Dutch navy experimenting with wood-built torpedo boat alike target according to the Dutch newspaper Java-bode dated 3 November 1882

Rotterdam, Netherlands 23 December 2012

An item reported that at the navy yard at Nieuwediep built a torpedo boat of wood (1) to be used as target during the combined manoeuvres. Such a target was a week earlier already used by the commanding officer of the screw steam ship Het Loo captain lieutenant J.P. Mercier while being on board of the ram ironclad Buffel (2). With the torpedo target fixated on one spot steamed the Buffel full speed forwards while Mercier was shooting with the Hotckiss revolver gun with over 50% hits. Usually it would be the torpedo boat attacking full speed and the ram ship nearly not moving. Bt next test could be that a starting point just the fact that torpedo boats used to attack in the night.

Notes

1. In this period was much attention for the treat of torpedo boats attacking major warships.
2. Ram turret, classified as ironclad in 1893, Design of Napier&Sons but modified by the Dutch chief engineer B.J. Tideman, call sign GQDV, on stocks at the shipyard of Robert Napier&Sons, Glasgow, Scotland on 10 June 1867, launched on 10 March 1868, commissioned on 23 July 1868, main repairs at the shipyard of the Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1892, decommissioned and converted into temporarily accommodation ship for the graduation training of sailors 1st class for the rank of quartermaster and the training of boys as sailors, commissioned as accommodation ship and added to the Hr. Ms. Van Galen at Hellevoetsluis, Netherlands on 1 April 1894, stricken, armour, engines and guns removed and now officially accommodation ship, rebuilt as guard ship at the navy yard at Hellevoetsluis in 1920, guard ship at Vlissingen 1920-1926, accommodation ship at Willemsoord, Netherlands, fallen in German hands and towed to Amsterdam, Netherlands to be used as accommodation ship in May 1940. After the war used as accommodation ship at several locations, finally decommissioned on 18 January 1974, handed over to the town Rotterdam, Netherlands and since then museum ship there until she moved in 2013 towards Hellevoetsluis. Displacement 2.198 tons, dimensions 59,68-62,68 x 12,25 x 4,72 metres, two 2 cylinder engines, 4 boilers, horsepower 2.000 hp, speed 11,20 miles, armour consisted of a 7,6-1,52cm thick belt, gun turret protected by 20,3-28,0cm, conning turret by 11,4cm and further more a 19-2,5cm thick deck. Originally two signalling masts. Costs when first fitted out ƒ 1.117,756,00,The armament consisted of 2 rifled 23cm Armstrong guns and 4-30pd guns. Since 1888 1-28cm Krupp gun, 2-7,5cm guns, 4-3,7cm guns and 2-3,7 revolver guns. Her crew numbered 117-159 men.