HMS Erebus (I02)

HMS Erebus (I02)

HMS Erebus was a World War I monitor launched on 19 June 1916 and served in both world wars. She and her sister HMS Terror are known as the Erebus class. They were named for the two bomb ketches sent to investigate the Northwest Passage and subsequently lost in 1845.

Monitors were designed as stable gun platforms with a shallow draft to allow operations close inshore in support of land operations and were not intended to contest naval battles. Erebus was equipped with two 15 inch /42 (381 mm) guns (removed from HMS Marshal Ney) in a single forward turret mounted on a tall barbette to extend the range of fire (up to 40,000 yards (22.7 miles/36.5 km)).

The Erebus class were designed to outrange German World War I heavy shore batteries and they were also fitted with highly effective anti-torpedo bulges on each side of the hull.