X-Lighters in WWI and at Gallipoli

Author

Francis, Richard

Subjects

Ship design and development, History - WW1

Tags

Gallipoli, X-Lighters

RAN Ships

None noted.

Publication

September 2001 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

Incidentally, other designated Admiralty WW I specialist craft included the “Z” whaler in 1915. These were small vessels built by Smith’s Dock as mosquito craft to combat the submarine menace (a forerunner to WWII corvettes). The “Y” Lighter (a simplified boat) was used a little in WW I but generally ships’ boats were utilised for landing troops ashore, on beaches and piers (when available).

Photos and drawings of the X lighters appear rare, and ANZAC troops are recorded as having been landed at Gallipoli in ship boats (32′ cutters and larger pinnaces) from battleships, towed by steam picket boats, commanded by midshipmen. (A picket boat typically towed 3 of the cutters astern in tandem, and would have been difficult to manoeuvre, especially in a seaway.)

Bibliography

1. The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea – Peter Kemp (Oxford University Press 1994) (p482)

2. The Second World War Vol 2 – Winston Churchill – (Cassell 1949) (p215)

3. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects – Selected papers on British Warship Design in WW2 – R. Baker (Conway Press 1983) (p204)

4. Australians at War – John Ferguson (Time Life Books) (photo selection)