HMS Raven II

HMS "Raven II" was a German merchantman converted by the Royal Navy as a Seaplane carrier.

The German merchantman "Rabenfels" was built by Swan Hunter in 1911. On the outbreak of World War One, the "Rabenfels" was seized at Port Said, Egypt. Commissioned into the Royal Navy on June 12 1915, she was not renamed as HMS "Raven II" until August, 1915.

HMS "Raven II" carried two seaplanes, and operated in the Eastern Mediterranean (1915-1916) and the Indian Ocean (1916-1917). The aircraft operated included Short Type 184, Sopwith Schneider, Sopwith Baby and Short Admiralty Type 827.

HMS "Raven II" was decommissioned January 14, 1918 and, renamed "Ravenrock", served as a stores carrier, collier and troopship in Government service until January, 1921. She was sold back to mercantile service in 1923.

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