HMS Poneke (1883) facts for kids
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|} HMS Poneke was a special type of small warship called a Defender-class torpedo boat. It was designed by a company named Thornycroft & Company. This boat was built in Chiswick, England, in 1883. Its main job was to help defend New Zealand. After it was built, it was shipped all the way to New Zealand.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Poneke |
| Ordered | 26 August 1882 |
| Builder | John I. Thornycroft & Company |
| Cost | £12,600 for four boats |
| Yard number | 171 |
| Launched | 31 August 1883 |
| Commissioned | 18 September 1883 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Defender-class torpedo boat |
| 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 |
|
| Speed | 17.3 kn (32.0 km/h) |
| Complement | 7 |
| Armament |
|
What Was a Torpedo Boat?
A torpedo boat was a small, fast warship. Its main weapon was the torpedo. These boats were designed to attack much larger, slower enemy ships. They would get close, launch their torpedoes, and then quickly escape.
Building HMS Poneke
HMS Poneke was ordered on August 26, 1882. It was one of four similar boats built at the same time. The total cost for these four boats was about £12,600. That was a lot of money back then!
The ship was launched on August 31, 1883. This means it was put into the water for the first time. It officially joined the navy on September 18, 1883.
Ship's Features
HMS Poneke was quite small for a warship.
- It weighed about 12 tons.
- It was about 62 feet 10 inches (19.15 meters) long.
- It was 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 meters) wide.
It had a powerful steam engine. This engine helped the boat move quickly.
- It could reach a speed of 17.3 knots (about 32 kilometers per hour).
- A crew of 7 people operated the ship.
Weapons on Board
HMS Poneke carried different types of weapons to protect New Zealand.
- Spar Torpedo: This was a very early type of torpedo. It was a long pole with explosives at the end. The boat would ram an enemy ship with the spar, causing the explosion.
- Whitehead Torpedoes: These were more advanced. They were self-propelled weapons that traveled underwater. HMS Poneke carried two 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes.
- Nordenfelt Gun: This was a type of machine gun. It could fire many shots quickly to defend against smaller boats or enemy crew.
Find Out More
- The New Zealand Maritime Index
