HMS Erebus British Monitor

HMS Erebus

HMS Erebus was a First World War monitor launched on 19 June 1916 which served in both world wars. She was the lead ship of her class, with one sister ship, HMS Terror.

Two 15 in (381 mm)/42 guns removed from Marshal Ney formed the main armament, in a single forward turret. The Barbette in which they were mounted was tall, to extend the range of fire to 40,000 yd (22.7 mi; 36.6 km).

Designed to outrange German heavy shore batteries, the Erebus class was also fitted with highly effective anti-torpedo bulges on each side of the hull.

First World War

During the First World War, Erebus bombarded German naval forces based at the Belgian ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge

Damaged by a remote controlled German FL-boat on 28 October 1917, she suffered the loss of 50 ft (15 m) of anti-torpedo bulge.

HMS Erebus in the Inter-war period

In 1919, Erebus took part in the British Invasion of Russia providing gunfire support in the White Sea and in the Baltic Sea.

In 1921, she took part in gunnery trials against the surrendered German battleship SMS Baden. She then served as a gunnery training ship between the two world wars. Erebus had a refit, completed in August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Second World War

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.

Used for coastal bombardment during the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, Erebus fired at the batteries at Barfleur and La Pernelle. She suffered one 15-inch gun destroyed due to a premature explosion of the high explosive round in the bore.

While bombarding the defenders of the harbour at Le Havre on 10 August 1944 the battery at Clos des Ronces caused significant damage, and she was out of action for some time. In November 1944, she supported Operation Infatuate, the amphibious assault on Walcheren, Netherlands.

At the end of the war, she was worn out and no longer needed, resulting in her scrapping in July 1946.

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