Lot 137

A Display model of the River Gunboat HMS LADYBIRD
92 x 28 x 40cm.(36 x 11 x 15.75in.)

Marine Works of Art

25 February 2004, 14:00 GMT

London, Knightsbridge

£1,200 - £1,800

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A Display model of the River Gunboat HMS LADYBIRD

hull of solid timber, painted grey to the waterline and green below with a white boot top. Fitted with a pair of three blade brass propellers in tunnels and three transom hung rudders. Hull pierced with brass portlights at bow and stern. Laid timber decks and detailed metal guardrails and stanchions, ventilators, windlass, washboards and ammunition lockers. Central superstructure with armoured conning position, searchlight, binnacle, light machine guns and twin brass funnels. With two ship's boats on davits and a pair of assault punts. 92 x 28 x 40cm.(36 x 11 x 15.75in.)

Footnotes

HMS LADYBIRD an Insect Class River gunboat, was built in 1915 by Libnitz to a design by Yarrow Shipbuilders. Part of the emergency 1915-1916 shipbuilding programme and originally destined for the Danube, they were designated China River Gunboats to allay suspicion of their true purpose. Wartime events prevented their intended use and LADYBIRD was sent to Port Said initially, only serving on the Danube after the war, remaining there until 1922. Then, true to their name, she was shipped to China, serving on the Yangtze River Squadron during the tumultuous years between the wars. Returning to North Africa in WW2, where her shallow draft of only 4ft was very useful for inshore operations, she was engaged in supply operations to the Eighth Army when she was sunk by Italian dive bombers at Tobruk in May 1941.

Additional information

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A Display model of the River Gunboat HMS LADYBIRD 92 x 28 x 40cm.(36 x 11 x 15.75in.)