Erebus-class monitor


The Erebus class of warships was a class of 20th century Royal Navy monitors armed with a main battery of two 15-inch /42 Mk 1 guns in a single turret. It consisted of two vessels, 'Erebus' and 'Terror'. Both were launched in 1916 and saw active service in World War I off the Belgian coast. After being placed in reserve between the wars, they served in World War II, with Terror being lost in 1941 and Erebus surviving to be scrapped in 1946.

Ships

The class was to see most of its service in the naval gunfire support role. During World War I, they operated off the German-occupied Belgian coast bombarding naval forces based at Ostend and Zeebrugge. Erebus was damaged by a remote controlled explosive motor boat and Terror was torpedoed by motor torpedo boats.
Both ships were placed in reserve between the wars but returned to service in World War II, when they were again used to provide fire support to British troops.
Erebus participated in the D-Day invasion as part of Task Force O off Omaha beach.

In popular culture

1965 novel H.M.S. Saracen is a fictional account of the service of an Erebus class monitor in the Mediterranean Sea in both World Wars.