HMS Ladybird (1916)

HMS Ladybird at Port Said, November 1917
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Ladybird
Launched:	1916
Fate:	Sunk in shallow water 12 May 1941, used as Anti-aircraft position.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Insect-class gunboat

HMS Ladybird was an Insect-class gunboat of the Royal Navy, launched in 1916. This class are also referred to as "large China gunboats". Originally built to patrol the River Danube during World War I, she was later shipped to China to serve on the Yangtze River.

On 12 December 1937, Ladybird, along with Bee became involved in the Panay incident and came under fire from a Japanese artillery unit near Wuhu on the Yangtze River. Ladybird was hit by six shells and Bee dodged a shell as she came upon the scene, however Ladybird didn't take enough damage to put her out of commission, and both Ladybird and Bee helped pick up survivors from the sunk USS Panay.

In 1939 the original pair of 6 inch Mk VII 45-calibre guns were replaced by more modern and 30 inches longer 6-inch Mk XIII 50-calibre guns from the decommissioned HMS Agincourt.

Ladybird was allocated to Singapore in 1940 and then, along with five others of the class, stripped down and towed to the Mediterranean. During the journey she sustained damage which meant she was limited to a speed of 7 knots (13 km/h) due to a misaligned hull. She was initially used to guard Port Said.

In late December 1940 and early January 1941 Ladybird was engaged at close range in bombarding the Italian port of Bardia in Libya, in preparation and support of the Allied assault and capture of Bardia on 5 January 1941 as part of Operation Compass.