Grasshopper-class torpedo gunboat

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HMS Spider.png
HMS Spider, a Grasshopper class torpedo boat
Class overview
NameGrasshopper-class torpedo gunboat
Builders
  • Devonport Dockyard
  • Sheerness Dockyard
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byHMS Rattlesnake (1886)
Succeeded bySharpshooter class
Built1886–1888
In commission1888–1905[1]
Completed3
Lost0
Scrapped3
General characteristics [1]
TypeTorpedo gunboat
Displacement525 tons
Length200 ft (61 m) pp
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Draught8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
Installed power
  • 1,600 ihp (1,200 kW) (natural draught)
  • 2,700 ihp (2,000 kW) (forced draught)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Maudslay, Sons & Field triple-expansion steam engines
  • Locomotive boilers
  • Twin screws
  • (later re-boilered with water-tube boilers)
Speed19.25 kn (35.65 km/h)
Range2,400 nmi (4,400 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h)
Complement66
Armament
  • 2 × 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo carriages
  • 1 × 4-inch (102 mm) gun
  • 6 × 3-pounder guns

The Grasshopper-class torpedo gunboat was a class of torpedo gunboat built for the Royal Navy in the late 19th century. All three ships were scrapped before World War I.

Design[]

The Sharpshooter class was designed by Nathaniel Barnaby in 1886 and were essentially repeats of the Rattlesnake of 1886. They had a length between perpendiculars of 200 ft (61 m), a beam of 23 ft (7.0 m) and a displacement of 525 tons.[1] They were engined with two sets of Maudslay, Sons & Field triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive-type boilers, and twin screws. This layout produced 1,600 indicated horsepower (1,200 kW) with natural draught and 2,700 indicated horsepower (2,000 kW) with forced draught, giving them a top speed of 19.25 knots (35.65 km/h).[1] They carried 100 tons of coal, giving them a range of about 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) and were manned by 66 sailors and officers.

Armament[]

The class was each fitted with one 4 inch Gun and six 3-pounder guns. Two 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo tubes and two further 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo carriages. 4 reload torpedoes were carried

Ships[]

Name Ship builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
Sheerness Dockyard 27 April 1886 30 August 1887 July 1888 Sold for breaking on 11 July 1905.
Devonport Dockyard 19 April 1886 20 September 1887 July 1888 Sold at Malta for breaking on 17 March 1905.
Devonport Dockyard 9 June 1886 17 October 1887 December 1888 Sold at Malta for breaking on 13 May 1903.

See also[]

  • List of torpedo gunboats of the Royal Navy

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Winfield (2004), p.304.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6.
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