Flatiron Gunboats: The Scandinavian vessels

Soon after their introduction into Royal Navy service, the Danish and Norwegian Navies realised that the flatiron gunboat might provide them with cheap coastal defence vessels capable of defending the approaches to their major cities and ports. As a result, both the Danes and the Norwegians built their own flatiron gunboats, some of which saw very long naval and commercial service.

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DENMARK

Oresund-class

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 240 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 85ft 8in
• Beam: 26ft 2in
• Draught: 7ft 3in
• Propulsion: -
• Speed: 7.5 knots
• Complement: 30
• Armament: 1 x 10-inch RML gun; 4 x 1-pounder QF guns

Little is known about their service in the Danish Navy.

• Oresund: She was discarded in 1919.
• Store Belt: She was discarded in 1912.
• Lille Belt: She was rebuilt and rearmed in 1894 with 3 x 3-pounder QF guns and 4 x machine guns. She was discarded in 1919.

Moen

Her characteristics were:

• Displacement: 410 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 109ft
• Beam: -
• Draught: 8-
• Propulsion: -
• Speed: 9 knots
• Complement: -
• Armament: 1 x 10-inch RML gun; 2 x 10-pounder QF guns; 2 x 1-pounder QF guns

She was significantly bigger than the first three flatiron gunboats in the Danish Navy. Little is known about her service in the Danish Navy. She was discarded in 1901.

Falster

Her characteristics were:

• Displacement: 383 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 112ft 6in
• Beam: 29ft
• Draught: 8ft 7in
• Propulsion: -
• Speed: 10.5 knots
• Complement: 50
• Armament: 1 x 10-inch RML gun; 2 x 10-pounder QF guns; 2 x 1-pounder QF guns

She was significantly bigger than the first three flatiron gunboats in the Danish Navy. She was rebuilt and rearmed with 2 x 3-pounder QF guns and 4 x machine guns in 1906 before becoming an engineering training vessel. She was sold in 1919 into commercial service, renamed Holger and converted into a sand-pump dredger.

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NORWAY

Uller-class

An Uller-class flatiron gunboat.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 229 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 89ft 6in
• Beam: -
• Draught: -
• Propulsion: Reciprocating steam engines
• Speed: 8 knots
• Complement: 41
• Armament:
• When built: 1 x 10.6-inch RML gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF guns
• Uller (1913): 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun; 1 x 3-inch QF gun; 2 x 1pounder QF guns; 50 mines
• Vale: (1911/1912): 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF gun; 50 mines

Built at the Karljohansverns Verft Naval Yard, Horten.

• Uller: She was rearmed and converted into minelayer in 1913. Between the wars she was laid up, but was recommissioned in 1939. She was captured by the Germans in 1940, and later badly damaged by air attack and scuttled.
• Vale: She was rearmed and converted into a minelayer in 1911/1912. She was captured by Germans in 1940 and used as a tug and to deliver distilled water. She was returned to Norway in 1945 and broken up.

Brage-class

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 264 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 94ft 9in
• Beam: -
• Draught: -
• Propulsion: Reciprocating steam engines
• Speed: 8.5 knots
• Complement: 41
• Armament:
• When built: 1 x 10.6-inch RML gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF guns
• Brage (1911/12): 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun; 3 x 1pounder QF guns; 50 mines
• Nor (1911/1912): 1 x 6-inch QF gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF gun; 50 mines

Built at the Karljohansverns Verft Naval Yard, Horten.

• Brage: She was rearmed and converted into minelayer in 1911/1912. She was captured by the Germans in 1940. She was returned to Norway in 1945 and broken up.
• Nor: She was rearmed and converted into a minelayer in 1911/1912. She was captured by Germans in 1940. She was returned to Norway in 1945 and sold into commercial service in 1949. She was renamed Flathom and converted into a salvage lighter. She was still extant in 1984.

Vidar

Her characteristics were:

• Displacement: 262 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 94ft 9in
• Beam: -
• Draught: -
• Propulsion: Reciprocating steam engines
• Speed: 9.5 knots
• Complement: 41
• Armament: 1 x 10.6-inch RML gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF guns

Built at the Karljohansverns Verft Naval Yard, Horten. She was a repeat of the Brage-class and sometimes listed as a member of that class. She was rearmed with 1 x 4.7-inch QF, 3 x 1-pounder QF guns, and 50 mines and converted into minelayer in 1911/1912. She was captured by the Germans in 1940. She was returned to Norway in 1945 and broken up in 1947.

Gor-class

A Gor-class flatiron gunboat.

Their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 273 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 104ft 4in
• Beam: 27ft 11in
• Draught: 7ft 3in
• Propulsion: Compound steam engines
• Speed: 10.5 knots
• Complement: 44
• Armament:
• When built: 1 x 10.2-inch RML gun; 3 x 1-pounder QF guns; 1 x 14-inch torpedo tube
• Gor (1914): 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun; 55 mines
• Tyr (1913): 1 x 4.7-inch QF gun; 1 s 3-inch QF gun; 2 x 1-pounder QF gun; 55 mines

Built at the Karljohansverns Verft Naval Yard, Horten.

• Gor: She was rearmed and converted into minelayer in 1914. She was captured by the Germans in 1940 and used as a supply boat.. She was returned to Norway in 1945 and sold into commercial service for conversion into an oil barge.
• Tyr: She was laid up from 1900 to 1905. From 1910 to 1913 she was used as a submarine tender, She was rearmed and converted into a minelayer in 1913, and from 1919 to 1939 she was laid up. She was captured by Germans in 1940 and returned to Norway in 1945. She was sold into commercial service in 1946 and converted into a heavy lifting vessel. She was sold again in 1949, renamed Bjorn West and converted into a car ferry. In 1986 she was sold again and rebuilt as a heavy transport vessel and subsequently used as a floating storage vessel by a salmon farm. In 2014 she was taken in hand for restoration.

Aegir

Her characteristics were:

• Displacement: 413 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 109ft
• Beam: -
• Draught: -
• Propulsion: Steam engines
• Speed: 9 knots
• Complement: 43
• Armament: 1 x 8.2-inch gun; 1 x 10-pounder QF gun; 2 x 4-pounder QF guns

Built at the Karljohansverns Verft Naval Yard, Horten. She was broken up in 1932.