HNoMS Viking (1891)

Sjøforsvaret, Semi-protected Cruiser 1890-1920

HNoMS Viking, built in Horten, 1891, was Norwegian’s first protected cruiser after two earlier gunboats, initially armed with 149/40 Krupp Guns. She was modernized in 1904-06 and too, part in neutrality patrol in WWI, stricken in 1920. After that she was converted as an hospital ship in 1924, active until captured by the Germans in 1940. Postwar, she became a salvage vessel and the a Barge until sold for BU in 1958.

Development

In the 1880s, Norway was aware of its limitations in case a Swedish action until the 1905 dissolution of the personal union. The Norwegian Navy still had obsolete monitor dating back to the 1860-70s, the three Scorpionen classs and the larger Thor scheduled for modernization, but also a single wooden hulled frigate, Kong Svere (1860) and the Corvette Nordsterna (1861) as complement. This led to a replacement plan for both in the 1880s, and the parliament (Storting) eventually ordered a first small protected cruiser, the 1891 Viking (1,181t), to be built with British advices (From Vickers Arsmtrong) at Horten NyD, Karljohansvern, given the lack of experience of the yard with modern cruisers.

She was laid down at yard n°72 in 1890 (exact date unknown, one source states January), launched on 2 April 1891, and completed, commissioned later that year. This construction time for a Nataion that had no experience in cruisers was quick and we can imaging the British engineering team from Armstrong worked diligently. Like other Norwegian ships, she saw WWI and was still around until decommissioned in 1920, after being reclassified as a 1st class gunboat given their tonnage before 1914. In 1891-92 publications she appears as a “protected cruiser”, because she indeed had some protection on her deck, but it was fairly light. “Viking” was an obvious homage to the norse explorers, merchant and raiders of the medieval era. Albleit this was not a “name” but rather an adjective, “Going Vikingr” meaning going on a raid or expedition.

Design of Viking

Hull and general design

HNOMS Viking was typical of small unprotected cruisers that Arsmtrong exported in the late 1880s, but she had specific features adapted to Norwegian needs. She was built of steel, covered with a cellulose belt, displaced 1,181 long tons (1,200 t) for an overall length of 63.5 m (208 ft 4 in), a beam of 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in) and normal draught of 3.66 m (12 ft). Her hull was low on the water, flush deck, presenting not forecastle or sterncastle, with a raised ram bow and pointed poop aft. Her bow deck was all metal and “turtledeck”, followed by a large wavebreaker also acting as bulwark, and a classic woden deck all the way to the stern.

She featured a single, large and tall funnel, and two equal size raked masts fore and aft, with yards and spanker gaffs for optional schooner rigging, but it seems never to have been mounted and does not appear in the rare iconography. Plus there is no info on the area of this rigging in documentation of the time. It should be noted than in the calm waters of the Fjords it would have been moderately successful. Her two main guns were located fore and aft behind bulwarks and the secondary ones were in the battery deck’s sponsons, half a deck lower.

She also had four light guns on the raised fore and aft decks. She had four main boats of various types suspended under davits amidships whereas the machinery space was ventilated by four large air scoops and six smaller dorade boxes aft, and access hatches in between. he bridge was located in front of the foremast, which was rare, but fairly limited to an open platform with a light projector. She had no conning tower. Her crew amounted to 125 officers, NCO and ratings.

Powerplant

HNOMS Viking was powered by a (presumably British) Reciprocating steam engine (or twin Vertical compound) rated for 2,000 hp (1,491 kW), on 2 shafts, with 4-bladed bronze fixed pitch propellers. This procured a top speed of 15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h), just average for the time and for that category, and carried 140 tonnes of coal for a range estimated to 2300 nm (4,260 km) at 10 knots. It should be noted that Viking was the first ship to have an electric lighting system.

Protection

She was considered at the time as a “protected cruiser”, but given that level of protection it might have been more accurate to call them “semi-protected” by 1914 standards, and rightly s woth their low speed and tonnage, they were re-rated as 1st class gunboats, which was more in line with their true capabilities. They received British-made patented Harvey armoured, quite efficient for their day. The deck was flat, but “protective”, meaning it probably had sloped sides, if limited, and was 35 mm thick, with other sources stating 1.5 in (38 mm), possibly on the slopes. Other than this protection above the waterline of the essentials, ammunition magazines and machinery space, her main guns had shields 1-inch or 25 mm thick as the casemates. A sngle source states they had a conning tower with walls 35 mm or 1.4 inches thick.

Armament

Sources diverges a lot. At first glance, she was either armed with British Guns BR 4.7in 45 cal. Armstrong, or German, Krupp 149mm/37 SK L/40 C/92 fore and aft. A second examination showed the Krupp L/40 were initially designed for her, but an accident led to cancellation and adoption of British Guns (see later). For secondary armament, she had either four single 65mm/50 or 57mm Hotchkiss guns in casemates also fore aft, and four 37mm/20 Hotchkiss QG multiple barrel light guns, plus a single 356mm Torpedo Tube at the bow or three 18-inches or 457 mm, likely with the two more located on her beam. Conways goes for two 5.9 inches or indeed 149 mm/40, four 6-pdr (so 57 mm)/40 Hotchkiss Mark II (which seems a consensus) one to four 1-pdr Hotchkiss 6-barrel (37mm), and three 14 inches or 356 mm Mk IX, which are referenced below. In 1903-1904 this armament was completely revised (see later). So without more precision, no details on these weapons until research proves one or the other by cross-references, albeit on the Krupp 15 cm SK L/40 naval gun c98 there is some data. The casemate guns were mounted at the edges of the battery deck so to fire respectively forward or aft for a three guns chase or retreat volley.

Profile Drawing, Conways

Career of HNoMS Viking

src war-thunder
HNOMS Viking was completed at Horten/Karljohansvern Navy Yard, Oslo, in late 1891, and international reviews classed her as a “3rd rate cruiser”. Her career is unknown. She likely had her sea trials and fixes at Horten, then a shakedown, and possible new fixes, and trained the first year, making her qualifications (gunnery and machinery) until late 1892 or 1893. Before completion, her initial Krupp 15 cm MRK L/40 referenced as originally fitted, were 5,3 tonne guns measuring 5,960 mm (L/40) for a caliber of 149.1 mm and muzzle velocityof either 685 m/s (light shell) or 610 m/s (heavy shell), called the C/87 pattern. They were specifically ordered for HNoMS Viking.

One was tested, a C/88 gun made in 1891. During trials in Horten the barrel burst on 18 September 1891, killing a man, severely wounding an officer, albeit it had previously be test-fired by Krupp. She shell was a 112.2 lb (50.9 kg) HE wuth a charge of 58.3 lb (26.4 kg) and 41.8 lb (19.0 kg) but it was a very slow burning gunpowder. Max velocity with the light shell was 2,070 ft (630 m) at a pressure of 2,600-2,690 Atm. There was an enquiry, revealing the Norwegians used the prismatic gunpowder P.P. C/82 used in smaller charges for the previous 15 cm. The 14 first rounds were fired with a reduced charge, 26.4 lb (12 kg), for 11.8 tons of pressure. The fifteenth (fatal) round had a charge of 52.8 lb (23.9 kg) causing a burst at the breech block with a pressure of 7,400 Atm measured, velocity 637 m/s. After this, the second gun ordered was never confirmed and the order to Krupp cancelled. She likely received instead British BL 4.7 inches BL (120 mm) 45 caliber Armstrong Single mount, shielded.

Dressed with flags at Kiel, Germany’s canal opening ceremonies in June 1895. Sailors are standing for review with parade uniform and rifles, an officer man a telescope close to the steering wheel aft. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. This is the only creative commons photo of the ship.
In June 1895, as seen above, she made a sortie to Germany, for the international inauguration of the Kiel Canal opening ceremonies. The same year she had mobilization exercises and in 1896 she had a Coastal Defense Department cruise. She was likely in refit in 1897-98. In 1899 she was part of a Squadron trip to Copenhagen follwoed by Mobilization exercises.

Vikling was originally planned to defend against an invasion of the archipelago, like older gunboats, and protect the lines of communication along the coast. She was to be seaworthy enough to engage iadversaries along the entire coast in bad weather. Many of her initial design solution came from the older Sleipner back in 1877. In 1904 (now classed as a 1st rank Gunboat) she received a new armament consisting for some sources of a 6-inches/46 Armstrong model CC1 forward main gun, a 4.7 in BL/44 Armstrong Y aft, both shielded, four 3-in/40 or 76 mm Armstrong model N guns in the casmeates, two 3-in (75mm)/37 German SK L/40 possibly, and six 3 pdr or 47mm/40 Hotchkiss QF guns to deal with torpedo boats and her torpedo armament reduced to a single 14 inches or 356 mm tube at the bow so her side tubes were eliminated. After this in 1906 she took part of a Squadron Expedition, repeated in 1908.

No records for 1909-1914. HNOMS Viking saw WWI, still protecting Fjords in neutrality patrols in Western Norway, and then along the coast of Finnmark with Fridtjof. She was stricken as a warship in 1920. She was mothballed instead of being sold for BU immediately she was acquired in 1924 by the Norwegian Red Cross and converted as an hospital ship, to assist the fishing season in Lofoten.

Amazingly she was still around if some sources are to be believed in 1940, captured by the Germans and turned into their own hospital ship active in WW2 until returned in 1945. The next year in 1946 she was Sold to Friis & Tandberg, Drammen, as a salvage vessel and in 1948 she became the Barge “Ebba” for Christiania-Portland Cement, active until sld for BU in 1958…

Read More/Src

Books

Jane’s Fighting Ships Of World War I p.273
1892 Tables and plans of British and Foreign Armoured and Unarmoured Ships”, The Naval Annual, Griffin & Co. Portsmouth
Gardiner, Robert: Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Conway Maritime Press 2002 page 370.

Links

HNoMS_Viking
Naval History, Flixco
Extra photos
15_cm_MRK_L/40
.history.navy.mil
Naval Annual Griffin 1892
navypedia.org Viking
navypedia.org index
digitaltmuseum.no
bokelskere.no
ark.no
forum.warthunder.com