Flatiron Gunboats: The other European nations' vessels

Besides the Scandinavian countries, several other European nations acquired flatiron gunboats.

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GERMANY

Wespe-class

A Wespe-class flatiron gunboat.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 1139 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 152ft 4 in
• Beam: 34ft 10in
• Draught: 10ft 10in
• Propulsion: 2 compound steam engines, each driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 11 knots
• Complement: 76
• Armament: 1 x 12-inch BL gun; 2 x 3.5-inch BL guns, 2 x 1-pounder QF guns: 2 x 14-inch torpedo tubes

Amongst the largest flatiron gunboats built by any nation. They were reputed to be very poor seaboats and spent little time in commission.

• Wespe: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Viper: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911. She was still in use as a barge in 1960.
• Biene: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Mucke: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Scorpion: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Basilisk: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Camaleon: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Crocodil: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Salamander: She was lost in 1910.
• Natter: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.
• Hummel: She was stricken between 1909 and 1911.

Brummer-class

A Brummer-class flatiron gunboat.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 1914 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 212ft 9 in
• Beam: 27ft 11in
• Draught: 15ft 8in
• Propulsion: 1 compound steam engines driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 14 knots
• Complement: 78
• Armament: 1 x 8.2-inch BL gun; 2 x 3-pounder QF guns: 1 x 14-inch torpedo tubes

Technically these were not flatiron gunboats, although there shared many similar characteristics. They were longer, lighter, and faster and much better seaboats that the Wespe-class vessels. As a result, they saw much more service.

• Brummer: She served as flagship of the torpedo forces before becoming a fishery protection vessel. She was then used as a weapons and machinery training vessel before being hulked in 1907. She was not broken up until 1922.
• Bremse: She was hulked in 1903 and then converted into an oil barge. She was sold into commercial service in 1910.

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GREECE

Spetses-class

A Spetses-class flatiron gunboat.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 433 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 127ft 11in
• Beam: 25ft 11in
• Draught: 7ft 3in
• Propulsion: 2 vertical compound steam engines, each driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 12 knots
• Complement: 64
• Armament: 1 x 11-inch gun; 1 x 6-inch gun; 2 x 2-pounder QF guns; 1 x 14-inch bow torpedo tube

These vessels were built by Thames Ironworks.

• Spetses: Renamed Aketon in 1889. She saw action during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and both Balkan Wars. She served as guardship of the Piraeus and Keratsini net barrages during World War I. She was seized by France in 1917 and returned to Greece in 1918. She was stricken in 1920.
• Hydra: She was renamed Amvrakia in 1889. She saw action during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and both Balkan Wars. She served as guardship of the Piraeus and Keratsini net barrages during World War I and was scrapped in 1931.

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ITALY

Castore-class

A Castore-class flatiron gunboat.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 667 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 115ft
• Beam: 37ft
• Draught: 9ft 2in
• Propulsion: 2 vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 8 knots
• Complement: 42
• Armament: 1 x 16-inch (117 ton) BL gun

These were the most heavily armed flatiron gunboats built. There were built as trials vessels for the Italian Ministry of War and not handed over to the Italian Navy until 1891.

• Castore: Her 16-inch gun was removed after her transfer to the Italian Navy and replaced by 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun and 1 x machine gun. She was disarmed in 1899 and used as a barge until 1904 when she became a minelayer. From 1915 until she was discarded in 1925, she served as a torpedo testing vessel.
• Polluce: Her 16-inch gun was removed after her transfer to the Italian Navy and replaced by 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun and 1 x machine gun. She was disarmed in 1899 and discarded in 1911.

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NETHERLANDS

Hydra-class

A Hydra-class flatiron gunboat.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement:218 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 84ft 11in
• Beam: 25ft
• Draught: 6ft
• Propulsion: 2 compound steam engines, each driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 7.5 knots
• Complement: 34
• Armament:
• When built: 1 x 9-inch (RML) gun
• When rearmed: 1 x 8.2-inch gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF guns

The Hydra and the Ever were built by Armstrongs whilst the rest of the class were built in the Netherlands. The design was unusual in that it had twin side-by-side funnels. The Hydra's 9-inch gun was initially fitted with a Moncrieff disappearing carriage, but this proved to be unsatisfactory and was removed and replaced by a deck mounting in 1875-1876.

• Hydra: She served as a guardship at Vlissingen until 1885 and was rearmed in 1888. In 1891 she was then attached to the Naval Engineering School until she was scrapped in 1906.
• Ever: She served as a cadet training vessel early in her career. Her 9-inch gun was removed in 1884, and she was rearmed in 1888-1890. In 1914 she became an accommodation vessel at Ijmuiden, and from 1921 until 1925 she was an instructional vessel for naval cadets. She was scrapped in 1926.
• Das: She was rearmed in 1888-1890. She was converted into a minelayer in 1914. Rearmed with 2 x 1-pounder QF gun sand 1 x machine gun in 1921 and sold in 1925.
• Dog: She was reamed in 1888-1890. Allocated to subsidiary duties in 1884, she was discarded in 1927.
• Fret: She was rearmed in 1888-1890 and became an accommodation vessel in 1896. She was stricken in 1924.
• Geep: She was reamed in 1888-1890. Allocated to subsidiary duties in 1892, she was sold in 1922.
• Gier: She was rearmed in 1888-1890. She became a training vessel in 1894 and sold in 1913.
• Havik: She was rearmed in 1888-1890. She was converted into a minelayer in 1914. Rearmed with 2 x 1-pounder QF gun sand 1 x machine gun in 1921 and broken up in 1936.
• Raaf: She was reamed in 1888-1890. Allocated to subsidiary duties in 1894, she was sold in 1936.
• Brak: She was rearmed in 1888-1890. She was hulked in 1902 and sold in 1961.
• Lynx: She was rearmed in 1888-1890. In 1912 she was renamed Los and sold in 1925.
• Vos: She was rearmed in 1888-1890.
• Bever: She was rearmed in 1888-1890 and became an accommodation vessel in 1896. She was sold in 1937.
• Sperwer: She was rearmed in 1888-1890 and became a training vessel in 1896. She was sold in 1960.

Wodan-class

The Hydra-class flatiron gunboat Freyr in 1938. Her shielded 2.9-inch QF gun can be seen in the position originally occupied by her 11-inch gun.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement:2264 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 91ft 4in
• Beam: -
• Draught: -
• Propulsion: 2 compound steam engines, each driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 7 knots
• Complement: -
• Armament:
• When built: 1 x 11-inch/22 gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF guns
• When rearmed: 1 x 11-inch/30 gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF guns

The majority of the class were rearmed with a longer 11-inch gun during their service. Many had their 11-inch guns removed when they were converted to perform other roles.

• Wodan: She was rearmed for a second time later in her career with 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun. She was discarded in 1924.
• Balder: She was converted into a minelayer in 1910 and rearmed for a second time in 1921 with 2 x 4-pounder QF guns and 2 x machine guns. She was captured by the Germans in 1940 and broken up.
• Braga: She was converted into a minesweeper in 1913 and served as a river gunboat from 1914 to 1918. She was scuttled in 1940 to avoid being captured by the Germans.
• Freyr: She was rearmed for a second time later in her career with 1 x 2.9-inch QF gun. She was scuttled in 1940 to avoid being captured by the Germans. She was raised in 1944 and scuttled for a second time. She raised and her wreck was broken up in 1947/48.
• Heimdall: She was used for subsidiary duties from 1918 onwards.
• Njord: She was rearmed for a second time later in her career with 1 x 5.9-inch QF gun. She was stricken in 1925.
• Thor: She was converted into a minelayer in 1918 and rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 1-pounder QF guns and 2 x machine guns. She was sunk in 1940.
• Tyr: She was captured by the Germans in 1940 and returned and then sold in 1945.
• Hefring: She was never rearmed with the 11-inch/30 gun. She was used as a training vessel from 1907 and scuttled to avoid capture by the Germans in 1940. They raised her wreck and broke her up.
• Vali: She was used for subsidiary duties from 1909 onwards and broken up during the 1940s.
• Vidar: She was converted into a minelayer in 1915 and rearmed for a second time in 1921 with 2 x 1-pounder QF guns and 2 x machine guns. She was captured by the Germans in 1940 and broken up.
• Bulgia: She was never rearmed with the 11-inch/30 gun. She was converted into a minelayer in 1925 and sunk in 1940. The Germans raised her wreck and broke her up.
• Duffa: She was never rearmed with the 11-inch/30 gun. She was discarded in 1913.
• Hadda: She was never rearmed with the 11-inch/30 gun. She was converted into a minelayer in 1921 and rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4-pounder QF guns and 2 x machine guns. She was scuttled to avoid capture by the Germans in 1940. They raised her wreck and broke her up.
• Udur: She was never rearmed with the 11-inch/30 gun. She was used as a training vessel from 1903 and was captured by the Germans in 1940 and broken up.
• Ulfr: She was used for subsidiary duties from 1903 onwards and sunk in 1940.

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RUSSIA

Ersh or Yorsh

Her characteristics were:

• Displacement: 321 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 91ft
• Beam: 28ft 6in
• Draught: 6ft 8in
• Propulsion: 2 compound steam engines, each driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 8 knots
• Complement: 44
• Armament: 1 x 11-inch gun; 2 x 4-pounder QF guns

Her name is rendered in either form. She was stricken in 1906.

Burun-class

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 400 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 119ft 4 in
• Beam: 29ft
• Draught: 8ft
• Propulsion: 2 compound steam engines, each driving a propeller shaft
• Speed: 8 knots
• Complement: 54
• Armament: 1 x 11-inch gun; 2 x 3.4-inch QF guns

Enlarged versions of the Ersh.

• Burun: She was stricken in 1908 and used for harbour duties.
• Tutcha: She was stricken in 1906.
• Burya: She was stricken in 1906. and used for harbour duties.
• Groza: She was stricken in 1907.
• Dojd: She was stricken in 1907 and converted into a light vessel.
• Snyeg: She was stricken in 1902.
• Grad: She was stricken in 1904.
• Vikhr: She was stricken in 1908, renamed Tral, and used for harbour duties.