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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2007

HMS TERROR - Erebus-class 15in gun Monitor
HMS Terror (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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EREBUS-Class Monitor ordered from Harland & Wolff at Belfast on 29th July 1915 and laid down on 26th October that year. She was launched on 18th May 1915 as the 9th RN warship to carry this name which was introduced in 1696 for a Bomb Vessel and last used in 1901 when given to an iron troopship used as a Base Ship at Bermuda in place of the name MALABAR until sold in 1914. Build of this monitor was completed on 6th August 1916 and she made a significant contribution to naval gunfire support of military operations in Flanders during WW1. She was stationed at Singapore when hostilities commenced against Germany in September 1939. Owing to her loss in February 1941 the ship was never adopted by a civil community in the UK as part of the WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

VELEZ MALAGA 1704 - COPENHAGEN 1801 - BELGIAN COAST 1916-18 - ZEEBRUGGE 1918 -

LIBYA 1941 -  MEDITERRANEAN 1941

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black, a Greek tragic mask, White,

with hair Red. and mouth Gold.

 

M o t t o

Vobis non Nobis:  '(Terror) to you not us'

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r    S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Deployed as Base Ships at Singapore.

to                            (Note: Under refit during which the secondary armament of eight 4in Low Angle

December              mountings was replaced by six 3in AA mountings and side plating was fitted on

                                main deck to provide more accommodation.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Recalled to UK and took passage via Mediterranean with call in Malta.

to                            Retained in Mediterranean in view of likelihood of war with Italy

May                        Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Malta during which Upper Deck and Main

                                Deck armour was increased.

                                On completion deployed with Mediterranean Fleet

 

June                        Deployed in Malta with HM River Gunboats APHIS, GNAT and LADYBIRD

                11th        Under air attack in Malta

 

July                         Transferred to Alexandria for deployment in support of shore military operations with

to                            HMS APHIS, HMS GNAT and HMS LADYBIRD as Inshore Squadron.

August

 

September             Provided naval gunfire support with Inshore Squadron ships against Italian army

                                advance in Western Desert.

 

October                  Inshore Squadron deployment at Alexandria in continuation.

 

November              Deployed in Malta

                11th        Passage from Malta to Suda Bay, Crete with HM Destroyer VENDETTA (RAN) and

                                four mercantiles.

                                Later returned to Alexandria for Inshore Squadron duties.

 

December              Deployed with HMS APHIS, HMS GNAT and HMS LADYBIRD to provide naval

                gunfire support at Sidi Barrani as Force A during 8th Army advance.

                (Note: HM Australian Destroyers VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and VOYAGER were also

                deployed as Force B and operation was covered by ships of Mediterranean Fleet

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Inshore Squadron deployment in continuation

                                (Note: Some captured Italian 20mm guns were fitted to supplement AA defence.)

                21st         Provided naval gunfire support with River Gunboats of Squadron to assist ANZAC troops

                                during advance towards Tobruk. Australian destroyers were deployed as cover.

               

 

February                Deployed off coast of Egypt and Libya in support of military operations with ships of

                                Squadron

                17th        Arrived at Benghazi.

                22nd       On departure slightly damaged by two mines detonated during passage from harbour.

                                (Note: These had been laid a few hours earlier by an He 111 aircraft.)

                23rd        Under air attack by three Ju88 aircraft which arrived after the single HURRICANE

                aircraft providing air cover had left for base.

                Serious damage caused resulting in some flooding.

                HM Minesweeper FAREHAM and HM Corvette SALVIA sent to provide escort

                during passage for repair.

                24th        Personnel transferred to HMS FAREHAM and HMS SALVIA before ship sank in

                position 32.04N 24.05E.

                There were no fatal casualties.

                (Note: One source records ship was scuttled due to extent of flooding and another

                records only sinking. (see addendum)

                See WARSHIP LOSSES by P Kemp and THE NAVAL WAR IN THE

                MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani.)

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e

 

This name was reintroduced for the Singapore Naval Base in May 1946 and remained in commission until 1972 when RN personnel left Malaya.

 

 

Addendum

 

CONFIRMED SCUTTLING of HMS TERROR

by Cheryl Lombard

Researching the career of HMS TERROR in World War 2, I can confirm that she was scuttled. My father, the late Lieut Cmdr John A W Kellar DSM RN actually scuttled her. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his bravery.
 

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