Abercrombie and Roberts were two monitors completed for the Royal
Navy during the second world war using 15" guns. The Roberts used
the guns from the old Marshall Ney whose machinery had been troublesome
from the start and whose hull was found to be unsuitable for
re-commissioning during the second world war. The Roberts was used for
shore bombardment during the Normandy landings in 1944, and to support
the army in the period following this for as long as her guns' range
allowed.
Displacement:
7973 tons standard and 9150 tons deep load. Speed: 12.5 Knots.
Compliment: 442 / 460 Armament: Two 15-inch Guns, Eight 4-inch 45 caliber
QF AA guns in pairs and Sixteen 2 pounder Pom Pom (one of eight
and two of Four guns). Built by John Brown, on the Clyde, laid down on
the 30th April 1940, Launched 1st February 1941, and completed 27th October
1941. HMS Roberts was hit by 2 1100 Il bombs but her armour withstood
the bombing although a lot of damage was caused. HMS Roberts
was used more during world war two than her sister ship HMS
Abercrombie. and in July 1945 an extra eight single 40mm Bofors
added. she was finally scrapped at Inverkeithing in July 1965.
HMS
Abercrombie was built by Vickers Armstrong Parsons on the Tyne,
Laid down on the 26th of April 1941 and launched 31st march 1943 and
completed 5th May 1943, Displacement: 8536 tons standard and
9717 tons deep load. Speed: 12.5 Knots. Compliment: 442 /
460 Armament: Two 15-inch Guns, Eight 4-inch 45 caliber QF AA guns
in pairs and Sixteen 2 pounder Pom Pom (one of eight and two of
Four guns). She was twice damaged by moored mines during the war. and finally
Scrapped at barrow on the 24th December 1954.
The information above is courtesy of Alan Huxtable.
