HMS M23

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History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS M23
BuilderSir Raylton Dixon & Co.
Laid down1 March 1915
Launched17 June 1915
FateBroken Up 1959
General characteristics
Class and type M15 class monitor
Displacement540 tons
Length177 ft 3 in (54.03 m)
Beam31 ft (9.4 m)
Draught6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Propulsion
Speed11 knots
Complement69
Armament

HMS M23 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. After service in the Mediterranean and the Dover Patrol, she was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919. Converted to the RNVR drillship Claverhouse in 1922, she served in that capacity at "Leith" until 1958.

Contents

Design

Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M23's primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk VI gun removed from the Edgar-class cruiser HMS Grafton. [1] In addition to her 9.2-inch gun, she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound anti-aircraft gun. She was equipped with a four-shaft Bolinder four-cylinder semi-diesel engine with 640 horsepower that allowed a top speed of eleven knots. The monitor's crew consisted of sixty-nine officers and men.

Construction

HMS M23 ordered in March, 1915, as part of the War Emergency Programme of ship construction. She was laid down at the Sir Raylton Dixon & Co. Ltd shipyard at Govan in March 1915, launched on 17 June 1915, and completed in July 1915.

World War 1

M23 served initially in the Mediterranean from October 1915. On her return from the Mediterranean in May 1917, M23 had her main 9.2 in gun removed, as it was required for artillery use on the Western Front, and a BL 7.5-inch (190.5 mm) Mk III 50-caliber gun was fitted in lieu.

M23 then served with the Dover Patrol from June 1917 to June 1918.

Russia

M23 next saw service in support of the North Russian Expeditionary Force. Prior to departure, she had her two QF 2-pounder Mark II and her 12-pdr (76 mm) QF Mk 1 gun replaced by AA guns.

RNVR Claverhouse

M23 returned to Sheerness in November 1919. In August 1922 she moved to Dundee, where she became a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) drillship, and was renamed Claverhouse on 16 December 1922. She served in this capacity until sold in 1959. She arrived at Charlestown, Fife on 21 April 1959 for breaking up.

Citations

  1. ↑ Randal Gray, ed. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway Maritime Press. p. 48. ISBN   0-85177-245-5.

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<i>M15</i>-class monitor

The M15 class comprised fourteen monitors of the Royal Navy, all built and launched during 1915.

HMS M27 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. She was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919, and was scuttled in the Dvina River on 16 September 1919.

HMS M25 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. She was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919, and was scuttled in the Dvina River on 16 September 1919.

HMS M26 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.

HMS <i>M21</i>

HMS M21 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. After service in the Mediterranean and the Dover Patrol, she struck a mine off Ostend in January 1918 and sank off Dover.

HMS M20 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.

HMS M19 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.

HMS M22 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. Later converted to a minelayer and renamed HMS Medea, she was wrecked whilst being towed for breaking up on 2 January 1939.

HMS M24 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. After service in the Dover Patrol, she was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919. She was sold in mercantile service in 1920.

HMS M18 was a M15-class monitor built for the Royal Navy during the First World War.

HMS <i>M17</i>

HMS M17 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.

HMS M16 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.

References

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