Thursday 15 October 2015

Dutch ram turret Zr. Ms. Stier to be stationed at Ijmuiden, Netherlands for use as icebreaker according to the Dutch newspaper De standaard 14 January 1881


Model Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Netherlands. Probably the model gifted by the shipyard.

An item reported that the Dutch ram Zr. Ms. Stier would be fitted out and destined for IJmuiden, Netherlands. She was to be stationed there during the winter to keep the Noordzee Kanaal open as fairway for ships. (1)

Note
1. Call sign GQVL, on stocks at Brothers Laird, Birkenhead, England 7 June 1867, launched 9 April 1868. Trial 18 August 1868. Commissioned 18 August 1869. Dimensions 59.43 x 11.58 x 4.87m, displacement 2112 tons, speed 12.46 knots, 2257 ihp. Armed with 2-23cm guns, 1882 rearmed with 1-28cm guns and 7-3.7cm guns. Armour belt 76-152mm, gun turrets 203-280mm, command turret 114mm, deck 19-25mm. Crew original 110, later 137 men. Fitted out with 2 engines, each with two cylinders and 4 boilers. Building costs ƒ 1.136.470. Destined for service in Dutch coastal waters and made never trips to foreign countries. In 1882 large repairs at the naval yard at Amsterdam. In 1908 disarmed and laid up. Seven years later in service as magazine at the naval yard at Willemsoord [Den Helder]. In 1925 used as target for bombs dropped by aeroplanes. August-September 1930 partly dismantled by navy divers with explosives.