A small thread on Monitors in WW2.
Monitors played a pretty insignificant role in WW2 but they are a fascinating ship.
The basic idea of a monitor is off a relatively small ship, neither fast nor well armoured but that carries disproportionally large guns.
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A Monitor is used primarily for shore bombardment, that is basically their sole purpose.
The Monitor was designed by the US Navy with the first being built in 1861 called the USS Monitor, hence the name, She quite famously fought the CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads
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The Monitor then served in a variety of Navies from then until the First World War where they fell out of common use with the introduction of the Dreadnought Battleships.
However necessity is the mother of innovation they made a slight comeback in the Second World War.
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Monitors served in a couple of navies in WW2, the Soviet Navy for one, the Italian Regia Marina and a variety of minor ones.
However the only navy to use them with any significance was the Royal Navy.
Four served in the RN in WW2.
Two of the Erebus Class, inherited from WW1.
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Named HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.
Obviously named after the two ships of the ill fated Franklin exhibition to find the North West Passage in 1845. You should watch 'The Terror' by the way.
And Two of the Roberts Class, HMS Roberts and HMS Abercrombie.
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Now let me tell you, for only four ships, they got around, they were there giving fire support at nearly every major op or invasion in WW2.
But before I talk about what these ships did, let me tell you about how they cam about.
The Erebus Class were built by H&W()in 1916.
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The Roberts Class are very interesting as they were launched in 1941 and 1942.
They were built out of necessity, much like HMS Vanguard, because they had some guns lying around, and decided to put them to use, two twin 15" guns were taken from the Marshal Monitors from WW1.
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Those two ships by the way served as Depot and Training ship in WW2 but not as Monitors so are not counted.
Back to the Erebus Class, the two ships served in various locations in WW1 and the inter war period from Dunkirk, the HMS Excellent to Belgium to Russia to Singapore
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On the outbreak of WW2 HMS Terror was serving as Base Ship at Singapore, however she received orders to England in 1940 but after going through Suez reported to the Mediterranean Fleet.
Her Anti Aircraft Guns were used in the siege of Malta which she did for most of the year.
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At most major ops in the Mediterranean, she was there as fire support.
Assault against the the Italians in Libya, supports the Aussies at Tobruk, capturing the port of Benghazi.
However on 23 February 1941 she was attacked by Junker Ju 88 bombers 90 miles from Tobruk.
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The ship was critically damaged and the crew were evacuated to Fareham and Salvia before being taken under tow to try and reach Tobruk however she was scuttled on 24th February. Commander Haynes of Terror was awarded the DSO following the sinking.
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HMS Erebus also served in the Med and was at the Invasion of Sicily where she received damage.
Her most important role however was at the Invasion of Normandy, D Day, firing at batteries in Barfleur(very beautiful btw) and La Pernelle where one of her 15" guns exploded.
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HMS Erebus was decommissioned following the war in July 1946.
It is rumoured one of her 15" guns was used on HMS Vanguard afterward but I haven't been able to confirm if this is true.
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I will add to this tomorrow and talk about the Roberts Class during WW2 and even after WW2 into the 1960s.
Stay Tuned.
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