Sharpshooter class torpedo gunboat
Encyclopedia
The Sharpshooter-class torpedo gunboat was a class of torpedo gunboat
built for the Royal Navy
in the late 19th century. One of the class was hulked in 1904, seven were scrapped before World War I and five were converted to minesweepers. Of these minesweepers, Seagull was lost to a collision in 1918 and the rest survived the war to be broken up in the early 1920s.
in 1888. They had a length overall of 242 ft (73.8 m), a beam of 27 ft (8.2 m) and a displacement of 735 tons. They were engined with two sets of triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive-type boilers, and twin screws. This layout produced 3600 ihp, giving them a speed of 19 knots (37.2 km/h) with forced draught. They carried 100 tons of coal, giving them a range of about 2500 nautical miles (4,630 km) at 10 knots (19.6 km/h) and were manned by 91 sailors and officers. The following Alarm class
were essentially an enlarged version of the Sharpshooters.
From 1895 to 1898 a series of different boilers were fitted to Sharpshooter, Sheldrake, Seagull, Spanker and Salamander.
and four 3-pdr guns. Five 14 inches (355.6 mm) torpedo tubes were fitted, except in Plassey and Assaye, which had three tubes. Three reloads were provided.
Those vessels converted to minesweepers in 1909 retained their guns and had a kite winch and gallows fitted on the quarterdeck.
. Seven of the class, including all the colonial service boats, were sold for breaking in 1904 - 1907, and five of the class were converted to minesweepers in 1908 - 1909. Of the five minesweepers, Seagull was lost in a collision with SS Corrib in the Clyde 1918, and the others were sold for breaking after World War I. Sharpshooter was hulked for instructional duties in 1904 and renamed Northampton, surviving until 1922 until being sold for breaking.
Torpedo gunboat
In late 19th-century naval terminology, torpedo gunboats or, in north European usage, torpedo cruisers, were a form of gunboat armed with torpedoes and designed for hunting and destroying smaller torpedo boats...
built for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in the late 19th century. One of the class was hulked in 1904, seven were scrapped before World War I and five were converted to minesweepers. Of these minesweepers, Seagull was lost to a collision in 1918 and the rest survived the war to be broken up in the early 1920s.
Design
The Sharpshooter class was designed by Sir William WhiteWilliam Henry White
Sir William Henry White was a prolific British warship designer and Chief Constructor at the Admiralty....
in 1888. They had a length overall of 242 ft (73.8 m), a beam of 27 ft (8.2 m) and a displacement of 735 tons. They were engined with two sets of triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive-type boilers, and twin screws. This layout produced 3600 ihp, giving them a speed of 19 knots (37.2 km/h) with forced draught. They carried 100 tons of coal, giving them a range of about 2500 nautical miles (4,630 km) at 10 knots (19.6 km/h) and were manned by 91 sailors and officers. The following Alarm class
Alarm class torpedo gunboat
The Alarm-class torpedo gunboat was the penultimate class of torpedo gunboat built for the Royal Navy. The class was contemporary with the early torpedo boat destroyers, which were faster and better suited to accompanting the battlefleet. By World War I the class had either been sold, converted...
were essentially an enlarged version of the Sharpshooters.
From 1895 to 1898 a series of different boilers were fitted to Sharpshooter, Sheldrake, Seagull, Spanker and Salamander.
Armament
At build the class was fitted with two QF 4.7 inches (11.9 cm)/45-pdr gunsQF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I - IV
The QF 4.7 inch Gun Mks I, II, III, and IV were a family of United-Kingdom 120-mm naval and coast defence guns of 1888 and 1890s which served with the navies of various countries. They were also mounted on various wheeled carriages to provide the British Army with a long range gun...
and four 3-pdr guns. Five 14 inches (355.6 mm) torpedo tubes were fitted, except in Plassey and Assaye, which had three tubes. Three reloads were provided.
Those vessels converted to minesweepers in 1909 retained their guns and had a kite winch and gallows fitted on the quarterdeck.
Ships
| Name | Ship Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devonport Dockyard | 30 November 1888 | Hulked for instructional duties and renamed Northampton in 1904 (or later). Sold for breaking on 27 March 1922 | |
| Devonport Dockyard | 22 February 1889 | Became a minesweeper in 1909. Sold for breaking on 20 March 1920 | |
| Devonport Dockyard | 15 March 1889 | Became a minesweeper in 1909. Sold for breaking on 20 March 1920 | |
| Chatham Dockyard | 31 May 1889 | Became a minesweeper in 1909. Sunk in a collision in the Firth of Clyde on 30 September 1918 | |
| Chatham Dockyard | 31 May 1889 | Sold for breaking on 15 May 1906 | |
| Chatham Dockyard | 30 March 1889 | Sold for breaking on 9 July 1907 | |
| Chatham Dockyard | 30 April 1889 | Became a minesweeper in 1909. Sold for breaking on 23 April 1920 | |
| Armstrong Mitchell, Elswick | 24 July 1889 | Laid down as Whiting, renamed Boomerang on 2 April 1890. Sold at Portsmouth on 11 July 1905 | |
| Armstrong Mitchell, Elswick | 27 August 1889 | Laid down as Wizard, renamed Karakatta on 2 April 1890. Sold at Portsmouth on 11 January 1905 | |
| Armstrong Mitchell, Elswick | 5 July 1890 | Built for the Royal Indian Marine. Sold on 17 May 1904 | |
| Armstrong Mitchell, Elswick | 11 February 1890 | Built for the Royal Indian Marine. Sold in May 1904 | |
| Sheerness Dockyard | 9 January 1890 | Became a minesweeper in 1908. Sold for breaking on 20 March 1920 | |
| Sheerness Dockyard | 9 January 1890 | Sold for breaking on 4 April 1905 |
Service
Plassey and Assaye were built for the Bombay Marine (renamed the Royal Indian Marine in 1892). Whiting and Wizard (renamed Boomerang and Karakatta before commissioning) were assigned to the Australia StationAustralia Station
The Australia Station was the British—and later Australian—naval command responsible for the waters around the Australian continent.-History:In the early years following the establishment of the colony of New South Wales, ships based in Australian waters came under the control of the East Indies...
. Seven of the class, including all the colonial service boats, were sold for breaking in 1904 - 1907, and five of the class were converted to minesweepers in 1908 - 1909. Of the five minesweepers, Seagull was lost in a collision with SS Corrib in the Clyde 1918, and the others were sold for breaking after World War I. Sharpshooter was hulked for instructional duties in 1904 and renamed Northampton, surviving until 1922 until being sold for breaking.