HMS Roberts (Mon-1941)

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The two Roberts class monitors were built using the two spare turrets that had been retained for the R Class and Queen Elizabeth Class battleships. With the R class being rebuilt there was no further use for a spare turret for them. With the loss of the Marshal Ney and Terror, two new ships were put into production. HMS Roberts and HMS Abercrombie. This was the same design for a 15" gunned monitor, as had been supplied to the Southern African Navy with appropriate changes for 13.5" guns. The extra 25 feet of length was put to good use in upgrading the heavy AA armament from four twin 4" open mounts, to six 4.5" BD mountings.

One of the ships more bizarre actions was the engagement with a Germanic states armoured regiment, 75mm Anti-Tank shells and 150mm HE rounds from tanks and self-propelled guns hitting the ship while the ship replied with the 4.5" and 15". It was a bit one-sided. The ship forced the withdrawal of the regiment and denied access to the coastal road the ship was protecting, till the Luftwaffe could be summoned.


 

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