M15 class monitor
Encyclopedia
The M15-class comprised fourteen monitors of the Royal Navy
, all built and launched during 1915.
turrets removed from the Edgar Class
and the Mk X
turrets held in stock for the Drake class
and Cressy class
cruisers. This resulted in the first four of the class, which were built by William Gray and Company of Hartlepool
, receiving the Mk X mounting. The remaining ten ships, all built by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co.
, Middlesbrough
, all received the Mk VI mounting.
During September 1915, the 9.2 inch guns of HMS M24, M25, M26 and M27 were removed for use as artillery. These were replaced by 7.5 inch
(M24 and M25 received the spare guns reserved for the recently-sunk HMS Triumph
, M26 received one of Swiftsure's spare guns) and 6 inch (M27) guns.
HMS M21 and HMS M23 also had their 9.2 inch gun removed in 1917, receiving 7.5 inch guns from the decommissioned HMS Swiftsure
.
The class also used a mixture of propulsion methods. HMS M21 and M22 were fitted with conventional Triple expansion steam engines, M24 was fitted with four cylinder paraffin engines, and the remainder received Bolinder four cylinder semi-diesel engines.
from 1915 to 1918. The remainder served in the Mediterranean from 1915, with HMS M23 joining the Dover Patrol in June 1917 and HMS M21 in October 1917.
HMS M23, M24, M25 and M27 also served in support of British and White Russian
forces in the White Sea
in May to September 1919.
HMS M22 was converted to a minelayer
in 1920, whilst HMS M23 became a drill ship, surviving until 1959.
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...
, all built and launched during 1915.
Design
The ships of this class were ordered in March, 1915, as part of the Emergency War Programme of ship construction. They were designed to utilise the 9.2 inch Mk VI gunBL 9.2 inch gun Mk I - VII
The BL 9.2 inch guns Mk I - Mk VII were a family of early British heavy breechloading naval and coast defence guns in service from 1881 to the end of World War I...
turrets removed from the Edgar Class
Edgar class cruiser
The Edgar-class was a nine-ship class of protected cruiser built around 1891 for the Royal Navy.-Design:Crescent and Royal Arthur were built to a slightly modified design with a raised forecastle and a pair of 6 inch guns replacing the forward 9.2 inch gun, and are sometimes considered a...
and the Mk X
BL 9.2 inch gun Mk IX - X
The BL 9.2 inch guns Mk IX and Mk X were British 46.7 calibres naval and coast defence guns in service from 1899 to the 1950s. They had possibly the longest, most varied and successful service history of any British heavy ordnance.-History:...
turrets held in stock for the Drake class
Drake class cruiser
The Drake-class was a four-ship class of armoured cruisers built around 1900 for the Royal Navy.-Design:The class were enlarged versions of the Cressy class.-History:The ships served in the First World War with only two surviving it...
and Cressy class
Cressy class cruiser
The Cressy class cruiser was a class of six armoured cruisers launched between December 1899 and May 1901, for the Royal Navy.-Service:...
cruisers. This resulted in the first four of the class, which were built by William Gray and Company of Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
, receiving the Mk X mounting. The remaining ten ships, all built by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co.
Sir Raylton Dixon
Sir Raylton Dixon , was a shipbuilder at Middlesbrough on the River Tees. He was one of the seven children of Jeremiah Dixon and Mary Frank of Cockfield, County Durham who were married on 21 July 1833 in St. Cuthberts, Darlington...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, all received the Mk VI mounting.
During September 1915, the 9.2 inch guns of HMS M24, M25, M26 and M27 were removed for use as artillery. These were replaced by 7.5 inch
BL 7.5 inch Mk II - V naval gun
The BL 7.5 inch guns Mk II - Mk V were a variety of 50 calibres naval guns used by Britain in World War I. They all had similar performance and fired the same shells.-Mark II:...
(M24 and M25 received the spare guns reserved for the recently-sunk HMS Triumph
HMS Triumph
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Triumph. Another was planned, but renamed before being launched: was a 68-gun galleon built in 1561. She was rebuilt in 1596, and sold in 1618. was a 44-gun ship launched in 1623 and broken up in 1687. was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line...
, M26 received one of Swiftsure's spare guns) and 6 inch (M27) guns.
HMS M21 and HMS M23 also had their 9.2 inch gun removed in 1917, receiving 7.5 inch guns from the decommissioned HMS Swiftsure
HMS Swiftsure (1903)
HMS Swiftsure was the lead ship of the Swiftsure class of British predreadnought battleships.-Technical Characteristics:HMS Swiftsure was ordered by Chile as Constitución and laid down by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick...
.
The class also used a mixture of propulsion methods. HMS M21 and M22 were fitted with conventional Triple expansion steam engines, M24 was fitted with four cylinder paraffin engines, and the remainder received Bolinder four cylinder semi-diesel engines.
Service
HMS M25, M26, M27 and M28 served in the Dover PatrolDover Patrol
The Dover Patrol was a Royal Navy command of the First World War, notable for its involvement in the Zeebrugge Raid on 22 April 1918. The Dover Patrol formed a discrete unit of the Royal Navy based at Dover and Dunkirk for the duration of the First World War...
from 1915 to 1918. The remainder served in the Mediterranean from 1915, with HMS M23 joining the Dover Patrol in June 1917 and HMS M21 in October 1917.
HMS M23, M24, M25 and M27 also served in support of British and White Russian
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
forces in the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
in May to September 1919.
HMS M22 was converted to a minelayer
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
in 1920, whilst HMS M23 became a drill ship, surviving until 1959.
Ships of the Class
- M15HMS M15HMS M15 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. She was sunk off Gaza by on November 11, 1917.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M15s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk X gun which had been held as a spare for the and . In addition to her 9.2 inch gun, she...
- Launched on April 28, 1915 and sunk by on November 11, 1917. - M16HMS M16HMS M16 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M16s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk X gun which had been held as a spare for the and . In addition to her 9.2 inch gun, she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound...
- Launched on May 3, 1915 and sold January 29, 1920. - M17HMS M17HMS M17 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M17s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk X gun which had been held as a spare for the and . In addition to her 9.2 inch gun, she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound...
- Launched on May 12, 1915 and sold May 12, 1920. - M18HMS M18HMS M18 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M18s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk X gun which had been held as a spare for the and . In addition to her 9.2 inch gun, she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound...
- Launched on May 15, 1915 and sold January 29, 1920. - M19HMS M19HMS M19 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M19s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk VI gun removed from the HMS Edgar . In addition to her 9.2 inch gun she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound anti-aircraft gun...
- Launched on May 4, 1915 and sold May 12, 1920. - M20HMS M20HMS M20 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M20s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk VI gun removed from the HMS Gibraltar . In addition to her 9.2 inch gun she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound anti-aircraft...
- Launched on May 11, 1915 and sold January 29, 1920. - M21HMS M21HMS M21 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. After service in the Mediterranean and the Dover Patrol, she struck a mine off Ostend in January 1918 and sank off Dover.-Design:...
- Launched on May 27, 1915 and mined October 20, 1918. - M22HMS M22HMS M22 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. Later converted to a minelayer and renamed HMS Medea , she was wrecked whilst being towed for breaking up on 2 January 1939.-Design:...
- Launched on June 10, 1915, renamed HMS Medea 1925 and sold December 1938 - M23HMS M23HMS M23 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. After service in the Mediterranean and the Dover Patrol, she was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919...
- Launched on June 17, 1915, renamed Claverhouse 1922 and sold 1959 - M24HMS M24HMS M24 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. After service in the Dover Patrol, she was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919. She was sold in mercantile service in 1920.-Design:...
- Launched on August 9, 1915 and sold January 29, 1920. - M25HMS M25HMS M25 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. She was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919, and was scuttled in the Dvina River on the 16th September, 1919.-Design:...
- Launched on July 24, 1915 and scuttled September 16, 1919 - M26HMS M26HMS M26 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M26s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk VI gun removed from the HMS Edgar . In addition to her 9.2 inch gun she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound anti-aircraft gun...
- Launched on August 24, 1915 and sold January 29, 1920. - M27HMS M27HMS M27 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. She was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919, and was scuttled in the Dvina River on the 16th September, 1919.-Design:...
- Launched on September 8, 1915 and scuttled September 16, 1919 - M28HMS M28HMS M28 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. She was sunk during the Battle of Imbros in 1918.-Design:Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M28s primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk VI gun removed from the HMS Grafton. In addition to her 9.2 inch gun, she also possessed...
- Launched on June 28, 1915 and sunk during the Battle of Imbros January 20, 1918