Greypowerful
Enjoying my dotage
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2013
- Posts
- 3,047
Yes, but - HMS Roberts was a WW2 monitor completed 1941, more seaworthy and faster than the WW1 monitor that was supposed to be HMS Saracen.
HMS Roberts is actually closer to the fictional HMS Saracen than the WW1 monitors, some of which couldn't make enough headway to steer against a strong tide. Some of the WW1 monitors had a notional top speed of 6 knots but rarely achieved that even in perfect conditions.
Quote from Jane's Fighting Ships of WW1: These monitors are extremely slow and unwieldy - in fact against a strong head wind and sea they can only make 1 or 2 knots. (HMS General Crawford and HMS Sir John Moore)
HMS Marshal Ney and HMS Marshal Soult had experimental Diesel engines which were so unreliable that Ney was moored in Dover as a stationary guard ship. Even when the engines worked they were slower than Crawford and Moore...
But HMS Roberts was very useful on and immediately after D-Day, bombarding German positions and tank formations.
I knew none of this. Thanks!
My Grandfather was RNR. Commanded salvage tugs, mostly... was apparently involved in Operation "Pedestal"- though I can't seem to find out the particulars... Also, was in charge of a good chunk of "Mulberry" placement - not sure if it was the Arromanches site, or the other one.
Love the Sir Peter the Russian av, btw.