HMS M23

History
Name:	HMS M23
Builder:	Sir Raylton Dixon & Co.
Laid down:	1 March 1915
Launched:	17 June 1915
Fate:	Broken Up 1959
General characteristics
Class & type:	M15 class monitor
Displacement:	540 tons
Length:	177 ft 3 in (54.03 m)
Beam:	31 ft (9.4 m)
Draught:	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Propulsion:	4-shaft Bolinder 4-cylinder semi-diesel 640 hp
Speed:	11 knots
Complement:	69
Armament:	As built 1 × BL 9.2 inch Mk VI gun 1 × 12pdr (76mm) QF Mk 1 gun 1 × 6 pdr (57mm) QF MK 1 AA gun 1918 1 × BL 7.5-inch (190.5 mm) Mk III 50-caliber gun 1 × QF 3-inch (76.20 mm) AA gun 1 × 12pdr (76mm) QF Mk 1 gun 2 × QF 2-pounder Mark II

HMS M23 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. After service in the Mediterranean and the Dover Patrol, she was also served in the British intervention in Russia in 1919. Converted to the RNVR drillship Claverhouse in 1922, she served in that capacity at Dundee until 1958.

Design

Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M23's primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk VI gun removed from the Edgar-class cruiser HMS Grafton.^[1] In addition to her 9.2-inch gun, she also possessed one 12 pounder and one six pound anti-aircraft gun. She was equipped with a four-shaft Bolinder four-cylinder semi-diesel engine with 640 horsepower that allowed a top speed of eleven knots. The monitor's crew consisted of sixty-nine officers and men.

Construction

HMS M23 ordered in March, 1915, as part of the War Emergency Programme of ship construction. She was laid down at the Sir Raylton Dixon & Co. Ltd shipyard at Govan in March 1915, launched on 17 June 1915, and completed in July 1915.

World War 1

M23 served initially in the Mediterranean from October 1915. On her return from the Mediterranean in May 1917, M23 had her main 9.2in gun removed, as it was required for artillery use on the Western Front, and a BL 7.5-inch (190.5 mm) Mk III 50-caliber gun was fitted in lieu.

M23 then served with the Dover Patrol from June 1917 to June 1918.

Russia

M23 next saw service in support of the North Russian Expeditionary Force. Prior to departure, she had her two QF 2-pounder Mark II and her 12pdr (76mm) QF Mk 1 gun replaced by AA guns.

RNVR Claverhouse

M23 returned to Sheerness in November 1919. In August 1922 she moved to Dundee, where she became a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) drillship, and was renamed Claverhouse on 16 December 1922. She served in this capacity until sold in 1959. She arrived at Charlestown, Fife on 21 April 1959 for breaking up.

References

1. Randal Gray (ed). Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906–1921. Conway Maritime Press. p. 48. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
• Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J., "British Warships 1914–1919", (Ian Allen, London, 1972), ISBN 0-7110-0380-7