 HMSLadybird atPort Said in November 1917 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSLadybird |
| Launched | 1916 |
| Fate | Sunk in shallow water 12 May 1941, used as anti-aircraft position. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Insect-classgunboat |
| Displacement | 625 long tons (635 t) |
| Length | 237 ft 6 in (72.39 m) |
| Beam | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Draught | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 shaft VTE engines, 2Yarrow type mixed firing boilers 2000 IHP |
| Speed | 14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
| Complement | 55 |
| Armament |
|
| Armour | Improvised |
HMSLadybird was anInsect-classgunboat of theRoyal Navy,launched in 1916. This class is also referred to as "large China gunboats". Originally built to patrol theRiver Danube during theFirst World War, she sailed for China from Malta in February 1927 to serve on theYangtze River.
On 12 December 1937,Ladybird, along withBee became involved in thePanay incident and came under fire from a Japaneseartillery unit nearWuhu on theYangtze River.Ladybird was hit by six shells andBee dodged one as she came upon the scene.Ladybird was not badly damaged and withBee picked up survivors from the sunkUSS Panay.
In 1939 the original pair of6-inch (152 mm) Mk VII 45-calibre guns was replaced by more modern and 30 inches (760 mm) longer6-inch Mk XIII 50-calibre guns from the decommissionedbattleshipHMS Agincourt.
Ladybird was allocated toSingapore in 1940 and then, along with five others of the class, stripped down and towed to theMediterranean Sea. During the journey she sustained damage which meant she was limited to a speed of 7knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) due to a misalignedhull. She was initially used to guardPort Said.
In late December 1940 and early January 1941Ladybird was engaged at close range,bombarding the Italian port ofBardia in Libya, in support of theAlliedCapture of Bardia on 5 January 1941 as part ofOperation Compass.
On 25 February 1941 she landed aRoyal Marines unit duringOperation Abstention, an ill-fated attempt to seize the Italian island ofKastelorizo, where she was hit by an aerial bomb. Later, acting in support of theTobruk garrison, she shelled theGazala airfield and ferried in supplies. During this duty, on 12 May 1941, she was severely damaged bydive bombers and set on fire, settling on an evenkeel in 10 feet (3.0 m) of water. Still above water, her 3-inch (76 mm) gun was used as ananti-aircraft gun;HMS Gnat replacedLadybird in supporting Tobruk.
32°4′33″N23°58′21″E / 32.07583°N 23.97250°E /32.07583; 23.97250
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in May 1941 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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