Time for #MondayMonitors and today we're looking at the Humber-class monitors! These class of three monitors were requisitioned prior to the outbreak of WW1.

They saw extensive service during WW1 and their usefulness in service helped influence more monitors to be built.

Originally built at the Vickers Ltd, Barrow for the Brazilian Navy they were designed to patrol the Amazon River. The ships were originally to be called Javary, Madeira and Solimoes.

Launched in 1913, during their sea trials the Brazilian government could not pay for the ships.

Vickers attempted to sell them to overseas buyers, however the UK Government stepped in to purchase them.
They were renamed HMS Humber, Mersey and Severn and joined the Dover Monitor Squadron which many other well known monitors joined during WW1.

The Humber-class originally designed for inshore work was kept to coastal work as their low freeboard fore and aft, high weight and low speed (4 knots in open water) was not idea in open water.
They had a draught of just 5.6ft! Note the small rudders!

The ships were armed with 2x 6 inch guns mounted in a twin turret, HMS Humber had an additional 6 inch gun mounted at the stern.

During service Mersey and Severn's guns wore out quickly and were replaced by guns salvaged from HMS Montagu which had been wrecked in 1906.

HMS Humber after serving in the Dover Squadron was towed to Malta in March 1915, she started operations in Galipolli in June of that year. During her time she often helped smaller monitors like M.33 in operations.
Took part in the 1919 Russian Civil War along with other monitors

HMS Mersey helped shell positions during the Battle of Yser in 1914, She was towed to German East Africa (now Tanzania) in 1915 and took part in the Battle of Rufiji Delta, helping to knock out the cruiser SMS Königsberg.
Later she patrolled the River Danube.

HMS Severn also took part in the Battle of Yser in 1914. In October 1914 she was also attacked by U-8 however her shallow draught worked in her favour as the torpedoes failed to hit as they went under her hull.
Her guns were replaced by single 6-inch guns fore and aft in 1915.

HMS Severn was towed to German East Africa by fleet of tugs HMS Blackcock, Sarah Joliffe, TA Joliffe, Danube II, Southampton, Revenger.
Along with HMS Mersey helped in the destruction of SMS Königsberg.

She also served after a refit in Egypt 1918 on the River Danube.

HMS Humber- Sold in 1920 and refitted as a floating crane lighter, still in use as late as 1938.

HMS Mersey- Sold for scrap in 1921 and scrapped in 1923.

HMS Severn- Sold for scrap in 1921 to Thos W Ward (along with Mersey) and scrapped in 1923.

#mondaymonitors #mondaymonitor

Despite design issues on speed, seakeeping and handling the Humber-class demonstrated how monitors can be a cheap and effective way of providing firepower closer to shore.
The Abecrombie-class followed being designed, thread on this can be found here; https://twitter.com/dhartley_NMRN/status/1224248761750315008?s=20

The Marinha do Brasil ( @marmilbr) still have a monitor in service M Parnaíba, being commissioned in March 1938. She is the oldest active commissioned ship in the world and served during WW2.

Built to patrol well inland around the Amazon River and Mato Grosso region of Brazil.

Thank you for reading, this has been another edition of #MondayMonitors.

I had done this thread before however I was not happy with its flow compared to the others and removed it. If you'd like to read more of the monitor threads please see link below; https://twitter.com/dhartley_NMRN/status/1254685439513985031?s=20