Norwegian coastal defence ship Harald Haarfrage

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Sister ship Tordemskjold

Of the Tordenskjold-class consisting of the Harald Haarfrage and Tordenskjold, succeeded by the Eisdsvold-class. Building ordered in 1896, laid down by Armstrong, Whitworth&Co., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England with yard number 648 on 18 March 1896, launched on 4 January 1897, commissioned on 21 March 1898, captured by German forces in 1940, rebuilt as the floating anti aircraft battery Thetis, returned to Norway in 1945, used s accommodation ship and for transporting German prisoners of war, sold to be broken up in 1947 and broken up in 1948.  In German Kriegsmarine service served she in Norwegian waters for instance protecting the German battleship Tirpitz. Technical details of the Tordenskjold-class were 3.920 tons/3.858 long tons (the Harald Haarfrage 3.380/standard-3.435 design) and as dimensions 92,56 x 14,78 x 5,38 metres or 304.0 x 43.6 x 17.8 feet. The coal fired reciprocating steam engines and 3 cylindrical boilers developed 4,500 hp allowing a speed of 16,9 knots. Their crew numbered 245 men. Armour consisted of 1 17,8cm/7” thick belt and with the gun turrets protected by 20,3cm/8”. Armament consisted of 2x1-21cm/8.3” cal 45 guns (1 fore, 1 aft), 6x1-12xm/4.7” 45 cal guns, 6x1-7,5cm/3” cal 40 guns, 6x1pd quick firing guns and 2-45cm/18” submerged torpedo tubes. After she was rebuilt into the Thetis consisted her armament of 6-10,5cm anti aircraft Flak 38 guns, 2-4cm anti aircraft Bofors guns and 14-2cm anti aircraft Flak 30 guns.