HMS Erebus (I02)

HMS "Erebus" (I02) was a World War I monitor launched on 19 June 1916 and served in both world wars. She and her sister "Terror" are known as the "Erebus" class. They were named for the two bomb ketches sent to investigate the Northwest Passage and subsequently lost in 1845.

Monitors were designed as stable gun platforms with a shallow draft to allow operations close inshore in support of land operations and were not intended to contest naval battles. "Erebus" was equipped with two 15 inch /42 (381 mm) guns (removed from HMS "Marshall Ney" [ [http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/Janes_1919/Monitors/Monitors_2.html HM Ships from As extracted from Jane's Fighting Ships for 1919 ] ] ) in a single forward turret mounted on a tall barbette to extend the range of fire (up to 40,000 yards (22.7 miles/36.5 km)).

The "Erebus" class were designed to outrange German World War I heavy shore batteries and they were also fitted with highly effective torpedo protection bulges on each side of the hull.

World War I

During World War I "Erebus" bombarded German naval forces based at the Belgian ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge. She was damaged by a remote controlled German FL-boat on 28 October 1917. In 1919 Erebus took part in the British Invasion of Russia providing gunfire support in the White Sea and in the Baltic Sea.

World War II

In 1921 The "Erebus" took part in gunnery trials against the surrendered German battleship Baden. She then served as a gunnery training ship between the two world wars. The Erebus had a refit, completed in August 1939, and was earmarked as guardship at Cape Town, but due to the outbreak of war this never materialised.

In the early war years, "Erebus" served with the Eastern Fleet and the Mediterranean Fleet, where she was used to run supplies to besieged Tobruk and bombard enemy concentrations. In 1943 she was damaged while bombarding Sicily during the Allied invasion of Sicily.

"Erebus" was used for coastal bombardment during the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, firing at the batteries at Barfleur en La Pernelle. She suffered one 15-inch gun destroyed due to a premature explosion of the HE round in the bore. [ [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_15-42_mk1.htm navweaps.com Accessed 14th January 2008. HMS "Roberts" suffered in the same way. The fault was traced to defective fuses in some US built shells]

On the 10 August 1944, she was used against the defenders of the harbour at Le Havre. She was damaged by the battery at Clos des Ronces and was out of action for some time. In November 1944, she supported Operation "Infatuate", the amphibious assault on Walcheren, Netherlands.

She was scrapped in July 1946. It is believed that one of "Erebus"' convert|15|in|mm|0|sing=on guns was used to equip HMS "Vanguard", the Royal Navy's last battleship. [ [http://battleshiphmsvanguard.homestead.com/15inch.html The 15 inch Guns of HMS Vanguard ] ]

References

;Notes;Bibliography
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5461.html. Uboat.net - HMS Erebus]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/80/a5283380.shtml Personal experiences]
* [http://www.royal-navy.org/warships/period-8/classes.php?name=9 Royal Navy history]