HMS Mersey (1913)
HMS Mersey was a Humber-class monitor of the Royal Navy. Originally built by Vickers for Brazil and christened Madeira, she was purchased by the Royal Navy in 1914 on the outbreak of the First World War along with her sister ships Humber and Severn.
 HMS Mersey | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Brazil | |
| Name: | Madeira |
| Builder: | Vickers |
| Laid down: | 24 August 1912 |
| Launched: | 30 September 1913 |
| Out of service: | 3 August 1914 |
| Fate: | Sold to the United Kingdom |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name: | HMS Mersey |
| Acquired: | 3 August 1914 |
| Fate: | Sold 1921 for scrapping |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Humber-class monitor |
| Displacement: | 1,260 long tons (1,280 t) |
| Length: | 266 ft 9 in (81.3 m) |
| Beam: | 49 ft (14.9 m) |
| Draught: | 5 ft 7.2 in (1.7 m) |
| Installed power: | 1,450 ihp (1,080 kW) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement: | 140 |
| Armament: |
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| Armour: |
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Service history
Mersey had a relatively successful career in the First World War and had two prominent incidents. At the Battle of the Yser in 1914, off the coast of Belgium, she bombarded German troops as well as artillery positions. In July 1915, she was towed to the Rufiji River delta in German East Africa, where she and Severn then assisted in the destruction of the German light cruiser Königsberg.[note 1]
The monitor later went to the Mediterranean and served on the River Danube.
Five crew died between January 3 and January 6, 1919. They are buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Bucharest War Cemetery.
In 1921, she was sold to the breakers.
Battle honours
- Battle of the Yser 1914–1915
- SMS Königsberg 1915
References
Notes
- Her log books from March 1915 to December 1917 can be viewed online at naval-history.net