Russian coastal defense battleships
Coastal defense battleship Admiral Senyavin.
The development of coastal battleships of the Russian fleet began in 1861 with the order from Great Britain of the armored battery “Pervenets” - the first Russian battleship. Two more ships were built according to this model in Russia. After news of the successful operations of the Monitor arrived from the United States in 1862, the Russian naval department became interested in the construction of this type of ship, called in Russia turret armored boats. In -1865, the fleet received ten turret-type armored boats of the Hurricane type, equipped with one two-gun turret. In addition, the fleet was supplied with double-turret armored boats of the Smerch and Rusalka types. All these ships had powerful armor for their size, but their seaworthiness turned out to be unsatisfactory. A very unusual project of a coastal battleship was implemented in -1876 for the Black Sea Fleet, having built two battleships according to the design of Vice Admiral A. A. Popov: “Novgorod” and “Vice Admiral Popov”, nicknamed “Popovkas”.
Despite the “large fleet” construction program, the Russian Navy Ministry retained interest in coastal battleships. This was explained by the special conditions of the Baltic Sea, the presence of coastal defense battleships in the fleets of Germany and Sweden, and especially the constant desire to save money, which aroused the desire to build as cheaply as possible, and therefore small ships. The impetus for the development of a new project for a small battleship was the development in France for the Greek fleet of the battleship Hydra, which had solid armament and armor with a displacement of less than 5,000 tons. Based on these limitations, designer E. N. Gulyaev prepared a design for a small battleship with a shallow draft, armed with four 229 mm guns as the main caliber. The project was approved in 1891, after its approval the weapons were changed to the latest 254 mm guns. The lead battleship of the Admiral Senyavin type was laid down in 1892, and in the same year the construction of the same type Admiral Ushakov began. In 1894, the third battleship of this type was laid down - Admiral General Apraksin. The overload revealed during the construction of the first two battleships forced the Apraksin's armament to be reduced to three 254 mm guns. The average caliber on all battleships was the same and consisted of four 120 mm guns.
Dutch coastal defense battleships
Coastal defense battleship Konegen Regentes.
This successful type was developed in the battleship Maarten Harpertzon Tromp, launched in 1904. The main difference was the placement of 150 mm guns in turrets instead of casemates. The Jacob van Heemswerk, launched in 1906, was almost the same type. With a slightly smaller displacement, it carried six medium-caliber guns instead of four. All small battleships of the Netherlands were built with high quality in domestic shipyards, had a high side and were distinguished by good seaworthiness.
Swedish Coastal Defense Ironclads
Coastal defense battleship "Svea".
Coastal defense battleships were given particular importance in Sweden, whose small fleet was developed with an eye on Russia's capabilities. Lacking the resources for full-scale competition at sea, the Swedish naval leadership relied on the development of small, but well-armed and protected coastal artillery ships, believing that in the special conditions of the Swedish coast, replete with skerries and shoals, such combat units would be very effective even against full-fledged battleships.
The development of armored coastal defense ships in Sweden, as in a number of other countries, began with monitors. In 1864, three ships of the John Ericsson type were laid down at Swedish shipyards, modeled on the famous Monitor by J. Ericsson. These were small monitors with a very low freeboard, armed with two 240 mm guns in a single turret, and capable of reaching a speed of only 7 knots. The displacement of these monitors did not even reach 1500 tons. In 1867, the Swedes laid down another monitor - “Loke”, a little larger and a little better armed. Although all these ships were criticized for their low seaworthiness and slow speed, the Swedish naval command considered them very useful in the coastal defense system.
Coastal defense battleship Oscar II.
The first real coastal defense battleships were ships of the Svea class. The lead battleship was laid down in 1884, the next two in 1891, and they entered service in 1893. With a displacement of just over 3,000 tons, they were well protected, developed a very decent speed for their time of 15-16 knots, and carried two 254-mm guns in the bow turret as their main armament. The medium caliber was represented by four 152 mm guns. The shallow draft allowed these combat units to operate in areas inaccessible to larger ships. At the beginning of the 20th century they were re-equipped with rapid-fire artillery.
The next series of coastal defense battleships also consisted of three ships and were known as the Oden class. They were a development of their predecessors, with slightly improved characteristics. The main caliber was now located in two single-gun turrets at the bow and stern. The entire trio entered service in -1899. In 1901, the fleet was replenished with another small battleship, the Dristigeten. Its main feature was the first use of a new main caliber - a 210 mm gun, the middle caliber became 150 mm. This combination stuck with Swedish battleships for a long time.
Coastal defense battleship "Svarie".
Based on Dristigeten, the Swedes developed a new project, which was reproduced in four copies. These were battleships of the Eran type, which entered service in -1904. They carried lighter armor than the prototype, but turned out to be somewhat faster, and their medium caliber was now located in turrets instead of casemates. The line of development of the early battleships of the Swedish fleet was completed by Oscar II, built by 1907. Its displacement exceeded 4,000 tons, its speed reached 18 knots, and all medium-caliber artillery was now housed in two-gun turrets. Thus, in 20 years the Swedes built 12 coastal defense battleships and for some time became one of the ten strongest naval powers.
After this, the Swedes paused in the construction of ships of this class, returning to the creation of coastal defense battleships after the outbreak of the First World War. In 1915, the lead ship of the Svariye type was laid down, then two more. All of them entered service in -1922. It should be noted that most of the funds for their construction were collected by subscription from the population. The project really became a new word in the development of the class. The displacement doubled and approached 8,000 tons; the main caliber was now represented by powerful 283-mm cannons in two-gun turrets. The steam turbine installation allowed these battleships to reach speeds of more than 22 knots. The armor was also quite substantial for ships of this size.
The Swedish naval command considered this type to be ideal coastal defense ships. When the question arose about replacing the outdated Oscar II, a new project was developed on the basis of Svariye. The main difference from the prototype was to be powerful universal and anti-aircraft artillery. But the project was abandoned, instead all ships of the Svariye type were modernized in the 1930s.
The last battleships of the Swedish fleet were planned to be ordered in 1939, but the course of military operations at sea in the outbreak of World War II forced the command to doubt the compliance of the very concept of a coastal defense battleship with the new realities. As a result, the Swedes chose to build light cruisers of the Tre Krunur class.
Norwegian coastal defense battleships
Coastal defense battleship Norge.
The customer was completely satisfied with the ships received and therefore reacted positively to Armstrong’s proposal received at the end of 1898 to build two more battleships for the Norwegian fleet, which were an improved version of the Harald Haarfagrfe. F. Watts developed six options for the future ship, and in the spring of 1899, both Norge-class battleships were laid down in Elswick. They differed from the previous type in their slightly larger sizes and less thick armor, but the medium caliber was now represented by 152 mm guns. Norge and Eidsvold were transferred to the fleet in 1901. Over the next 40 years, the four coastal defense battleships remained the most powerful ships of the Norwegian Navy and were maintained in very good technical condition.
Danish Coastal Defense Ironclads
Coastal defense battleship Herluf Trolle.
The development of armored ships of the Danish fleet in the 1860-1880s proceeded unevenly, since the naval command for a long time could not develop the most suitable type of small battleship for Denmark. As a result, the displacement of ships of this class ranged from just over 1,300 tons for the Rolf Krake to more than 5,000 tons for the Helgoland. The first ship fully corresponding to the class of coastal defense battleships left the slipway in 1886 under the name Iver Hvitfeld. With a displacement of 3,300 tons, the ship carried two 260 mm guns in barbette mounts, as well as 120 mm and small-caliber guns.
Ten years later, the Danish Navy attempted to create a battleship with the smallest possible draft for operations in the shallow waters of the Danish Straits. In 1897, Skjold, one of the smallest battleships in the world, entered service. Due to the displacement, which only slightly exceeded 2000 tons, it was possible to achieve a draft of about 4 m. The armament of such a small ship naturally turned out to be weak. Skjold had one 240 mm gun in the bow turret and three 120 mm guns in single turrets in the stern.
Subsequently, the Danish fleet preferred to build battleships similar in their characteristics to the Swedish ones. In 1897, construction of a series of ships of the Herluf Trolle type began. The lead battleship entered service in 1901. Each of the three ships was carefully tested, changes were made to the construction of subsequent ones, so the last ship of the series joined the fleet only in 1909. Varying in details, all battleships of this type carried two 240-mm guns in single turrets and four 150-mm guns in as medium-caliber artillery.
Construction of the last Danish battleship took nine years. The decision to build the Niels Juel was made in 1914. It was planned to create a battleship with a main caliber of two 305 mm guns. But the outbreak of the First World War showed that the main opponent of coastal defense battleships would be light forces and aviation. Therefore, the project was thoroughly reworked and in 1923 the Nils Juel entered service with ten 150 mm guns as its main armament, which were later supplemented with anti-aircraft guns. The displacement exceeded 4,000 tons, but the speed of the battleship remained very modest and did not exceed its predecessors.
Finnish coastal defense battleships
Coastal defense battleship Väinämöinen.
The last coastal defense battleships in history were built in Finland. The decision to build these ships for the Finnish Navy was made in 1927, and a German-Dutch company was directly involved in the development of the project. The task was to combine the size of the Danish battleship Nils Juel with the armament of the Swedish Svarie, which had twice the displacement. As a result, the battleships were able to install powerful weapons of four 254 mm guns in two-gun turrets, as well as 105 mm universal guns and anti-aircraft guns. All this managed to fit into a displacement of about 4000 tons. The price for this achievement was weakened armor, and the side armor could only protect the ship from small-caliber shells and shrapnel.
The power plant turned out to be original. For the first time, diesel-electric units were installed on a surface combatant. This provided the battleships with exceptional maneuverability, necessary in skerries. Particular attention was paid to the hull design, which made it possible to operate even in difficult ice conditions typical of the Gulf of Finland. The lead battleship Väinämöinen was laid down in 1929, and in the same year construction of the Ilmarinen began, both of which were built at domestic shipyards. Both battleships entered the fleet in 1932 and became its most powerful ships.
Notes
- Naval Dictionary. - M: Military Publishing House, 1990. - P. 61. - ISBN 5-203-00174-X
- Katorin Yu.F. Armadillos. - St. Petersburg: Galeya-Print, 2008. - P. 109. - ISBN 978-5-8172-0116-1
- Katorin Yu.F. Armadillos. - P. 114.
- Katorin Yu.F. Armadillos. - P. 46.
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860-1905. - London: Conway Maritime Press, 1979. - P. 360. - ISBN 0-85177-133-5
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860-1905. - P. 361.
- Taras A. E. Encyclopedia of armadillos and battleships. - M.: Harvest, AST, 2002. - P. 374. - ISBN 985-13-1009-3
Coastal defense battleships of the Admiral Ushakov class
Coastal defense battleship(BBO) - due to its specifics, it had a relatively low freeboard and was inferior in seaworthiness to squadron battleships. BBO is a warship with a shallow draft, good armor and armed with large-caliber guns. Designed for combat in shallow waters and coastal defense. Was in service with most maritime states. Coastal defense ironclads were a logical development of monitors and gunboats.
Appearance
Floating batteries
The first head of state who ordered the creation of armored ships was Emperor Napoleon III. The chief shipbuilder of the French fleet, Dupuy de Lom, tested iron plates by shooting and created floating batteries Lave ,Tonnante And Devastation. These ships were sheathed with 120 mm iron sheets and carried 18 240 mm caliber guns.
Evolution of the class
Death of USS Monitor
It was precisely because of the low seaworthiness of the monitors that Vice Admiral Popov proposed his ship design, later called “Popovki”. They were named that way because of their round shape, but despite this, they had good seaworthiness. In 1873, the barbette battleship Novgorod was launched. In 1875, the barbette battleship “Vice Admiral Popov” was launched (when “Kyiv” was laid down in 1874).
The death of the coastal defense battleship "Admiral Ushakov"
The situation in the Baltic Sea required the construction of a new type of coastal defense battleships. They turned out to be ships of the Admiral Ushakov type. Armed with four 254 mm guns, the battleships of this series, not inferior to the German and Swedish battleships, were supposed to dominate the Baltic, but their fate was different. All three ships of this series were lost in the Battle of Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
Germany
Gerania started building battleships later than all European countries. Fearing an attack by the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Empire, 8 coastal defense battleships of the type were laid down in 1888 Siegfried The armament consisted of three 240 mm caliber guns in barbette mounts. As a result of the Sino-Japanese and Spanish-American wars, wooden parts of ships were replaced with metal wherever possible. After the construction of ships of the type Siegfried, Germany switched to the construction of squadron battleships.
For actions in the Adriatic, Austria-Hungary in 1893. three ships of the type were laid down Monarch, entered service in 1898. Ships of this type were similar to the German Kaiser-class battleships, carried four main caliber 240 mm guns and had a high rate of fire. Compared to other coastal defense battleships, they were the best in their class.
Sweden
Coastal defense battleship Sverige
The Swedish Navy attached particular importance to coastal defense battleships, since they had limited resources, and the theater of operations corresponded to the purpose of these ships. In 1865-1867 three type monitors come into operation John Ericsson. These are single-turret monitors with two 240 mm guns. In 1881 the type monitor came into operation Loke armed with two 381 mm guns. Although all four monitors were slow (7 knots), the Swedish command believed that it was suitable for solving coastal defense problems.
In 1886, the first of three battleships of the type entered service. Svea. These were ships with a shallow draft and carried two 254 mm main caliber guns located in the bow turret and four 152 mm auxiliary caliber guns in the casemate. In 1897, a battleship of the type Oden. There were also three of these ships. The concept of building these battleships took into account the fight against light enemy forces (destroyers, light cruisers); in accordance with it, the main caliber was reduced to six 120 mm guns. Also on them, as on ships of the Svea type, searchlights were installed. As a continuation of this concept, a battleship of the type was built Dristigheten(1901). Two 210 mm main caliber guns and six 152 mm auxiliary caliber guns constituted the main firepower of the ship. This combination of guns remained on Swedish ships for a long time. Dristigheten served as a prototype for the next series of ships of the type Aran of four ships. The difference was that these battleships were less armored and therefore faster, and also that the 152 mm guns were installed in the turrets. This stage of construction was completed by the battleship Oscar II The only ship in its class with three funnels, the artillery was located in the towers and consisted of two 210 mm cannons and eight 152 mm guns. In 1915, the strongest coastal defense battleship of the type Sverige. It is considered the pinnacle of development of this type of ship. Its armament consisted of four 283 mm main caliber guns and eight 152 mm auxiliary caliber guns. In 1939, the Swedish naval command doubted the concept of coastal defense battleships and began building light cruisers instead.
Norway
The Norwegian Navy developed along the same lines as the Swedish Navy. This was explained not only by the similar theater of operations, but also by the fact that the two countries were bound by a treaty and coordinated their military programs. In 1866-1872. four type monitors come into operation Scorpionen armed with one 270 mm gun. They formed the basis of coastal defense until 1897, when the British built two coastal defense battleships of the type Harald Haarfagre The main caliber of this type of ship consisted of two 210 mm guns and six auxiliary 120 mm guns. The Norwegians were satisfied with ships of this type and therefore ordered two more ships of the type Norge. Armadillos of this type are a development of the project Harald Haarfagre. Due to some lightening of the armor and increased displacement, the artillery armament was strengthened. The 120 mm auxiliary caliber guns were replaced with 152 mm guns. Quite modest in combat characteristics, these ships by the beginning of the First World War were the largest and most powerful in the Norwegian fleet.
Denmark
Until the mid-19th century, Denmark had a fairly powerful fleet, consisting of dozens of sailing battleships, frigates, corvettes, sloops, and gunboats. However, in the era of steam-powered armored ships, the basis of its fleet was made up of coastal defense battleships.
Battleship Rolf Krake
The Danes took a different route, abandoning the monitors, and ordered an armadillo from Cowper Coles in England to protect the coast. Rolf Krake. It was a ship equipped with a 700 hp engine and schooner sails and armed with four 203 mm guns mounted in two Kolz turrets. Kohls managed to design a tower, the design of which turned out to be more successful than Erickson's. Erikson's tower rested on the upper deck. To rotate, it was necessary to lift it on the central support column, rotate it along with the column and lower it again. The Kolza tower lay on rollers located around the perimeter of the tower, and on the central pin located under the upper deck; as a result, the rotation of the tower did not require any preliminary operations. In 1868, improving Rolf Krake, the Danes developed their own battleship Lindormen armed with two 229 mm caliber guns. A further development of this direction was Gorm. This battleship's main caliber was increased to 254 mm. The development of this direction is completed by the battleship Odin whose armament increased to four 254 mm guns.
Coastal defense battleship Niels Juel
The consistent development of previous projects led Danish designers to the creation of a completely seaworthy coastal defense battleship Helgoland with a freeboard height of 3 meters. The 260 mm guns were located in a casemate located in the middle part of the ship (two guns on each side). The turret with one 305 mm gun was located on the forecastle. Rapid-firing 120-mm cannons were placed one at a time on the forecastle and stern. Two masts could carry, if necessary, the schooner's sailing rig. For many years she remained the largest and most powerful Danish warship. The next battleship Tordenskjold was unsuccessful, since the Danes wanted to combine a high-speed ram and a stable firing platform in one ship. Reservation was limited to a 114 mm armored deck, and the armament consisted of one 305 mm main caliber gun and four 120 mm caliber guns. In 1886, a coastal defense battleship was launched Iver Hvitfeldt. The armament consisted of two 260 mm main caliber guns housed in single-gun barbettes and four 120 mm auxiliary caliber guns. After 10 years, the Danes launch Skjold. In an attempt to create a ship with a draft of 4 meters, the Danes reduce the armor and artillery and as a result get a coastal ship, similar in design to monitors. During the First World War, it was listed as an armored floating battery. Armed with one 240 mm gun and three 120 mm guns. In 1897, a series of coastal defense battleships of the type Herluf Trolle. Armed with two 240 mm and four 152 mm guns. The last Danish coastal defense battleship Niels Juel was laid down in 1914 and entered service in 1923. As a result of the First World War, the original armament of two 305 mm and ten 120 mm guns was abandoned and ten 152 mm guns were installed.
Finland
Latest European type coastal defense ironclads Vainamoinen were built in Finland. They were intended to protect the flank of the Finnish army overlooking the Gulf of Finland. They were supposed to be used as heavy batteries in attack or defense. Armed with four 254 mm guns and eight 105 mm guns. Prototype to create Vainamoinen German ships of the Deutschland type served. In 1947 Vainamoinen sold to the USSR and joined the Baltic Fleet under the name "Vyborg".
Sunset of class
Coastal defense battleship Henri IV
The very idea of the appearance of coastal defense battleships was that in order to attack the coast, a large seaworthy enemy battleship would be forced to enter coastal waters, where a smaller coastal defense battleship could fight it on an equal footing. But the increase in firing range led to the fact that the coastal defense battleship had to go further out to sea, where it lost its advantages. In addition, due to the increase in the range of naval artillery, the trajectories of shells became more and more vertical and the frequency of hits was not on board , and the deck has increased significantly. Low-sided ships thus lost their main advantage - a small silhouette and a large area of the side protected by armor - and were no longer so profitable. Their shortcomings became too relevant in the new conditions of war at sea. The latest attempt to revive the French battleship class Henri IV turned out to be not entirely successful and was never repeated.
In this regard, by the beginning of the 20th century, coastal defense battleships were built almost exclusively for the fleets of the Scandinavian powers, whose coasts were replete with small bays, bays and skerries, and visibility conditions in northern waters most often left much to be desired. Scandinavian engineers believed that in such conditions, large enemy ships would not be able to realize their advantage in long-range artillery, and would be forced to enter shallow coastal waters and fight in narrow straits at a very short distance. In such a situation, small, well-protected coastal defense battleships with not too powerful, but fast-firing heavy artillery (caliber from 203 to 280 millimeters) could still be effective.
However, if this rule still worked against squadron battleships and early dreadnoughts, then the rapid naval arms race at the beginning of the 20th century finally put an end to coastal defense battleships. The appearance of super-dreadnoughts with 320-406 mm artillery meant that any coastal defense battleships of reasonable size were in a losing position; the development of aviation, torpedo boats and destroyers meant that the enemy, most likely, simply would not send his heavy battleships and cruisers into shallow coastal waters. This was confirmed with the latest coastal defense battleships of the type Sri Ayuthia built for the Thai Navy.
Combat use
October 17, 1855 floating batteries Lave ,Tonnante And Devastation approached the Russian fortification of Kinburn at the mouth of the Dnieper. After a three-hour shelling on the Russian forts, 29 out of 62 guns were destroyed, parapets and casemates were damaged. The fortification had to be surrendered. Each battery received more than 60 hits, but the armor was not penetrated.During the American Civil War, on March 9, 1862, a battle took place on the Hampton roadstead between the founder of this class USS Monitor and casemate battleship CSS Virginia. Formally, the fight ended in a draw, although each side declared the fight a victory. The “southerners” argued that they sank two enemy ships and the USS Monitor left the battlefield, the “northerners” replied that the blockade had not been lifted, so the goal was not achieved. But experts argued that the armor won.
February 18, 1864 Rolf Krake in a duel with Prussian field batteries, he successfully withstood over 100 hits from 152 mm rifled guns!
On May 15, 1905, the coastal defense battleship Admiral Ushakov was discovered by Japanese armored cruisers Iwate And Yakumo After the previous battle, it was damaged and reached a speed of no more than ten knots. The battleship responded with fire to the offer to surrender. After several hits, the Japanese cruisers moved out of range of the Russian guns and shot the ship from a long distance. According to Japanese data, the last battle of the battleship Admiral Ushakov took place 60 miles west of Oki Island. The ship disappeared under water at about 10:50 am. May 15, 1905. Coordinates of death: 37°02’23″ N. latitude, 133°16" E.
At the end of 1917, two battleships of the type Monarch Wien And Budapest moved to Trieste, from where they went out to bombard Italian troops on the Piava River. But on the night of December 10, two Italian torpedo boats quietly overcame the booms and attacked the Austrian battleships right at the anchorage. One torpedo hit Wien and it quickly sank.
On April 9, 1940, a detachment of destroyers under the command of Captain 1st Rank Bonte set out to capture Narvik. Two Norwegian Navy type battleships Norge were expecting an attack. Therefore, the battleship Norge took a position in the fiord, which allowed him to keep the entrance to the port at gunpoint. Meanwhile, the same Eidsvold stood at the roadstead in combat readiness. The Germans failed to take the Norwegians by surprise and therefore sent the envoy on a boat. After refusing to surrender, the German officer, moving to a safe distance, gave a sign, and the destroyer fired a salvo from torpedo tubes. Two torpedoes hit the target and Eidsvold exploded. An attack immediately followed Norge. Of the six torpedoes, two hit the target, after which the battleship sank very quickly.
Types of coastal defense battleships of different countries
All performance characteristics in this table are presented for the lead ships of the series.
| Type name | Quantity, pcs | Years in service | Total displacement, t | Speed, knots | Artillery, quantity, caliber | Armor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Glatton | 1 | 1871 - 1903 | 4990 | 12 | 2x305 | 245-304 / / 355 / 305-355 |
| HMS Cyclops | 4 | 1874 - 1903 | 3560 | 11 | 4x254 | 152-203 / 38 / 203-228 / 228-254 |
| Type name | Quantity, pcs | Years in service | Total displacement, t | Speed, knots | Artillery, quantity, caliber | Armor (belt/deck/barbettes/forehead of main gun turret), mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerberus | 4 | 1868 - 1900 | 3344 | 10 | 4x254 | 152-203/ / 178-203 / 203-254 |
| Tonnerre | 2 | 1879 - 1905 | 5765 | 14 | 2x270 | 254-330 / 51 / 330 / 305-330 |
| Tonnant | 1 | 1884 - 1903 | 5010 | 11,6 | 2x340 | 343-477 / 51 / 368 / 368 |
| Henri IV | 1 | 1888 - 1908 | 8949 | 17 | 2x274, 7x140 | 75-280 / 30-75 / 240 / 305 |
| Type name | Quantity, pcs | Years in service | Total displacement, t | Speed, knots | Artillery, quantity, caliber | Armor (belt/deck/barbettes/forehead of main gun turret), mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Hurricane " | 10 | 1865 - 1900 | 1655 | 7,7 | 2x229 | 127/25-37 / / 279 |
| "Tornado" | 1 | 1865 - 1959 | 1402 | 9 | 4x196 | 102-114/25-37 / / 114 |
| "Mermaid" | 2 | 1868 - 1911 | 1880 | 9 | 2x381, 2x229 | 83-114/25-37 / / 114 |
| "Novgorod" | 2 | 1872 - 1892 | 2491 | 6,5 | 2x280, 1x87 | 229/53-76 / 356 / |
| "Admiral Ushakov" | 3 | 1897 - 1905 | 4700 | 16 | 4x254, 4x120 | 203-254/38-63 / /152-254 |
List of types of BBO of Austria-Hungary
By the time the Fury was laid down, the completion of four coastal defense battleships was in full swing. Since they stood out as the most unsuccessful of all the ironclads that ever flew the white British naval ensign, the reasons for their construction are best explained by a quotation from Spencer Robinson:
"During the panic of 1870, when our country was in danger of being drawn into war, and our ports were in danger of being attacked by the enemy, the Council had to deal with the question of local coastal defense against any type of ships (more or less heavily armed) that could carry out attempts to destroy large commercial and industrial centers on our coast. No heavily armored deep-draft warships could come close to even the most defenseless of these harbors. A serious attack was feasible [only] by light ships - most likely a general group of armored and non-armored ships... and it is easy to see that superiority in all respects remains with the class of ships adopted by the Admiralty as part of the coastal defense system." To implement this frivolous defensive policy, the Council decided to ensure coastal security through four “harbour defense” monitors, and based on considerations of both economy and expediency, the Cerberus project was chosen as the most suitable for the emergency program, slightly modified.
All four were launched very quickly (the Cyclops slipped into the Thames 10 months after laying), but when the immediate need for them waned, construction slowed down, and only after several years they entered service, although they were nominally handed over to contractors and accepted joined the fleet in 1872
"Cyclops". General view and reservation distribution diagram
As warships, they were the subject of ridicule throughout the navy, and one of the Council members who had pioneered their creation later wrote in The Times: “The chief builder's department was given orders to build ships that could easily capsize on the high seas, that would not could swim in shallow water, could not move from port to port except after a careful study of the barometer, but could easily go to the bottom during a storm, as well as due to a number of other reasons, and which ultimately received minimal offensive power with maximum defensive power. The chief builder’s department solved the problem very correctly and with great intelligence, giving us “coastal defense” ships that cannot protect our shores... what then does a “coastal defense” ship even mean?” Although built to a design designed specifically for harbor defense ships, they were classified as "coastal defense ships" capable of arriving anywhere on the coast where and when their presence was required, and as such able to put to sea safely. Before their construction was completed, the Design Committee, examining the variety and differences of the ships of the period, unanimously declared that "without the use of a certain superstructure along the sides of these ships for a significant part of the length of the hull, they can safely pass from port to port only in fair weather," and For this purpose, he recommended expanding the parapet to the sides and covering it with a deck, as a measure both to improve stability and to create better conditions for the crew.
The chief builder's department had already proposed a similar expansion of the parapet as a precautionary measure, since the available data for calculating the stability of low-sided ships on the high seas had not yet received practical confirmation. However, for the reason that any structural changes were decided only by the Council, which was quite satisfied with the existing situation, they were completed in accordance with the original design, and the prescribed changes followed only in 1886-1889. The added superstructure, which housed the commander’s quarters, additional quarters for the crew, a reading room, an infirmary, etc., made the ships more stable, and their habitability much better.
Armament
While the Rupert had the lowest armament-to-displacement ratio of any coastal defense ship, the Cyclops class represented the opposite extreme, displacing only 48 tons for every ton of armament. The four 10" 18-ton guns were mounted on Scott rigs of mixed design on a side pin, were equipped with hydraulic drives instead of levers and were much more efficient in terms of aiming and maintenance than any of the earlier ones in the fleet. During the modernization, an anti-mine battery of four 47mm guns and five grapeshots, as well as two searchlights.
Booking
The freeboard was completely protected by armor, the total weight of which as part of the load was as high as the proportion of weapons, and was approximately equal to that of the Glatton, where it constituted a third of the displacement. However, carrying two towers and a large parapet, the “Cyclops” also had a relatively larger area that had to be protected with armor, and the frontal plates of the towers reached their greatest thickness - 254 mm. But, since it was not expected that they could encounter anything more serious than light ships in shallow water, this level of armor was regarded as quite sufficient.
The waterline belt was 203 mm thick in the middle and thinned to 152 mm at the ends; the ram was not supported by side armor. The height of the parapet above the waterline was 2.97 m, it was armored with 229 mm plates on the sides and 203 mm on the rounded ends, where a gun turret was installed, protected by 229 mm armor (254 mm in the frontal part). Both the upper deck and the parapet deck had a thickness of 38 mm, the plating had a thickness of 25-32 mm.
Equipment
As a relic of the original Cerberus design, Cyclops and Hecate retained a small post-mast in the bow forward of the turret, slightly to the left of it, which was used as a support for the boat shot guys. "Gorgon" and "Hydra" had only a mainmast.
Seaworthiness
As one might expect, these ships did not take much part in the life of the fleet, and year after year they hovered in their anchorages in the waters of the shipyards. In April 1878 they were not distributed between ports, but were attached to Sir Cooper Key's Special Service Squadron, raised at the Portland roadstead, and remaining there for four months during the period of tension associated with the Russo-Turkish War. In 1887, all four ships were equipped for maneuvers and they made sea crossings, the Gorgon withstood a storm off Queenstown and, according to Admiral Ballard, turned out to be “not as bad as a torpedo gunboat, but it wandered a lot on course.” Although their habitability left much to be desired, the crews regarded them as quite reliable ships. After the expansion of the parapet, the situation improved significantly, but at sea they were subject to the same inconveniences as the Devastation, since they received the same “stern bags” (semicircular deck cabin superstructures) on the quarterdeck. The angle of greatest stability was 25°, the rollover angle was 39°15\
Modernization
All four ships were taken out of service for modernization between 1885 (Hecate) and 1889, during which they were fitted with additional superstructures around the parapet and the parapet and upper decks received additional reinforcements. A waterproof bulkhead and an additional platform were added to the bow, and a false keel appeared. Since rapid-fire guns appeared on the hanging deck, it had to be expanded somewhat.
Cyclops-class coastal defense battleships
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Price
"Tams Iron Works"
"Gorgon"
"Palmer's"
Dimensions, m
68.6 x 13.72x4.94
Displacement, t
3480 (after modernization 3560), hull and armor 2730, equipment 750
Armament
4 10" 18-ton muzzle-loading rifled (side salvo weight 744 kg)
Armor, mm
belt 152-203, parapet 178-229, towers 229-254, conning tower 203-229, deck 38, plating 25-32, lining 230-280 (teak) (total armor weight 1130 t)
Mechanisms
"Cyclop", "Hydra": 2 sets of compound ("John Elder"), 2 high pressure cylinders (diameter 787 mm), 2 low pressure cylinders (diameter 1448 mm), piston stroke 686 mm, "Cyclop": indicated power 1660 hp, 11 knots, "Hydra": indicated power 1472 hp, 11.2 knots,
"Hecate", "Gorgon": 2 sets of horizontal 4-cylinder simple expansion, direct action ("Ravenhill"), cylinder diameter 1143 mm, piston stroke 610 mm, "Gorgon": indicated power 1670 hp, 11 kts, " Hecate": indicated power 1755 hp, 10.9 kts,
Fuel reserve, t
Crew, people
156 (after modernization 191)
"Cyclops"
Towed for completion to Devonport in January 1872 and placed until ready in April 1877 in the 1st Division Reserves, then assigned to the Special Service Squadron (April-August 1878), after which it was withdrawn to reserve at Chatham. Modernization in 1887-1889 in Portsmouth: superstructures along the sides, network protection, rapid-fire guns. Participated in maneuvers in 1887, 1889, 1890 and 1892, then transferred to the Reserve Fleet. In 1901, it was excluded from the lists of the active fleet.
"Gorgon"
Towed in April 1872 and placed in reserve at Devonport. She served as a Cambridge tender from 1874 to 1877, after which she was commissioned for the Special Service Squadron for the period April-August 1878. Since 1878 she has been a Cambridge tender again. Modernization in 1888-1889, participated in the maneuvers of 1887, 1889, 1890 and 1892. Thereafter with the Reserve Fleet at Devonport until delisted in 1901.
"Hecate"
She arrived at Devonport in April 1872 and was completed until 1877. Commissioned for the Special Service Squadron in April 1878 and withdrawn to reserve at Devonport in August 1878. Modernized in 1885-1886, saw action in 1887, 1889, 1890 and 1892, then with the Reserve Fleet at Devonport until delisted in 1901.
"Hecate" in 1878
"Hydra"
She arrived at Devonport in August 1872 and was slowly completed until 1877. In April 1878 she was commissioned for the Special Service Squadron, in August 1878 she was withdrawn to reserve at Sheerness. She served as the Duncan's tender and was docked for the winter. Modernization in 1888-1889, participated in the maneuvers of 1887, 1889,1890 and 1892. Was in the Reserve Fleet at Chatham until delisted in 1901.
"Hydra" after entry into service
Battleship "Hydra"
All four ships were sold for scrap in 1903 for £8,400. for every.
