River Class monitors

[TonyE]

The three River Class Monitors, Severn, Mersey amd Humber, had originally been built for Brazil but were purchased by the Admiralty in 1914.

The issue small arms cartridge of Brazil was the 7 x 57mm Mauser round, and some sources state that the monitors were armed with six 7mm Hotchkiss machine guns. This would make sense at the time they were built for Brazil, but does anyone have any confirmation that these weapons remained in service with the Royal Navy?

There is a precedent, as HMS Swiftsure and Triumph had been bought in 1904 from Chile, and there is evidence that their 7mm Maxim guns were retained by the RN, at least for a while.

Thanks

TonyE

[per ardua per mare per terram]

That would be a supply nightmare! I don't have access to my Jane's Fighting Ships at the moment, have you tried there?

[TonyE]

Good thinking Batman!

Now all I need to do is find a copy of the relevant date. Can any Pals help?

Regards

TonyE

[Malcolm]

Dittmar and Colledge only give main armament 3 x 6 inch, 2 x 4.7 inch.

Jane gives main as above and then 4 x 3 pounders, 1 x 3 pounder AA. Looks likely they were issued with Naval regulation guns.

Aye

Malcolm

[Odin]

My copy of Janes Fighting Ships for WWI shows HMS Humber (Mersey and Severn were then on the disposal list - 1918). It gives the armament as:

3-6in, 2-4.7 in howitzers, 4-3pdrs, 1-3pdr AA, but doesn't go down to the Maxim guns

For Swiftsure and Triumph it mentions 4 Maxims but gives no size

[snavek]

My copy of an SPO's diary during his service on HMS Humber on the Dvina river makes no mention of Hotchkiss guns, he does refer to Lewis guns being used to blow up floating mines on 12th July 1919, also landing Sailors for field guns and Marines for Lewis guns on 1st August.

To escape the river later in August they'd had to lighten the ship, apart from dumping the ship's armoured belt they also got rid of one each of the 6'', 3'' and 12 lb. guns.

Keith

[TonyE]

Thanks gentlemen.

It seems likely that if the 7mm Hotchkiss MGs were retained for a period, they were replaced by regular issue weapons later.

By the time Humber went to Russia, it is also possible that the Lewis guns were in 7.62mm Russian calibre.

Regards

TonyE