HMS Pegasus (1917)

HMS "Pegasus" was a 3,300 ton displacement seaplane tender that was launched on June 9, 1917.

Originally laid down by John Brown & Company of Clydebank, Scotland as the mail steamer, SS "Stockholm", for the Great Eastern Railway Company, HMS "Pegasus" was purchased by the Royal Navy on February 27, 1917. She commissioned on August 28, 1917 following alterations for naval warfare.

Design

HMS "Pegasus" carried both land planes and seaplanes, with land planes stowed in the forward hangar and seaplanes aft. A flying-off deck was located forward. During her career, she carried a variety of aircraft including the Beardmore W.B.III (1917), Fairey Campania, Sopwith Camel 2F.1 (1918), Fairey III (1919) and Short Type 184.

Career

HMS "Pegasus" joined the Grand Fleet on completion. In 1919, she operated in support of the British intervention in the Russian Civil War , based at Archangel, before transferring to the Mediterranean in March 1920, where she remained until 1923. In 1923, the forward flying-off deck was removed and HMS "Pegasus" was converted to an aircraft tender, capable of carrying up to 9 seaplanes. In 1925 she was decommissioned to reserve, but was recommissioned as an aircraft transport in 1929. On August 22, 1931 the ship was sold for scrap.

References

*Colledge
* Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J., "British Warships 1914-1919", (Ian Allen, London, 1972), ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
* Gray, Randal (ed), "Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906-1921", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985), ISBN 0-85177-245-5