Built as a river gun boat under yard No 527 by Barclay, Curle & Co., Whiteinch, Glasgow for the Royal Navy.
17 December 1915 launched as the HMS CICALA one of the Insect Class. She carried the pennant no. P 4A, P 82 and T 71.
Displacement 625 ton, 660 grt, 645 net, dim. 74.42 x 10.97 x 2.62m., draught 1.40m.
Powered by two triple expansion 3-cyl steam engines, 2,000 shp, speed 14 knots.
Armament: 2 x 6in 40cal QF, 2 x 12pdr QF and 6 maxim MGs.
Crew 53.
Commissioned ?.
The bulkheads were unpierced, and to get to the next apartment required leaving via the roof hatch, out and back in the next roof hatch. The twin propellers were in tunnels due to the shallow draft. They are identifiable by their twin funnels, side by side.
They all arrived for some period at the Yangtse Kiang serving on the lower middle, north and west rivers
June 1916 arrived on the Humber for Coastal Defence where she was fitted for towing an observation balloon and High angle 6in guns.
September 1918 refitted at Chatham as a unit for the Divina River Force for arctic service, armament 2 x 6in 40cal QF, 2 x 12pdr QF and 6 maxim MGs and low angle 6in guns fitted. Her 12pdrs were replaced with 3in AA guns
October 1918 Cicala, with Cockchafer, Cricket and Glowworm sailed through the North Atlantic (into the arctic) to Archangel for service as part of the Dvina River Force, an expedition (eventually aborted) in support of the White Russian armies.
7/5/1919 her leadsman dropped the lead on a mine which exploded without casualties, but left a large hole in her plating. During repairs one of her 6in guns was dismounted and sent up to the front
16/8/1919 back in service.
27/9/1919 departed Archangel for the UK
1920 she moved to the China Station and served on the Yangtze West River
When WWII started she was in the West River Flotilla
September 1941 transferred to Hong Kong
21/12/1941 she suffered four dive bomb attacks that scored three direct hits. She soon sank (probably being scuttled) in the West Lamma Channel (vicinity of Hong Kong). During the invasion of Hong Kong she had been subject to no less than 60 dive bomb attacks.
Liberia 2015 $30 sg?, scott?Post
by Woody http://forums.clydemaritime.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=16558