An item referred to the U.S.R. dated 25August 1938 reporting that the British Department of War possessed totally 216 vessels and ships. All were named after famous army officers or battles and used for transport troops (over small distances) and ammunition, towing targets and so on. Annual maintenance costs 30.000 pound sterling and manned by 22 officers and 345 sailors. The officers had a kind of uniform with copper buttons but the sailors had none official dress although usually wearing flannel trousers and bowlers. Original task of this War Office Fleet of Woolwich Navy was to lay mine blockades in the entrances to the most important merchant harbours. This task was after Russo-Japan war of 1904-1905 taken over by the British Royal Navy.
