Aphis 1915
Aphis 1939
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Aphis | T57 | Ailsa, Troon | 1915 | 15/9/1915 | 1915 | BU 1/1947 |
| Bee | Ailsa, Troon | 1915 | 8/12/1915 | 1916 | sold 3/1939 | |
| Cicala | T71 | Barclay Curle, Glasgow | 1915 | 10/12/1915 | 1916 | sunk 21/12/1941 |
| Cockchafer | T72 | Barclay Curle, Glasgow | 1915 | 16/12/1915 | 1916 | BU 1/1947 |
| Cricket | T75 | Barclay Curle, Glasgow | 1915 | 16/12/1915 | 1916 | sunk 29/6/1941 |
| Glowworm | Barclay Curle, Glasgow | 1915 | 5/2/1916 | 1916 | BU 9/1928 | |
| Gnat | T60 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1915 | 3/12/1915 | 12/1915 | sunk 21/10/1941 |
| Ladybird | T58 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1915 | 12/4/1916 | 5/1916 | sunk 12/5/1941 |
| Mantis | T70 | Sunderland SB | 1915 | 14/9/1915 | 1915 | BU 1/1940 |
| Moth | T69 | Sunderland SB | 1915 | 9/10/1915 | 1/1916 | scuttled 12/12/1941 |
| Scarab | T59 | Wood Skinner, Newcastle | 1915 | 7/10/1915 | 1915 | BU 5/1948 |
| Tarantula | T62 | Wood Skinner, Newcastle | 1915 | 18/12/1915 | 1916 | scuttled 1/5/1946 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
645 |
|
Displacement full, t |
750 |
|
Length, m |
72.4 |
|
Breadth, m |
11.0 |
|
Draught, m |
1.20 |
|
No of shafts |
2 in tunnels |
|
Machinery |
VTE, 2 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
2000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
14 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 35 + oil 54 Glowworm: oil 74 Moth: oil 76 |
|
Armament |
Aphis: 2 x 1 - 152/40 QF Mk I, 2 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA, 6 x 1 - 7.7/94 Bee: 1 x 1 - 152/40 QF Mk I, 2 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA, 6 x 1 - 7.7/94 Ladybird: 2 x 1 - 152/40 QF Mk I, 3 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA, 6 x 1 - 7.7/94 others: 2 x 1 - 152/40 QF Mk I, 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA, 1 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 6 x 1 - 7.7/94 |
|
Complement |
54 - 65 |
Ship project history: Aphis class gunboats were created for scrambling against Austro-Hungarian monitors on Danube. In building with a view of conspiracy they were called "Gunboats for Chinese rivers". Gunboats of class were limited seaworthy.
Modernizations: 1916, Cicala, Cockchafer, Cricket, Glowworm: + 1 x 1 - 152/40 QF MkII HA
1917, Cicala, Cockchafer, Cricket, Glowworm: - 1 x 1 - 152/40 QF MkII HA
1920s, Aphis, Bee: - 1 x 1 - 76/40
1920s, Ladybird: - 2 x 1 - 76/40
1920s, Cicala, Cockchafer, Cricket, Glowworm, Gnat, Mantis, Moth, Scarab, Tarantula: - 1 x 1 - 40/39
1940, Aphis, Cockchafer, Gnat, Scarab, Tarantula: + 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom
1940, Cricket: + 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 2 x 1 - 20/65 M1939
1940, Ladybird: + 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 1 x 1 - 20/65 M1939
Naval service: Cicala, Cockchafer, Cricket and Glowworm served in coast defence of Home waters, remaining have been shipped on Mesopotamic front. After Armistice first four participated in actions against the Soviet Russia in the north seas, and Glowworm 24/5/1919 was badly damaged because of explosion of the barge with an ammunition on Northern Dvina. Ships of the class served in the WWII. On Mediterranean sea three gunboats were lost: Ladybird and Cricket were sunk at Tobruk by German aircraft 12/5/1941 and 30/6/1941 respectively; Gnat was sunk by German submarine U79 at Bardia 21/10/1941. Two more gunboats were lost in the Far East: Cicala was sunk by Japanese aircraft 21/12/1941 at Hong Kong. Moth was scuttled by own crew at Hong Kong 12/12/1941. Later Japanese have salvaged latter, have repaired and commissioned as Suma.
Cockchafer mid-1920s
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10