X Lighters

[wiblic]

I have just joined the site and am interested in finding information on the use of X/K Lighters.  These were used at Gallipoli and later in Salonika for landing and transportation of troops and equipment, water lighters and I have seen a picture of one set up as a water ambulance.

In addition to the deployment of these vessels I would like to find out information on how they were organised? How were they moved from theatre to theatre? Did they operate as a flotilla or as individual vessels? Where did their crews come from, how were they selected and what special training would they have received? Did they have particular bases/depot ships to operate from and what support units would they have for maintenance and control? 

I have seen pictures of the vessels but have been unable to find much background to them. I know they were only minor vessels not like a "real" warship so records for them are probably minimal. But would appreciate any information or leads.

Cheers Wiblic

[KizmeRD]

For more info, try this link..,

http://www.xlighter.org/

MB

[michaeldr]

From the Mitchell Report (REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE THE ATTACKS DELIVERED ON AND THE ENEMY DEFENCES OF THE DARDANELLES STRAITS. 1919)

(p. 247/8)
“The arrival of motor lighters during July, each capable of carrying 500 men, and designed for running close to a beach and landing men or animals over a prow fixed to the bows, had materially altered the problem of landing a large force on an open beach since the days of the landing at Cape Helles and Anzac. 
Thirteen of these lighters were available for the Suvla landing, of which 10 in conjunction with 10 destroyers for towing them from Imbros, which also carried about 500 men apiece, could transport 10,000 men of the 11th Division simultaneously and land them in two flights of 5,000 men each.
The remaining 3,000 men of title division were to be transported from Imbros to Suvla in two cruisers, one sloop and three trawlers, and landed by the motor lighters after disembarking their own troops and those from the destroyers. Eight field guns and eight mountain guns together with 212 horses were to be transported in the remaining motor lighters and in horse-boats towed by the sloops and a trawler. A further eight field guns and 76 horses were to leave Imbros in horse-boats an hour after the above.
The 10th division, less one brigade already landed at Anzac, were to arrive at Suvla from Port Iero and Mudros at daylight on 7th in troop carriers, and be disembarked by motor lighters on arrival.”

These vessels are often referred to as 'motor lighters' (see above) to distinguish them from the Navy's more usual dumb (or none-motorised) lighters. Later they were also often referred to as 'K' lighters.

NB: there was also a design difference, the dumb lighters having more draught – see the remark p.399 “Dumb lighters are impracticable for this purpose (landing troops), as they draw too much water. To enable dumb lighters to be used it is necessary to have some sort of pier.”
The above remark is immediately followed by:
“With regard to the supply of a special type of boat for landing troops, the despatch of the motor lighters, commonly known as the K lighters, was a direct result of the experience gained from the Helles and Anzac landings. The Suvla landing operations were greatly facilitated by the use of this type of lighter, which proved eminently suitable. An ample provision of these should, therefore, be made for future operations.”
Also noted a little later: “A matter to be borne in mind in using motor lighters is that the strain on the (500) troops is greatly increased as a result of their close confinement on board.”
One further remark worth noting: 
“... it must be remembered that all the landings on Gallipoli took place without interference from enemy aircraft. Should it be anticipated that troops will be exposed to aerial attack whilst landing, the problem is at once altered and the open boat and horseboat will invite the certainty of heavy casualties. In this event, troops must be kept between decks until the moment of disembarkation, the massing of troops on the decks of destroyers and trawlers, as was done at Gallipoli, cannot be allowed and they must be conveyed to shore in covered and protected craft such as the motor lighters referred to above.” 

At the evacuation of Helles there were 25 motor lighters in use – see Eastern Mediterranean Squadron Memorandum No. 266, of 3rd January, 1916 [Already at Helles, 6; already at Kephalo, 5;  plus 14 provided by SNO Mudros - to be sent to Kephalo, 9; in reserve at Mudros, 5]

8 hours ago, wiblic said:

These were used at Gallipoli and later in Salonika for landing and transportation of troops and equipment, water lighters and I have seen a picture of one set up as a water ambulance.

I'm not sure that they were ever used as 'water lighters' at Gallipoli. Dumb lighters would have been more suitable for that particular job

8 hours ago, wiblic said:

How were they moved from theatre to theatre?

They were towed from place to place and their motors were only used for manoeuvring at the beach, the pier or in port, etc. [K51 was wrecked at Gully Beach in the storm during the evacuation because her tow was cast off before she got her engine started]

Edited 22 February , 2023 by michaeldr

[KizmeRD]

When I was a schoolboy, there used to be a former X-lighter* (heavily modified into a sort of houseboat) moored on the River Stour in Sandwich, I believe it also went over to Dunkirk during WW2. I hope it’s still a survivor!

MB

* the X44, sold in 1921 to James Dredging & Towage and again in 1936 to F W Horlock Ocean Transport, where she moved aggregates along the east coast. In 1939/40, the craft was requisitioned and used as a tender at Scapa Flow until being returned post-war. In the 1980s she was converted into a houseboat. 

Edited 22 February , 2023 by KizmeRD

[michaeldr]

Re the origin of motor lighters (aka Beetles, 'X' or 'K' etc) see the official history 'Military Operations Gallipoli' by Aspinal-Oglander, Vol. I, p.67/8  
On 16 February 1915 an 'impromptu' session of the War Council took place where decisions were made re a large military force for the Dardanelles. These included that the Admiralty would “collect small craft, tugs and lighters in the Levant”
A footnote also relates that a further 
“decision arrived at on this day was to build special transports and lighters for, landing 50,000 men. This decision related, however, to projected operations in the Baltic at a later date...”
though afterwards the motor lighters were sent to the Dardanelles in time for the Suvla landing

The vessels which eventually arrived in July 1915, were “large flat bottomed boats, fitted with oil (diesel) engines giving them a speed of 5-7 knots; and their sides and decks, plated with 3/8th-inch steel, were proof against rifle-bullets and shrapnel. They could carry 500 men or 40 horses; they drew seven feet of water aft when loaded; and their bows were fitted with a long ramp, across which, if the beach were 'steep-to', the troops could dash ashore almost dry-shod.”

In March 1915, Hamilton had already found out about these vessels and telegraphed Lord Kitchener asking for them, with the intention of using them during the original Gallipoli landings, but Kitchener's reply was negative. [However, it is not clear to me if K ever tried to persuade Fisher to part with them at this earlier stage]

Edited 22 February , 2023 by michaeldr

[KizmeRD]

I believe that Commander Unwin was the officer-in-charge of the ‘beetles’ (X-lighters) during the landings at Sulva, and that RN volunteers were used to crew them (often with a young Midshipman in charge).

MB

[wiblic]

Hi all.

Thank you for your replies . You have provided some food for thought. I have an interest in amphibious warfare and the development of Landing Craft. During WW2 Combined Operations Command was set up to develop, train equip for the needs of landings. Special training bases were established for Landing Craft crews and a large range of types of Landing Craft were built for various purposes. Admittedly the need was more urgent then and the scale being prepared for was greater.

I have never seen the structure behind the development and use of the X Lighters in WW1. They were the first of the modern self-propelled Landing Craft designed for over the beach landing of troops, horses and heavy equipment. They just seem to have happened, based on some vague idea they might be useful for landings on the Baltic Coast, then along came Gallipoli and they were deployed after an initial refusal to make them available. The real purpose and infrastructure for their use just doesn't appear to have been developed or any work done has been poorly recorded, forgotten, or lost.

Again. Thank You and Cheers

Wiblic

[michaeldr]

8 hours ago, wiblic said:

I have never seen the structure behind the development and use of the X Lighters in WW1.

As I mentioned previously, the order for these motorised lighters appears to have originated at the War Cabinet meeting on 16 February 1915.
These are the minutes as recorded by Hankey and as given in Gilbert's work on Churchill, Vol. III, Companion (the first volume)

Though unmentioned at this point there is no doubt that they were part of Fisher's great Baltic plan for a landing on

“a stretch of ten miles of hard sand on the Pomeranian coast which is only ninety miles from Berlin. Were the British army to seize and entrench that strip a million Germans would find occupation...” (Fisher in 1909, per Vol. II of Bacon's biography) 
Bacon also quotes Fisher saying later that

“It is the Russians we want to enter Berlin, not the French or the English. The unparalleled Armada of 612 vessels constructed to carry out this decisive act in the decisive theatre of the war was diverted and perverted to the damned Dardanelles.”
Where Fisher got the figure of “612 vessels” from is not clear, however it is certain that the Baltic plan was the scheme originally requiring these motorised lighters. 

[michaeldr]

As an example of how the motor lighters were employed during the Suvla landing, the following is taken from OPERATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH LANDING OF 10th  AND llth DIVISIONS. “Triad," 6th August, 1915 (as given in the Mitchell Report p.273>):-

 

For the Landing at “B.”
  
Seven destroyers, each with a motor lighter and a picket boat in tow, will proceed from Imbros at a time to be notified later. All vessels being completely darkened, they will approach the beach in line abreast, one and a half cables apart, taking care not to close in on each other. They will be guided by the searchlight of the left flanking destroyer of the Anzac patrol, which will be observed to be at anchor at 104 v 7. 
On arriving as close to the beach as possible (observing that it is believed to be free from dangers), they will slip their motor lighters and picket boats and ease down their anchors. No signals are to be made. 
Note.—Assuming the left flank destroyer of the Anzac patrol to be in her correct position (104 v 7), the destroyers should anchor approximately south-east from her, but in any case, they should come in as close to the beach as possible. 
All motor lighters (with their picket boats in attendance) carrying the way they have on, or using their own power, as necessary, will take the beach and discharge direct on to it 
Directly they are empty, they will haul off from the beach, and proceeding under their own power, each go alongside their own destroyer and disembark the troops from these latter in the same way. The attending picket boats will be standing by the motor lighters ready to prevent them from getting broadside on to the beach, and must also be prepared to take a line from their motor lighters back to their own destroyers to assist them in getting off the beach. Nothing is to be put into the picket boats, and they are not to carry troops. 
These ketches and tows will afterwards be used for evacuating the wounded, and, as this will involve plying between the new landing and Kephalo, Captain (S.) should detail good steamers for this service. 
4. - "Endymion " and "Theseus," each carrying 1,000 men, sailing from Imbros at a time to be notified later, will arrive to seaward of the destroyers, and being completely darkened, will ease down their anchors in a position as near to the beach as is consistent with safety. 
As soon as the men from the destroyers have all been landed, six motor lighters will proceed to "Endymion" and “Theseus," three to each ship, and will land the men from them in the same way. Commander Edward Unwin, in charge of all motor lighters, will detail the motor lighter from the northernmost destroyer of the "B" landing to proceed, together with her attendant picket boat, alongside the sloop "Aster," which will be found in company with the ketches at "C" (see para. 5). just to northward of the anchored left flank Anzac patrol destroyer (see para. 2), who will still be showing her searchlight on the land.  … … …

Personnel, Matériel, etc. 

7. - Each motor lighter employed in the operations is to carry six able seamen or ordinary seamen in addition to her proper crew. Five of the 10 picket boats accompanying the motor lighters for the landings at " A ” and ” B ” will carry a lieutenant and a maxim gun. 
All steamboats are to have full crews, and if available, a midshipman is to be in charge of each. They are to be coaled and watered to their fullest capacity and the crews are to take with them food for two days from the time they leave Imbros. 
All pulling boats, including the 30 transport lifeboats, are to carry a coxswain and four hands. 
The Naval transport officer at Kephalo will arrange that the "Krini” (or another large water tank), with a water lighter in tow, arrives at "A" at daylight on a date to be notified later. These tanks will return to Imbros to replenish from the water ship in the usual manner. 
Four service launches equipped for carrying wounded will be ready in reserve at Kephalo; they will be sent over if required by the first ketch employed in transportation of wounded from the Peninsula. One powerful salvage tug to be detailed by the senior naval officer, Mudros, is to be held in readiness at Kephalo during the operations. 
Rear-Admiral, H.M.S. " Swiftsure,” is responsible for detailing the various ratings referred to in this paragraph. … … … …

10. - When the disembarkations at “A” "B" and "C" are completed. Commander Unwin will assemble the motor lighters and select a safe anchorage for them, protected from gunfire, where they will be at hand for their work of landing the troops arriving at "A” at dawn. Captains of motor lighters are to be cautioned to have a good look-out kept in the bows when plying with troops at night and to do their utmost to avoid collision with other motor lighters, etc. "Endymion" and "Theseus” and all the destroyers when they are cleared of troops, will proceed independently to their appointed stations for carrying out the remainder of the operations. 

[michaeldr]

The following table appears attached to Braithwaite's order INSTRUCTIONS FOR GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING 9th ARMY CORPS 29 July 1915

[michaeldr]

Plate 44 from the Mitchell Report

Edited 23 February , 2023 by michaeldr