HMVS Nepean facts for kids
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|} HMVS Nepean was a small, fast warship known as a torpedo boat. It was built for the Victorian Naval Forces, which protected the Australian colony of Victoria. Later, it served with the Commonwealth Naval Forces and the Royal Australian Navy. Nepean was eventually sunk in 1912 near Swan Island in Port Phillip Bay, after its useful parts and machinery were removed.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} Colony of Victoria |
|
| Name | HMVS Nepean |
| Operator | Victorian Naval Forces |
| Builder | John I. Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick |
 Australia |
|
| Name | HMAS Nepean |
| Acquired | 1901 |
| Out of service | 1912 |
| Fate | Sunk on mud flats at Swan Island in 1912 after being stripped of machinery and equipment. |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Second-class torpedo boat |
| Tonnage | 12.5 tons |
| Length | 67 ft (20 m) |
| Draught | 3.25 ft (0.99 m) |
| Speed | 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) (max) |
| Armament |
|
Building the Nepean
Why was Nepean built?
In the 1880s, people in Victoria (which was then a British colony) were worried about possible attacks from other countries like Russia or France. To help protect the colony's coast, the government decided to order several special warships called torpedo boats. Nepean was one of these important boats.
Where was Nepean built?
Nepean was built by a company named John I. Thornycroft & Company. This company was located in Chiswick, England.
What was Nepean like?
Nepean was a relatively small ship, about 67 feet (20 m) (20.4 meters) long. It had a shallow bottom, meaning its draught (how deep it sat in the water) was only about 3.25 feet (0.99 m) (1 meter). The boat weighed 12.5 tons.
It was designed with a very low freeboard. This means that not much of the boat stuck out above the water. This design made it harder for enemy ships to spot Nepean.
Nepean was also very fast for its time. It could reach a maximum speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) (about 31.5 kilometers per hour). This speed was important because it allowed the boat to quickly get close to enemy ships before launching its torpedoes.
What weapons did it have?
Nepean was armed with two 14-inch torpedoes. These were its main weapons, designed to sink larger enemy ships. It also carried a spar torpedo, which was a torpedo attached to a long pole that could be extended to hit an enemy ship.
The End of Nepean
Nepean served for many years, first with the Victorian Naval Forces and then with the Australian naval forces after Australia became a country in 1901. In 1912, the ship was no longer needed. Its valuable equipment and machinery were removed. Afterward, the hull of Nepean was sunk on mud flats near Swan Island in Port Phillip Bay.
