Dates: 1916 - 1946
During World War I Erebus bombarded German naval forces based at the Belgian ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge. She was damaged by a remote controlled German FL-boat on 28 October 1917. In 1919 Erebus took part in the British Invasion of Russia providing gunfire support in the White Sea and in the Baltic Sea.
World War II
In 1921 The Erebus took part in gunnery trials against the surrendered German battleship Baden. She then served as a gunnery training ship between the two world wars. The Erebus had a refit, completed in August 1939, and was earmarked as guardship at Cape Town, but due to the outbreak of war this never materialised.
In the early war years, Erebus served with the Eastern Fleet and the Mediterranean Fleet, where she was used to run supplies to besieged Tobruk and bombard enemy concentrations. In 1943 she was damaged while bombarding Sicily during the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Erebus was used for coastal bombardment during the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944, firing at the batteries at Barfleur en La Pernelle. She suffered one 15-inch gun destroyed due to a premature explosion of the HE round in the bore.
On the 10 August 1944, she was used against the defenders of the harbour at Le Havre. She was damaged by the battery at Clos des Ronces and was out of action for some time. In November 1944, she supported Operation Infatuate, the amphibious assault on Walcheren, Netherlands.
She was scrapped in July 1946. It is believed that one of Erebus’ 15-inch (381 mm) guns was used to equip HMS Vanguard, the Royal Navy’s last battleship.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Erebus
" You found the right ship John, to put a bit of meat on the bones:- Builder- Palmers, Newcastle. Launched:- 1915 Scrapped:- 1957 Displacement:- 6670 tons. Propulsion:- MAN diesel engines, 2 shafts Speed:- 9 knots designed, actual 6 knots Armament:- 2x15",8x4",2x3", 2x12lb guns. Armour:- 4" belt, 8" ..."
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" A Canadian team is to search for 2 ships lost in an 1845 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were trapped in the Arctic ice as Sir John Franklin sought a northern route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He and his 128 crew died - although their exact ..."
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"I have joined on behalf of my father, Leslie Mellor who is now 87, and served on HMS Erebus as a telegraphist. If anyone remembers Les please let me know and I can pass any messages on to him. "
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