Defender-class torpedo boat facts for kids

Defender
Quick facts for kids Class overview
Builders:	John I. Thornycroft & Company at Chiswick
Operators:	Royal Navy
Preceded by:	Acheron-class torpedo boat
Succeeded by:	HMVS Childers
Built:	1883
Building:	4
Scrapped:	4
General characteristics
Displacement	12 tons
Length	62 ft 10 in (19.15 m)
Beam	7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Installed power	173 hp (129 kW)
Propulsion	Two-cylinder inverted compound-expansion steam reciprocating engine 130lb/sq in Locomotive boiler,
Speed	17.5 kn (32.4 km/h)
Complement	7
Armament	One McEvoy Spar torpedo Two 18" Whitehead torpedoes (retrofitted to Defender & Taiaroa) One 2-barrelled Nordenfelt gun

Imagine small, fast boats built to protect a country! The Defender-class torpedo boats were just that. They were designed by a company called Thornycroft & Company in England in 1883. These boats were sent all the way to New Zealand to help defend its coasts. However, technology moved fast, and these boats quickly became old-fashioned. Today, you can even see parts of the Defender boat at a museum in New Zealand.

Building the Torpedo Boats

Building these boats was a big job! All four Defender-class boats were made by John I. Thornycroft & Company. This company was located in Chiswick, England, right on the River Thames. Each boat cost about £3,200, which was a lot of money back then. They were specially made to help protect New Zealand.

Weapons on Board

These torpedo boats had some interesting weapons!

Spar Torpedoes

When they were first built, the boats had a special weapon called a McEvoy spar torpedo. This wasn't like the torpedoes you might imagine today. A spar torpedo was a long pole with an explosive charge at the end. The boat had to ram this pole into an enemy ship, usually below the water, to make it explode. It was a very risky way to attack!

Guns and Modern Torpedoes

Besides the spar torpedo, each boat also had one 2-barrelled Nordenfelt gun. This was a type of machine gun. Later, the Defender and Taiaroa boats were updated. They were given more modern 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. These torpedoes could be launched from the boat and travel through the water to hit a target, which was much safer for the crew.

Journey to New Zealand

Getting these boats to New Zealand was quite an adventure!

First Pair Arrives

The first two boats were loaded onto a sailing ship called Lyttelton. They left London on February 1, 1884. Their long journey ended when they arrived at Port Chalmers in New Zealand.

Second Pair Follows

The other two boats followed a few months later. They were shipped on May 3, 1884. This way, all four boats made it safely to their new home.

Life in Service

Once in New Zealand, special groups were formed to operate these boats.

Torpedo Corps Units

Units of the Torpedo Corps were set up at New Zealand's four main ports. Each port got one torpedo boat:

• Defender was stationed at Lyttelton.
• Taiaroa was at Port Chalmers.
• Waitemata was at Devonport.
• Poneke was at Wellington.

Each port also had its own special boatshed and slipway for the torpedo boats.

Becoming Obsolete

Even though they were new and exciting when they arrived, technology changed very quickly in those days. The Defender-class boats soon became old-fashioned. By the year 1900, many of them were no longer used and were left to fall apart.

The Ships of the Class

Here's a quick look at the four boats in the Defender class:

See also

• Early naval vessels of New Zealand