HMS Ladybird (1916)

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HMS Ladybird was an Insect class gunboat of the Royal Navy, launched in 1916. This class are also referred to as "Large China Gunboats".

Originally built to patrol the River Danube during World War I, she was later shipped to China to serve on the Yangtze River.

On December 12, 1937, Ladybird, along with Bee became involved in the Panay incident and came under fire from a Japanese artillery unit near Wuhu on the Yangtze. Ladybird took six shells and Bee dodged a shell as she came upon the scene.

Ladybird was allocated to Singapore in 1940 and then, along with five others of the class, stripped down and towed to the Mediterranean. During the journey she sustained damage which meant she limited to a speed of 7 knots (13 km/h) due to a misaligned hull. She was initially used to guard Port Said. On 25 February, 1941, she landed a Royal Marines unit during Operation Abstention, an ill-fated attempt to seize the Italian island of Kastelorizo, where she was hit by an aerial bomb. Later, acting in support of the Tobruk garrison, she shelled the Gazala airfield and ferried in supplies. During this duty, on May 12, 1941, she was severely damaged by dive bombers and set on fire, settling on an even keel in ten feet of water. Still above water, her three inch gun was used in an anti-aircraft role. Gnat then replaced Ladybird in supporting Tobruk.