Several local Dutch newspapers described the building of torpedo boats in England for Dutch account. Some were built by Yarrow&Co., others by Thornycroft&Co. The one mentioned in the newspapers must be the no. II. (1)
The Middelburgsche Courant dated Thursday 14 June 1877.Last Sunday is at the yard of J. Thornycroft and Co. at Chiswick the first torpedo boat ordered by the Dutch government launched. The former Turkish grand visor was presented when she ship was baptised by miss Alice Sich of Chiswick. Strangely enough didn’t supplied the British newspaper Times the name of the ship. Her dimensions were 76 x 10 and she was launched while being under steam and immediately steamed towards the yard where Midhat pasha came on board for a small voyage on the river transporting him to his hotel Royal Hotel at Blackfrairs.
The Zierikzeesche Courant dated 20 June 1877 reported that the steel built torpedo boat was ordered in 1876 and recently launched with a length of 76 feet and a draught of 10 feet. Her engines provided 240 ihp with around 400 revolutions and a steam pressure of 120 pound a square cm. The engines needed just one engineer and one stoker and had a speed of 10 miles during 20 hours and a maximum speed of 18 miles. The torpedo’s were launched from a tube in the bow and exploded by an outside blow or an inner ignition. On board was 25 pound dynamite available.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 7 July 1877. Her correspondent in the United Kingdom supplied an interesting story dealing with the first torpedo boat built for the Dutch government in England. A maximum speed of 18 knots was possible. At deck were at both sides 60 feet long beams fitted to which the torpedo’s were fastened. The only thing the torpedo boat had to do was approaching the enemy hitting the ship with one of the beam directed forwards of to the port side and a battery ignited the torpedo sinking the ship. The crew of such a torpedo boat numbered maximum 5 or 6 men.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 8 July 1877. An item described the trial of the Dutch torpedo boat on the Thames while meeting the salon steamboat Alberta underway from London towards Gravesend with hundreds of holidaymakers on board. Just after passing Woolwich they saw in the distance a small black grey point with an enormous speed approaching. The Alberta was considered as the fastest ship on the river that time was speeding 14 knots when the point was recognised as being a torpedo boat. The Thornycroft or torpedo boat No. 48 was built for the Dutch government and on board were colonel Wyde, mr. Donaldson of the yard and the correspondent of the newspaper. She was recently baptised by Miss Alice Sich. Seven runs was a distance of 7 British knots steamed during this trial. The first run in 3,21 minutes and the 7th run in 2.59 minutes with a speed of more as 20 knots. Her dimensions were 76 x 10 English feet. She was fitted out by the beams at both sides as above described.
Middelburgsche Courant dated 28 July 1877. The torpedo boat built by Joh. Thornycroft & Co. at London had during her trial 19½ German miles in four hours steamed, a German mile measured 7.047 meter. The trial was excellent and she proves to be one of the best torpedo boats built until now.
Note
1. A.J. Vermeulen. De schepen van de Koninklijke marine en die der gouvernementsmarine 1814-1962. Vermeulen mentioned her as launched in 1877 at Thornycroft&Co. At London with a displacement of 26 tons and the dimensions 23,30n x 3,04 x 0.75 meter. The engine provided 240 ihp allowing a speed of 19,50 miles. She was armed with a 3.7cm gun and spar torpedo equipment. The crew numbered 10 men. Stricken in 1901. The papers for the Dutch Parliament budget 1878 2VI sub no. 2 reported that she was nearly completed and soon would be handed over at Nieuwediep. During a trail at the Thames her maxim speed was 19,5 miles which was considered as being very good.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated Thursday 14 June 1877.Last Sunday is at the yard of J. Thornycroft and Co. at Chiswick the first torpedo boat ordered by the Dutch government launched. The former Turkish grand visor was presented when she ship was baptised by miss Alice Sich of Chiswick. Strangely enough didn’t supplied the British newspaper Times the name of the ship. Her dimensions were 76 x 10 and she was launched while being under steam and immediately steamed towards the yard where Midhat pasha came on board for a small voyage on the river transporting him to his hotel Royal Hotel at Blackfrairs.
The Zierikzeesche Courant dated 20 June 1877 reported that the steel built torpedo boat was ordered in 1876 and recently launched with a length of 76 feet and a draught of 10 feet. Her engines provided 240 ihp with around 400 revolutions and a steam pressure of 120 pound a square cm. The engines needed just one engineer and one stoker and had a speed of 10 miles during 20 hours and a maximum speed of 18 miles. The torpedo’s were launched from a tube in the bow and exploded by an outside blow or an inner ignition. On board was 25 pound dynamite available.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 7 July 1877. Her correspondent in the United Kingdom supplied an interesting story dealing with the first torpedo boat built for the Dutch government in England. A maximum speed of 18 knots was possible. At deck were at both sides 60 feet long beams fitted to which the torpedo’s were fastened. The only thing the torpedo boat had to do was approaching the enemy hitting the ship with one of the beam directed forwards of to the port side and a battery ignited the torpedo sinking the ship. The crew of such a torpedo boat numbered maximum 5 or 6 men.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 8 July 1877. An item described the trial of the Dutch torpedo boat on the Thames while meeting the salon steamboat Alberta underway from London towards Gravesend with hundreds of holidaymakers on board. Just after passing Woolwich they saw in the distance a small black grey point with an enormous speed approaching. The Alberta was considered as the fastest ship on the river that time was speeding 14 knots when the point was recognised as being a torpedo boat. The Thornycroft or torpedo boat No. 48 was built for the Dutch government and on board were colonel Wyde, mr. Donaldson of the yard and the correspondent of the newspaper. She was recently baptised by Miss Alice Sich. Seven runs was a distance of 7 British knots steamed during this trial. The first run in 3,21 minutes and the 7th run in 2.59 minutes with a speed of more as 20 knots. Her dimensions were 76 x 10 English feet. She was fitted out by the beams at both sides as above described.
Middelburgsche Courant dated 28 July 1877. The torpedo boat built by Joh. Thornycroft & Co. at London had during her trial 19½ German miles in four hours steamed, a German mile measured 7.047 meter. The trial was excellent and she proves to be one of the best torpedo boats built until now.
Note
1. A.J. Vermeulen. De schepen van de Koninklijke marine en die der gouvernementsmarine 1814-1962. Vermeulen mentioned her as launched in 1877 at Thornycroft&Co. At London with a displacement of 26 tons and the dimensions 23,30n x 3,04 x 0.75 meter. The engine provided 240 ihp allowing a speed of 19,50 miles. She was armed with a 3.7cm gun and spar torpedo equipment. The crew numbered 10 men. Stricken in 1901. The papers for the Dutch Parliament budget 1878 2VI sub no. 2 reported that she was nearly completed and soon would be handed over at Nieuwediep. During a trail at the Thames her maxim speed was 19,5 miles which was considered as being very good.
