HMS Sentinel (BM-1929)
One class of vessel that had proved useful during WW1 had been the Monitor,
gunnery support vessels. At the end of the war the ones that had proved not so
good were hastily scrapped. This left only the two Erebus class ships as
effective units of the type. The conversion of the two Lion class battlecruisers
to hybrid seaplane carriers left four twin 13.5" turrets that could be used to
build a new class of monitors. They were to be 9,000 ton vessels, and with a
maximum speed of 15 knots. A gesture of 3.5" armour around the magazines and
propulsion system was made. It was the armoured deck that was given full measure
with a 3" deck being fitted. Because of their speed, the four vessels were to be
spread around the Empire to provide support where necessary. The first unit HMS
Skirmisher was completed in 1928, the second HMS Sentinel in 1929, the third HMS
Saracen in 1931 and lastly HMS Scourge in 1932. One was to be based at Malta and
Singapore with the last two kept in home waters.
All four were lost during WW2:
Skirmisher, in 1940 off the Dunkirk beaches, by Stuka dive bombers.
Sentinel, in 1942 in support of the Dieppe landings by JU-88 bombers
Saracen, in 1943 in support of the Anzio landings by glider bomb.
Scourge, in 1942 trying to reach Australia through the Lombok Strait, torpedoed
by Japanese destroyers.