NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Sedgefly Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
Butterfly		1377	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	7.1915	11.1915	sold 3.1923	ordered 2.1915
Dragonfly		1379	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	7.1915	11.1915	sold 2.1923	ordered 2.1915
Firefly		1380	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	7.1915	11.1915	captured by Turkey 1.12.1915-2/1917 (Selmanpak); sunk 14.6.1924	ordered 2.1915
Cranefly		1378	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	8.1915	12.1915	sold 3.1923	ordered 2.1915
Mayfly		1384	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	8.1915	12.1915	sold 3.1923	ordered 2.1915
Sawfly		1385	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	8.1915	12.1915	sold 3.1923	ordered 2.1915
Gadfly		1381	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	8.1915	12.1915	to Air Ministry 1922	ordered 2.1915
Greyfly		1383	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	8.1915	12.1915	to War Department 1923	ordered 2.1915
Snakefly		1386	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	9.1915	12.1915	sold 3.1923	ordered 2.1915
Stonefly		1387	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	9.1915	12.1915	sold 3.1923	ordered 2.1915
Waterfly		1388	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	9.1915	12.1915	sold 2.1923	ordered 2.1915
Greenfly		1382	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	2.1915	9.1915	12.1915	sold 3.1923	ordered 2.1915
Blackfly		1400	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	12.1915	4/1916	1916	collision 26.5.1923	ordered 12.1915
Caddisfly		1401	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	12.1915	4.1916	1916	sold 2.1923	ordered 12.1915
Hoverfly		1402	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	11.1915	4.1916	1916	sold 2.1923	ordered 12.1915
Sedgefly		1403	Yarrow, Scotstoun / Abadan, Iraq	11.1915	9.1916	1916	sold 3.1923	ordered 12.1915

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	98
Displacement full, t
Length, m	38.4
Breadth, m	6.10
Draught, m	0.61
No of shafts	1 in tunnel
Machinery	1 VTE, 1 Yarrow boiler
Power, h. p.	175
Max speed, kts	9.5
Fuel, t	coal 5 + oil 10
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	1 x 1 - 102/40 BL Mk VIII, 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II, 1 x 1 - 57/40 6pdr Hotchkiss Mk I or 1 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I or 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, (4 - 5) x 1 - 7.7/94
Complement	22

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

In February 1915 the Admiralty ordered 12 river gunboats from Messrs Yarrow for operations on the Tigris and Euphrates, but to camouflage their destination they were known as 'China gunboats'. The design was based on Yarrow's earlier river craft, with a single screw operating in a tunnel, using the Yarrow patent flap to prevent the tunnel from being emptied by the wash of another vessel. Another four vessels were ordered in December. The first dozen were laid down in February 1915, then dismantled and re-erected at Abadan on the Persian Gulf, being sent out in July-September 1915. The last four were laid down in December 1915 and sent out in April-September 1916.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

They were retained only briefly after the Armistice, but continued to serve on the Tigris and Euphrates under new ownership, some retaining a para-military role. Firefly entered service in November 1915 and was captured by the Turks during the advance on Baghdad on 1 December 1915. Recaptured on 26 February 1917, she was finally sunk on the Euphrates by insurgents 14 June 1924. Gadfly was transferred to the Air Ministry at Basra 1922, and Grayfly transferred to the War Department 1923. Blackfly was lost in collision with a bridge at Baghdad 26 May 1923 while on loan to Air Ministry. The remainder were sold locally in 1923.



Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.