HMS M15

HMS M15  was a First World War Royal Navy M15-class monitor. She was sunk off Gaza by SMU UC-38 on November 11, 1917.

Design
Intended as a shore bombardment vessel, M15'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 M15 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 28 April 1915, and completed in June 1915.

World War 1
M15 was towed to Malta in July, 1915, where she received her main armament. She then proceeded to Mudros, and later was involved in the defence of the Suez Canal.

After bombarding Gaza as part of the Third Battle of Gaza, on November 11, 1917, M15 and a destroyer HMS Staunch were torpedoed by SMU UC-38. 26 men lost their lives in the sinking of M15.