Armed boarding steamer

An armed boarding steamer (or "armed boarding ship", or "armed boarding vessel") was a
merchantman that during World War I the British Royal Navy converted to a warship. AB steamers or
AB vessels had the role of enforcing wartime blockades by intercepting and boarding foreign
vessels. The boarding party would inspect the foreign ship to determine whether to detain the ship
and send it into port, or permit it to go on its way.

On 28 September 1914 Admiral John Jellicoe, commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet, sent a
telegram in which he pointed out that he did not have enough destroyers available to enforce the
blockade. Furthermore, the weather was too severe of the destroyers. Although Jellicoe did not
mention it, after the loss on 22 September of the cruisers HMS Cressy, Aboukir, and Hogue, he also
did not want large warships making themselves sitting targets for submarines by stopping to
examine merchant vessels.[1]

The first request was for 12 vessels, all to be capable of 12-14 knots, be able to carry enough coal
for five days at sea, have wireless, and have boats suitable for boarding parties to use. Each armed
boarding steamer was to carry two 3-pounder guns (47mm/L50), and be under the command of an
officer from the Royal Navy. These 12 vessels were requisitioned in October and completed by mid
to late-November. Other vessels followed.[1]

The Navy found that cross-Channel passenger vessels were particularly suitable because of their
large cargo capacity. As experience with the programme increased, the armed boarding vessels
received heavier armament.[1] The Navy realized the need for heavier armament after the German
auxiliary cruiser SMS Meteor attacked and sank the armed boarding ship HMS Ramsey on 8 August
1915. The Navy wanted to arm the boarding ships with some obsolete 14" torpedo tubes, and
modern 4" (102mm) guns (possibly the BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VII); Meteor had sunk Ramsey using
both a torpedo, and gunfire from two 88mm (3.5") guns.[Note 1]

The Navy pressed the vessels into other roles. Some carried depth charges for anti-submarine duty
while escorting convoys. Still others, particularly in the Mediterranean, served as transports.