Previous name:

Subsequent name:                             Davo

Official Number                                  105317 

Class:                                                Kite Balloon Ship / Ammunition Carrier

Pennant No:                                      Y8.138

Laid down:

Builder:                                              Scott & Co, Greenock

Launched:                                          5 June 1895 

Into Service:

Out of service:                                    Sold 1920

Fate:                                                 Broken up 1924

Previous name:

Subsequent name:                             Davo

Official Number                                  105317

Class:                                                Kite Balloon Ship / Ammunition Carrier

Pennant No:                                     Y8.138

Laid down:

Builder:                                             Scott & Co, Greenock

Launched:                                         5 June 1895

Into Service:

Out of service:                                   Sold 1920

Fate:                                                 Broken up 1924

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:   One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

5 June 1895  Launched by Scott & Co, Greenock as Yard Nr 328 named MENELAUS for Ocean Steamship Co Ltd ( Alfred Holt, Managers) Liverpool

July 1895 completed at a cost of £53,532

11 June 1904 stopped in the Red Sea south of Jedda while on passage from the Clyde to Shanghai by a Russian volunteer steamer the St. Petersburg – armed with eight guns. The ship was searched and the manifest examined by the Russians looking for contraband cargo. The ship was detained for four hours before being allowed to proceed

30 August 1911 arrived at Malta with a fire in No 4 hold – she was carrying ammunition in other holds

5 May 1915 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Kite Balloon Ship – Commander Charles McCullock RNR in command

11 July 1915 sailed Birkenhead to Dover arriving on 13 July 1915

12 July 1915 to 5 September 1915 secured to a buoy at Dover

Menelaus – kite hold

6 September 1915 sailed Dover to the Belgian Coast. Anchored off Zuidcoote

7 September 1915 sailed Zuidcoote to Dover arriving the same day

12 September 1915 engaged in Balloon exercises at Dover

13 September 1915 berthed at Dover

15 September 1915 sailed Dover with the Fleet

17 September 1915 anchored at Dunkirk Roads

19 September 1915 while anchored at Dunkirk Roads her Balloon ascended for target spotting for Royal Naval Monitors

20 September 1915 entered Dunkirk Harbour

21 September 1915 sailed Dunkirk to Dover arriving the next day

26 September 1915 sailed Dover to Dunkirk Roads – anchored off

27 September 1915 entered Dunkirk Harbour

11 October 1915 Fireman George Houghton MMR discharged dead – drowned at Dunkirk. He is buried in Dunkirk Town Cemetery in grave VA 28

2 November 1915 Fireman Frank Oxton MMR discharged dead having been accidentally drowned. Remembered with pride on the Plymouth Royal Naval Memorial. Fireman E M Myers MMR discharged dead having been accidentally drowned. He is buried in Dunkirk Town Cemetery in grave IA 3

16 November 1915 sailed Dunkirk to Dunkirk Roads for her Balloon to ascend for target spotting for Royal Naval Monitors

19 November 1915 berthed at Dunkirk

23 November 1915 sailed Dunkirk to Dunkirk Roads for her Balloon to ascend for target spotting for Royal Naval Monitors

24 November 1915 sailed Dunkirk to Dover arriving the same day – berthed to No 12 buoy

7 December 1915 sailed Dover for Sheerness on arrived secured to No 6 buoy

8 December 1915 sailed Sheerness to Chatham

9 December 1915 at Chatham entered dry dock

14 December 1915 dry dock flooded up and towed out by tugs to the basin

17 December 1915 sailed Chatham to Sheerness

18 December 1915 sailed Sheerness to Dunkirk Roads

22 December 1915 at Dunkirk Roads her Balloon ascended for target spotting for Royal Naval Monitors

28 December 1915 sailed Dunkirk Roads to Dover (No 12 Buoy)

1 Januarty 1916 loaded coal as bunkers

22 January 1916 to 18 March 1916 berthed at Dover

19 March 1916 sailed Dover to Sheerness

21 March 1916 sailed Sheerness to Chatham arriving the same day

March 1916 purchased by the Admiralty

22 March 1916 to 17 April 1916 at Chatham

31 May 1916 unable to raise steam to allow her to accompany the Grand Fleet due to a defect 

1916 – 1917 served at Scapa Flow

June 1917 to 29 January 1918 served as an ammunition carrier