HDMS Tordenskjold (1880) explained

Tordenskjold was a torpedo ram built for the Royal Danish Navy in the early 1880s. The ship was sold for scrap in 1908.

Design and description

Tordenskjold was 67.75m (222.28feet) long, had a beam of 13.23m (43.41feet) and a draft of 4.8m (15.7feet).[1] She displaced 2534t[2] and was fitted with a ram bow. Her crew consisted of 220 officers and enlisted men.[3]

The ship was fitted with a pair of Burmeister & Wain compound-expansion steam engines, each engine driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by eight cylindrical boilers. The engines were rated at a total of 2600ihp and gave the ship a speed of 13kn.[3] Tordenskjold carried a maximum of 1700NaN0 of coal that gave her a range of 1500nmi at a speed of .[3]

The ram's main battery consisted of a single 35.5 cm MRK L/25 gun. Especially for use on board ships, this was a very heavy gun. Obviously, its caliber of 355mm was one of the highest in use. However, for some years its length of 25 calibers (L/25) was also quite good. Length determined the velocity with which projectiles were fired. The gun was mounted in the barbette forward of the superstructure.

The secondary battery consisted of four single 25-caliber 1201NaN1 guns aft, each protected by a gun shield.[1] For defense against torpedo boats, the ship was equipped with four 5-revolving barrel, 371NaN1, 1-pounder Hotchkiss guns. The ship was also fitted with one 3800NaN0 and three 355 mm torpedo tubes.[2]

Tordenskjolds waterline was completely unprotected. The barbette was protected by 203mm of armor. The deck armor was 950NaN0 thick while the conning tower was protected by 31mm armor plates.[3]

Construction and service

Tordenskjold, named for Vice Admiral Peter Tordenskjold, victor in the 1716 Battle of Dynekilen during the Great Northern War,[4] was laid down on 5 June 1879 by the Orlogsværftet in Copenhagen, launched on 30 September 1880 and commissioned on 29 September 1882.[3]

References

Notes and References

  1. Gardiner, p. 366
  2. Balsved
  3. Silverstone, p. 56
  4. Silverstone, p. 60