HMS M16

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS M16
Builder	William Gray, Hartlepool.
Laid down	1 March 1915
Launched	3 May 1915
Fate	Sold 29 January 1920
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	2 shaft Triple expansion steam engines 800 hp (600 kW)
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h)
Complement	69
Armament	As built 1 × BL 9.2-inch Mk X gun 1 × 12-pdr (76 mm) QF Mk 1 gun 1 × 6-pdr (57 mm) QF MK 1 AA gun 1918 1 × BL 9.2-inch Mk X gun 1 × QF 3-inch (76.20 mm) AA gun

HMS M16 was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor.

Design

Originally intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M16's primary armament was a single 9.2 inch Mk X gun which had been held as a spare for the Drake-class cruiser and Cressy-class cruiser. 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 Triple Expansion steam engines rated to 800 horse power that allowed a top speed of eleven knots. The monitor's crew consisted of sixty nine officers and men.

Construction

HMS M16 was ordered in March, 1915, as part of the War Emergency Programme of ship construction. She was laid down at the William Gray shipyard at Hartlepool in March 1915, launched on 3 May 1915, and completed in June 1915.

World War 1

M16 served in the Mediterranean from July 1915 to October 1918.

Disposal

M16 was sold on 29 January 1920 for mercantile service as an oil tanker with Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co, and renamed 'Tiga'.

References

• Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J., "British Warships 1914-1919", (Ian Allan, London, 1972),