NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Humber 1915

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Humber (ex-Javary)	N15, M00, M06	433	Vickers, Barrow	24.8.1912	17.6.1913	11.1913 // 8.1914	sold 9.1920
Severn (ex-Solimoes)	D70, M2A	434	Vickers, Barrow	24.8.1912	19.8.1913	1.1914 // 8.1914	sold for BU 5.1921
Mersey (ex-Madeira)	P62, M1A, M10	435	Vickers, Barrow	24.8.1912	30.9.1913	2.1914 // 8.1914	sold for BU 5.1921

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	1260
Displacement full, t	1520
Length, m	81.3
Breadth, m	14.9
Draught, m	1.70 deep
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 2 boilers
Power, h. p.	1450
Max speed, kts	9.5
Fuel, t	coal 187 + oil 90
Endurance, nm(kts)	4000(8)
Armour, mm	belt: 76 - 38, bulkheads: 38, barbette: 89, turret face: 102
Armament	1 x 2 - 152/50 BL Mk XIV/XV, 2 x 1 - 120/18 Mk I howitzers, 4 x 1 - 47/50 3pdr Vickers Mk II, 6 x 1 - 7.7/87
Complement	140

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Three small river monitors had been ordered by Brazil from Vickers in January 1912, and the first, Javary, had started trials in October 1913. All three were ready by February 1914, but by this time the Brazilian Navy could not afford to pay for them and they were laid up in the Devonshire Dock at Barrow awaiting a buyer. Just before the outbreak of war the Admiralty made arrangements to buy them for £155,000 each to prevent them from falling into enemy hands, and they were formally taken over on 3 August 1914. Although nominally capable of 12kts none of them achieved double figures in RN service, although Javary had reached 11.5kts in 1913. They were totally unsuited to operate in the open sea, as their shallow draught permitted them to be blown sideways.

Protection

Machinery and magazine were protected by 76-38mm belt and 38mm bulkheads.

Modernizations

9-10/1914, all: additional 25mm plating over the magazine; + 1 x 1 - 47/50 3pdr Vickers Mk I (AA)

end 1914, Severn, Mersey: - 1 x 2 - 152/50; + 2 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk VII (one fwd and aft)

12/1914, Humber: + 1 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk VII

1919, Humber: - 1 x 1 - 47/50; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I

Naval service

All three monitors were paid off in 1919. Humber was sold in September 1920 to Dutch salvage company, converted to crane barge and was broken up after WWII.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.