout the British...
were replaced by more modern and 30 inches longer 6-inch Mk XIII 50-calibre guns from the decommissioned HMS Agincourt
HMS Agincourt (1913)
HMS Agincourt was a dreadnought built in the early 1910s. The ship was originally ordered by Brazil, but the collapse of the rubber boom plus a lessening of the rivalry with Argentina led to her resale while still under construction to the Ottoman Empire who renamed her as Sultan Osman I...
.
Ladybird was allocated to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1940 and then, along with five others of the class, stripped down and towed to the Mediterranean. During the journey she sustained damage which meant she was limited to a speed of 7 knots (13 km/h) due to a misaligned hull. She was initially used to guard Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
.
In late December 1940 and early January 1941 Ladybird was engaged at close range in bombarding the Italian port of Bardia in Libya, in preparation and support of the Allied assault and capture of Bardia on 5th January 1941 as part of Operation Compass
Operation Compass
Operation Compass was the first major Allied military operation of the Western Desert Campaign during World War II. British and Commonwealth forces attacked Italian forces in western Egypt and eastern Libya in December 1940 to February 1941. The attack was a complete success...
.
On 25 February 1941 she landed a Royal Marines unit during Operation Abstention
Operation Abstention
Operation Abstention was the code name given to the British invasion of the Italian island of Kastelorizo, off Turkey, during the Second World War, on late February 1941...
, an ill-fated attempt to seize the Italian island of Kastelorizo
Kastelorizo
Kastelorizo, , is a Greek island and municipality located in the southeastern Mediterranean. It lies roughly off the south coast of Turkey, about 570 km southeast of Athens and east of Rhodes, almost halfway between Rhodes and Antalya and to Cyprus...
, where she was hit by an aerial bomb.
Later, acting in support of the Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
garrison, she shelled the Gazala
Gazala
Gazala, or Ain el Gazala , is a small Libyan village near the coast in the northeastern portion of the country. It is located west of Tobruk....
airfield and ferried in supplies. During this duty, on 12 May 1941, she was severely damaged by dive bombers and set on fire, settling on an even keel in ten feet of water. Still above water, her three inch gun was used in an anti-aircraft role. Gnat
HMS Gnat (T60)
HMS Gnat was a Royal Navy Insect class gunboat. She was built by Lobnitz and launched in 1915.During the First World War, Gnat took part in the Mesopotamian Campaign as part of the gunboat squadron operating on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers....
then replaced Ladybird in supporting Tobruk.