Hi Guys
Here is some more information on the Tigris River Flotilla which were all fly class boat I will see if I can find any more info on some of the boats used on the Nile.
All the best
Dave
Here is a list: HMS BLACKFLY, BUTTERFLY, CADDISFLY, CRANEFLY, DRAGONFLY, FIREFLY, GADFLY, GRAYFLY, GREENFLY, HOVERFLY, MAYFLY, SAWFLY, SEDGEFLY, SNAKEFLY, STONEFLY, WATERFLY. Built by Messrs. Yarrow, Ltd.. in. sections, shipped out to Mesopotamia and erected at Abadan, 1915-6-See Note., below.
98 tons.
Complement, 22
Dimensions: 120 (p.p.)., 126 (o.a.) x 20 x 2 feet. Guns: 1 - 4 inch, 1 - 12 pdr.; 1 - 6 pdr (not in all), 1 - 3 pdr. AA., 1- 2 pdr. pom-pom, 5 or 4 M.G.
Machinery : 1 set triple expansion engines. Single screw in tunnel fitted with Messrs. Yarrow's patent balanced flap. Boilers: 1 Yarrow, burning coal or oil. Designed H.P. 175 = 9-5 Kts. Fuel: 5 tons coal + 10 tons oil.
Notes.- Twelve of these craft are said to have been ordered by the Admiralty in February, 1915, from Messrs. Yarrow, Ltd. They were intended to police the Tigris against Arab guerillas. After capture of Firefly by Turks, the number was increased to 16. Firefly was re-captured in the British advance from Kut-el-Amara to Bagdad. They were built in sections and shipped out, the port and starboard sections being numbered and painted red and green, to facilitate erection by native labour at Abadan. Firefly began to be erected August, 1915 and entered service in November of the same year. The last of the original twelve were shipped out in August, 1915, and were in service by March, 1916, the extra four (Blackfly, Caddisfy, Hoverfly, Sedgefly) following them later. All Emergency War Programme. Eight of these transferred to War Office.
Michael
