HMS Bee (1915)

HMS "Bee" was an Insect class gunboat of the Royal Navy, launched on December 8, 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. In 1920, "Bee" became the flagship of the Yangtze patrol.

On December 12, 1937, "Bee", along with "Ladybird", became involved in the Panay incident and came under fire from a Japanese artillery unit near Wuhu on the Yangtze. "Ladybird" took six shells and "Bee" dodged a shell as she came upon the scene.

"Bee" was paid off in 1938 when the destroyer "Scorpion", the new flagship, arrived. She was sold in Shanghai for scrap on March 22, 1939 for £5,225.

External links

* [http://www.hmsfalcon.com/ History of Yangtze River Patrol]