M 33

[Guest]

Today I was at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and happened to see a Monitor - M 33. The blurb says it is one of only two RN WWI ships that have survived which quite surprised me. There was very little info on M 33 and I wonder if anyone can add anything of its history. It seems it was at Gallipoli which is of particular interest.

I have searched the GWF for any reference to M33 and nothing came up. I took a few photos in case anyone is remotely interested.

MG

[RobL]

Hi Martin, M33 has its own website http://www3.hants.gov.uk/m33/

It's actually one of three surviving WW1 RN Ships - the others are;

HMS Saxifrage, Anchusa Class Sloop (or Q Ship), now known as the HMS President and on the River Thames as a floating restaurant/bar (Cross and Cockade hold their London meetings in the stern!). Seems largely forgotten about, and is just behind the HMS Wellington, a WW2 Grimsby Class sloop in superb condition and, bar the removal of weaponry, in almost original condition outside.

HMS Caroline, the C Class Cruiser at Belfast

Regarding the M33, there's been a couple of news articles about it recently;

http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/10566175.HMS_Monitor_to_open_to_the_public/

http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/10558026.Hampshire_Council_pays_to_restore_WW1_warship/

And also a 'fan' page on Facebook for it;

https://www.facebook.com/monitorm33

[Guest]

Many thanks. Just the job. MG

[seaJane]

One more surviving ship (or is this a boat?) that saw WW1 service: Steam Pinnace 199, at present being restored at the Maritime Workshop behind St Vincent College, Gosport:

http://www.gosportheritage.co.uk/steam-pinnace-199-talk/

sJ

[ATM]

Isn't there a surviving R Class destroyer that we sold to Siam after the war? I know it isn't in British hands now but it is still a surviving Royal Navy built and operated ship from that era. Have no idea what condition it is in though, last I heard it was a "Hulk".

[michaeldr]

Martin,

If you search the GWF under 'Minerva' then you will find previous threads on this ship, eg

 

regards

Michael

[rolt968]

Isn't there a surviving R Class destroyer that we sold to Siam after the war? I know it isn't in British hands now but it is still a surviving Royal Navy built and operated ship from that era. Have no idea what condition it is in though, last I heard it was a "Hulk".

Was this HMS Radiant which became the Phra Ruang? For some reason I thought we sold two, but can't find another?

Roger.

[Gibbo]

Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1923-1946 says that the other British WWI ship purchased by Siam was HMS Havant, a Hunt class sloop. She was renamed Chow Phraya. Her fate is given as being 'stricken 24/8/71.'

Conway's says that HMS Radiant/Phra Ruang was 'discarded 1959.'

This website has Radiant/Phra Ruang still existing in 2000. The pictures on this one aren't captioned, but two of them show what appears to be one of her funnels preserved as a monument.

Can't find much information on Havant/Chow Phraya online. This site agrees Conway's that she was stricken in 8/71.

[sadsac]

Hello MG. Here more on M.33 not quite WW1 - but `in action' ;

JONES Thomas J N/E Lt. RNR 88X860 M.33

S.N.O. White Sea 11.11.19 N/E

Post War - Archangel River Expedition DSC

Has displayed great coolness under fire and his accurate spotting aloft has been of great assistance.

He has shown great zeal in preparing and perfecting the control and spotting instruments of this ship.

Sadsac

[ATM]

That is the one Roger! HMS Radiant. Browsing online I came across a reference that she was still being used for "training" into the early 2000's. What kind of training it doesn't say. If her funnels are preserved as a memorial then I should say, though not with certainty, that she has been scrapped. I can't imagine that she can have been in that great condition.

[super6]

I had a meeting on the Victory last year and whilst waiting for the clock to count down I was looking over the monitor and got talking to the chap who looks after her, he was cleaning out the dock bottom at the time, the upshot of this was that I blagged received an invite to come on board and have a look around..............but don't tell any one! I took a few photographs, on my phone's camera so not brilliant, and had a good chat with the chap. A most interesting half hour it was too. I hope these are of interest to some one........

The stern gun was rescued/came from Argentina I think, I'm sure someone will correct me

This picture taken from the new dry dock retaining wall/walkway. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of the stern gun whilst on deck......

...........but I did take a few of the forward gun

[super6]

Wheel house, from dockside

A poor view looking from aboard

Crews mess area was forward under the gun, towards the pointy end

Stove/heater was behind me when I took the previous photo

I think this was in the same area

[ATM]

Fascinating! I really want to go have a look around myself now. You say the 6inch gun came from Argentina. Did it com off a vessel the British built/sold the Argies or was it just sold as a gun in a coastal role etc?

[super6]

Some interior views

[ATM]

Just browsing Argentine ships. Could it have come off of the cruiser ARA Argentina? British built and based on the Arethusa class. However it was built in 1939. Would the British have equipped a cruiser at that period of time with what was soon to become an obsolescent piece?

Or could the gun have come off a British vessel scrapped in Argentina?

[super6]

Last one! Radio shack

As you would expect she has been altered a bit inside, there is/are no engine(s) the oil fuel tanks have also been removed at some point. There are various bits of display items as the plan is/ was to open her up to the public. I did have a look around in the upper structure and engine room/hold area but omitted to take some pictures until about half way round ho hum

[super6]

Just browsing Argentine ships. Could it have come off of the cruiser ARA Argentina? British built and based on the Arethusa class. However it was built in 1939. Would the British have equipped a cruiser at that period of time with what was soon to become an obsolescent piece?

Or could the gun have come off a British vessel scrapped in Argentina?

Fascinating! I really want to go have a look around myself now. You say the 6inch gun came from Argentina. Did it com off a vessel the British built/sold the Argies or was it just sold as a gun in a coastal role etc?

I'm sorry but I do not know the answer to your questions. That is where I was told the gun came from.

She is not open to the public yet, more work is required for that to happen, both physically and financially I should imagine. I was lucky as work took me aboard, albeit fleetingly.

[RobL]

super6, many many thanks, superb photographs - believe the plans are to be confirmed this week regarding the funding to open M33 to the public

[seaJane]

This from Hampshire Council's website, 24 July 2013:

http://www3.hants.go...d War I warship

Next meeting on the subject is tomorrow.

[ATM]

Although not British, here is a video I came across a while back on youtube. Just shows you how ships survive here and there under the radar. I wonder how many ships out there still survive from the era, especially British ones, that we don't know about. In a book about Mimi and Toutou in East Africa the author tried to locate what was suspected to be one of the vessels sunk and buried under sand in the lake.

Here is what one website says about her:

"In 1902, the Pusey and Jones Corporation built the steel-hulled vessel for Mr. J. Rogers Maxwell as the luxury yacht "CELT". Mr. Manton B. Metcalf later purchased the vessel and renamed her as the "SACHEM". The US Navy acquired the "SACHEM" from Mr. Metcalf in July 1917 for service during World War I and renamed her as the "USS SACHEM" ("SP-192").

Captain Jake Martin's steam powered party boat "SACHEM" from Pier 9, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1934. The Pusey and Jones Corporation built her in 1902 for Mr. J. Rogers Maxwell as the steel-hulled luxury yacht "CELT". Mr. Manton B. Metcalf later purchased her and renamed her as the "SACHEM". The US Navy acquired the "SACHEM" from Mr. Metcalf in July 1917 for service during World War I and renamed her as the "USS SACHEM" (SP-192). During her wartime duties, the Navy assigned her to Thomas A. Edison, who conducted experimental ocean communications work during secret cruises to the Caribbean. She later operated as a harbor patrol craft in the Third Naval District until the US Navy returned her to Mr. Metcalf in February 1919. Mr. Metcalf later sold her to Philadelphia banker Roland L. Taylor."

[super6]

This from Hampshire Council's website, 24 July 2013:

http://www3.hants.go...d War I warship

Next meeting on the subject is tomorrow.

Apparently they have lots of meetings, lets hope that the significant centenary that's just around the corner will stir them in to life action. only time will tell, fingers crossed.

[trajan]

She's made the Turkish Newspapers!

"IN PHOTOS: Last Gallipoli warship unravels myths of WWI disaster" - at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/in-photos-last-gallipoli-warship-unravels-myths-of-wwi-disaster.aspx?pageID=238&nID=81297&NewsCatID=351

Some good photographs, but the text could do with improving...

Trajan