Frithjof (1895)

Sjøforsvaret: Protected Cruiser (1st. class Gunboat) 1895-1928

During the Kalmar Union with Sweden until 1905, Norway developed a policy of coastal defence, based initially on gunboats (and later coastal battleships and torpedo boats) of second and first class. The latter were two small protected cruisers launched at Horten, Viking (1891) and Frithof in 1895. Here is the story of the latter, which from 1908 was converted as a cadet training ship as she was considered too small and slow to be effective as a cruiser by 1900 standards.

Development

In 1877, the Norwegian navy developed a doctrine requiring passive coastal defense with heavy guns carried by three different classes. Some, the smallest, were understood as unable to engage on high seas and stay in fjords. Horten naval shipyard already built 2nd class gunboats on British plans, the armoured Rendell type between 1874 and 1894. HnOms Uller was the first, followed by four 1st class gunboats, starting with the 730 tonnes Sleipner. But she was old by 1890 and a new 1st class Gunboat was planned according to this doctrine, following Viking.

In 1892, Norway was aware of its limitations in case a Swedish action until the 1905 dissolution of the personal union. At that stage, the Navy still had obsolete monitor dating back to the 1860-70s the three Scorpionen classs and larger Thor. They were scheduled for modernization, but also it was planned to replace them by four (then two) coastal defence ships (this was postponed until 1895). Norway also had a single cruiser, the 1,891 Viking (1,181t) to replace its antiquated wooden hulled frigate Kong Svere (1860) and Corvette Nordsterna (1861). This led to the construction of another cruiser, Frithjof, in 1895.

Frithjof (from Fritjhof no relation with Nansen, the explorer 1861-1930) is certainly not the best known cruiser even for warships aficionados. This was a very small ship, which name has been completely eclipsed by the modern Frigate (F310). She followed the older NhOms Viking, seen last month, but had a different appearance. The concept behind her construction was the same as for Viking, under significant economic constraints born from the union with Sweden (1814–1905). The new cruiser was intended to defend access to fjords against a potential aggression from Sweden of even from the Russian Empire. The main goal was to design a ships heavily armed while having some protection, faster than, for example, Swedish coastal battleships.

The “cruiser” designation is proper to some sources like Conways, based on her protection similar to Viking as a “small protected cruiser” (page 370) but most sources today have her classed as a 1st class gunboat which is coherent with her tonnage and speed. She had to backup second-class gunboats tasked of invasion defense of the archipelago. These larger gunboats (including Viking) had to venture out at sea to protect lines of communication along the coast. The concept of a “1st-class gunboat” (“Førsteklasses Kanonbåt”) therefore had to be large and seaworthy enough to engage any intruder along the entire Norwegian coast in all weather conditions.

Self-protection was recommended, with a reasonably detterent armament, all shielded. This was just the minimal level required to atempt deterring larger armored vessels. HnOms Viking had been previous launched in 1891 at Horten so discussion about solutions went on in 1893. until she was proposed to the parliament and accepted in 1894, FY 1895. By default of better data it is assumed she was launched sometime after January 1895 at Carljohansværns Værft, Horten Norway yard number No.76. She was then launched on 15 November 1895, with other sources stating 1896. She was however completed likely by late 1896 (no date known).

Design of Frithjof

These 1st class gunboats, known abroad as “protected cruisers” due to their armored decks, were not a successful design. Compared to Swedish or Danish coastal battleships of the same time, they were only lightly armed, insufficiently armored. And their top speed of only 15 knots made them too slow to escape cruisers of their size. Thus, no more of these were built.

Hull and general design

HNoMS Frithjof was of steel construction, flush-deck with just enough freeboard to manage rough waters off shore in winter. She was optimized for coastal defense duties and the hull was reinforced enough to deal with cold, icy winter gale in the North Sea. She had a standard displacement of 1,280 long tons (1,301 t) in some sources, 1,360 long tons (1,382 t) given by Conways, possibly a fully loaded figure, albeit standards were no defined at the time. Some even states 1,480 tonnes. She had an overall length of 68.17 m (223 ft 8 in) for a beam of 9.98 m (32 ft 9 in), and draught of 4 m (13 ft 1 in) up to 4.2 meters mean, making for a 1:6 hull ratio which emphasized stability making her a good artillery platform. Her limited draught was an advantage for shallow waters in Fjords. Maneuverability was prioritized.

In her general outlook, she was very different from Viking. The latter also had a flush-deck hull with shielded main guns protected behind wave breakers, two raked masts and a single funnel, whereas Frithjof resembled more the old Sleipner with her three funnels, heavenly placed amidship and tall. She had two raked masts and the hull was relatively symmetical, with a structure forward, on top opf which was placed the connign tower and small open deck, platform for a projector, followed by the battery deck, with remaining guns behind bulwarks, and the same blocky beam-wide structure aft. The poop was rounded and almost clipper-like and the prow had a small ram. Her crew is generally stated as counting 154 (up to 166 likely after refit) officers, NCOs and ratings. For them, there were at least six boats, including two on deck aft and four under davits above the battery.

Powerplant

Propulsion comprised two shafts, likely with 4-bladed bronze propellers, driven by two Vertical triple expansion steam engine rated for 2,800 hp (2,088 kW). These were powered by likely four to six cylindrical coal-fired boilers, for a top speed of 15 knots (28 km/h). This was enough for patrol and escort duties, preferring fuel efficiency based on 160 tonnes to extend her range north to south of the Norwegian coastline, one of the most extensive of Europe. Range is estimated around 2300 nm at 10 knots.

Protection

It was light, repeating the Viking scheme but made of Harvey steel. The thickest was 85mm walls (3.3 inches) for her armored conning tower, diving below deck, then a main armoured deck that was 35mm (1.4 in) or one and a half inch of armored deck, likely with slopes. Above it, the sides were heavily compartmented and composed of cellulose cells as upper belt protection against hits. She also had a strake of 30mm deck (1.2 inches) to protect the machinery.

Armament

It was limited to a mix of cruiser and anti-torpedo boat fast guns:
-The core was two 120mm or 4.7 inches 44 caliber Armstrong Y. They were placed under shields and wave breakers at both ends of the ship, foredeck and poop deck.

This was completed by four Armstrong 3 inches or 7.6 cm 40 caliber type N QF guns located in four battery positions on sponsons, and shielded.

Then came four Hotchkiss 3.7 cm (1 pounder) QF L/45 automatic cannons located on deck above the fore and aft structure.
This was rounded with a single 45 cm torpedo tube (18 inches) forward, likely underwater. Others sources states 356 mm or 14 inches on deck (removed 1908).

Drawing, src. unknown facebook

Career of HNoMS Frithjof

Profile of the ship. Coll. Norsk Maritimt Museum src

In 1896 after commission, Frithjof had trial runs and started training. The next year in 1897 she made her first overseas deployment, an Arctic sea voyage likely in summer. Nothing for 1898, probably occupied by local waters training and a refit and fixes. In 1899 she took part in a Squadron (Den norske Eskadre) with her sister Viking, making an official visit to Copenhagen. Later the same year she took part in large scale mobilization exercises. In 1900 she made another such squadron visit (coastal defense ship Tordenskjold, destroyer Valkyrjen, and four Storm-class torpedo boats), this time to Kiel. The remainder of the year went on with Squadron exercises. In 1901 no such sorties but squadron exercises again.

In squadron, 1901. Norsk Maritimt Museum src

In 1902 she was part of another Squadron tour. There will be also in 1903, 1904, 1909, 1911, 1912 and 1913. She was rebuilt and modernized between 1904 and 1908. When Norway seceded from the Union with Sweden in 1905, she was fully mobilized, but nothing happened, although the Swedish navy deployed several units in the Kattegat. The four Norwegian coastal battleships, six Hval-class first-class torpedo boats, destroyer Valkyrjen formed the “Skagerrak Squadron” off the south coast west of Oslo Fjord. They were intended to repel a any attempt to proceed on Oslo or target military and industrial installations in eastern Norway. Inversely, the Naval staff also proposed an offensive against Gothenburg. The four remaining first-class torpedo boats, led by the two cruisers Frithjof and Viking, remained in Bergen when it happened. A political solution was found. This deflation of tensions led to convert the cruiser into a training ship.

During the summer of 1910, polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen organized a scientific expedition on the cruiser, proceeding east of Greenland to observe water temperatures and air currents but she ran out of coal and never reached the planned 62° north. Measurements from Ireland and oceanographic work on Fram and Michael Sars provided crucial data on the Gulf Stream. In June 1911, Frithjof was present in France, Rouen, for the Norman Millennium celebrations. The torpedo on deck was removed and by 1908 she had been converted to a trainig ship, for cadets (“Kadettskip”). Thus from 1910 she mad an overseas training cruise with cadets, as well as in 1914 and postwar, in 1919.

In the first world war, she was tasked of escort duties and coastal patrols, enforcing Norwegian neutrality and security. No major incidents were recorded. From 1919 she was assigned supervision service on the coast of Finnmark. She still maintained her cadet training vessel role within the Royal Norwegian Navy, until 1929. Considered obsolete she was decommissioned, stricken and sold for scrap in Stavanger.

Read More/Src

Books

John Gardiner’s Conway’s all the world’s fighting ships 1860-1906 p.370
Norske marinefartøy by Alf E. Riple, Arne Tandberg, Sverre Mo, innbundet, 2008.
Jacob Børresen: Sjømilitære krigsforberedelser i ytre Oslofjord sommeren 1905. Vestfold University College und Borre Historical Society
Robert S. Pickart, Kjetil Våge, G. W. K. Moore, Ian A. Renfrew, Mads Hvid Ribergaard, Huw C. Davies: Convection in the western North Atlantic subpolar gyre: Do small-scale wind events matter?

Links

navypedia.org/
HNoMS_Frithjof wiki FR
history.navy.mil
navalhistory.flixco.info
frammuseum.no
tidsmaskinen.no
snl.no