Erebus-class monitor

The Erebus class of monitors of the Royal Navy consisted of two vessels, Erebus and Terror. They were both launched in 1916 and saw active service in World War I off the Belgian coast. After being placed in reserve between the wars, they served in World War II, with Terror being lost in 1941 and Erebus surviving to be scrapped in 1946.

Ships

 * Erebus was built by Harland and Wolff, Govan. She was laid down 12 October 1915, launched on 19 June 1916 and commissioned in September 1916. After seeing service in both World Wars, Erebus was scrapped in 1946.
 * Terror was built by Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Laid down 26 October 1915, launched 18 May 1916 and commissioned in August 1916. She saw extensive service in both World Wars. Terror was lost in the Mediterranean on 23 February 1941, after being damaged by Luftwaffe Ju-87 "Stuka" dive bombers the previous day.

Service
The class was to see most of its service in the naval gunfire support (or "NGS") role. During World War I they operated off the German-occupied Belgian coast bombarding naval forces based at Ostend and Zeebrugge. Erebus was damaged by a remote controlled explosive motor boat and Terror was torpedoed by motor torpedo boats.

Both ships were placed in reserve between the wars but returned to service in World War II where they were again used to provide fire support to British troops.

Erebus participated in the D-Day invasion as part of Task Force O off Omaha beach.

In popular culture
Douglas Reeman's 1965 novel H.M.S. Saracen is a fictional account of the service of an Erebus class monitor in the Mediterranean Sea in both World Wars.