Computer line drawing by Alexander van Maanen, 2011
The several steam gunboats were on 12 May 1893 classed as gunboats. In fact there were two separate classes, namely a first class and a second class which differs in dimensions being the 1st class larger. The Los belonged to the 2nd class with as sister ships Ever, Hydra, Dog, Havik, Gier, Geep, Raaf, Das, Bever, Vos, Brak, Fret and Sperwer. Both classes were based on the British Staunch-design just being a platform for a large gun with ammunition, etc. and propulsion. These gunboats were nicknamed flat-iron and some even still actually served in May 1940 during the German invasion! She was laid down at the yard of the Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij Fijenoord at Schiedam, Netherlands on 3 September 1874 with building number 94, launched on 20 May 1875, renamed Los in 1912, later used as an instruction vessel added to the Hr. Ms. Van Speyk for schooling stokers and decommissioned and stricken in 1925. Building costs amounted ƒ 143.000,00.
The dimensions were 24,76 (waterline) -25,88 (over all) x 7,62 x 1,83 (fore loaded)-2,06 (aft loaded) metres and a hold of 2,833 metres (upper side deck-bottom) keel. The displacement was 194,016 M3 or 195,956 tons. The two compound engines each with 2 vertical cylinders and 2 boilers driving 2 screws supplied 110 hp allowing a designed trial speed of 7,9 miles. In service the engines provided 150 hp allowing a speed of 8 miles. The armament consisted of a 23cm rifled gun between 1888-1890 replaced by a 1 21cm gun, and 3-3.7cm guns of the latter was one revolving. Her crew numbered in advance 22 men later increased to 34 men.
