Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Chapter · 31:40-35:16

M29 class: emergency construction and M33's survival

The M29 class turned surplus Queen Elizabeth-class casemate guns into compact, shallow-draught monitors; M33 is its sole surviving example.

6-inch GunsCasemate GunsHMS M30HMS M33M29 Class MonitorsNaval MonitorsOil Fired BoilersQueen Elizabeth Class BattleshipsRoyal NavyTriple Expansion EnginesWar Emergency ProgrammeWorld War I
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Notes

Ordered under the March 1915 emergency warship programme, the M29 class used six-inch guns left over after the Queen Elizabeth class's aft casemates proved unworkable. Each monitor also carried a six-pounder and a three-inch gun. Yarrow oil-fired boilers and twin-screw triple-expansion machinery were close to commercial designs and could be obtained quickly. The ships reached about 10 knots and drew only 2.06 metres, allowing them to work close inshore. M30 was the class's only First World War loss, sunk on 14 May 1916. M33 remains the class's only surviving example.