The Army's Navy transported guns and ammunition along the River Thames using the barges Gog and Magog. Whilst primarily the transportation was to and from Woolwich Arsenal to Shoebury firing range, these vessels were also use in transportation of guns and equipment to Coalhouse Fort and the other forts along the Thames Estuary from the 1850's through to the late 1940's.
It is also believed that they went further afield and were involved in transportaion of such equipment further round the south and eastern coasts of Britain.

Whilst these vessels saw a great deal of service we have found that very little information survives in any records about them.

Thus far it has been ascertained:

1.the original wooden barges were replaced in 1900 by new vessels of metal construction and used the the same names, all vessels being Dumb Barges.

2. the barges were originally towed by the steamship Katherine, of which no information exists.

3. later they were towed by Katehrine II which we only know the briefest of details about, we do also have two images of this vessel.

references have been made to the barges and the tow vessels in

1. Coast & Country Vol 7 No4 dated August 1982 which we do have a poor photocopy of, we would love to find an original copy

2. the book The Forgotton Navy from which much of our know information has been gleened

3. The London Illustrated News 1890's - exact issues unknown

We are continuing our research on these imprtant Thames Vessels and would ask if anyone has any information, however insignificant that they make contact and help us in this regard.