SMS Viper (1896) facts for kids
_-_Cassier%27s_1897-08.png) |
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Name | SMS Viper |
| Builder | Yarrow Shipbuilders, England |
| Laid down | 1895 |
| Launched | January 1896 |
| Completed | October 1896 |
| Renamed | Torpedoboot 17, 1910 |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping, 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 107 long tons (109 t) |
| Length | 44.8 m (147 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) |
| Draft | 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion | Reciprocating engines, 1,800 hp (1,342 kW) |
| Speed | 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) |
| Complement | 2 officers, 20 men |
| Armament |
|
SMS Viper was a fast, small warship called a torpedo boat. She belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Navy. A British company named Yarrow built Viper between 1895 and 1896. Her design was so good that other similar ships, like the Cobra-class torpedo boats, were built based on her. In 1910, her name changed to Torpedoboot 17. She served during First World War as a patrol boat and helped clear mines. Viper was taken apart for scrap metal in 1920.
Contents
Building a Torpedo Boat
In 1895, the Austro-Hungarian Navy wanted to buy new torpedo boats. They decided to get one prototype ship from two different companies. One was the British company Yarrow. The other was a German company called Schichau-Werke. Both companies were experts at building torpedo ships.
Viper's Design and Features
The ship designed by Yarrow was about 44.96 m (147 ft 6 in) (147 feet) long overall. It was 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) (14.8 feet) wide. The ship sat 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) (7.5 feet) deep in the water.
Viper weighed about 107 t (105 long tons) (107 long tons) when empty. It could weigh up to 126 t (124 long tons) (124 long tons) when fully loaded.
Engines and Speed
The ship had two water-tube boilers that burned coal. These boilers powered a special triple expansion steam engine. This engine turned a single propeller, pushing the ship through the water.
The engine could produce 1,800 indicated horsepower (1,300 kW) of power. This allowed Viper to reach a speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (27.6 miles per hour).
Weapons and Crew
Viper was armed with two 47-millimetre (1.9 in) (1.9-inch) Skoda guns. It also had three 450 mm (17.7 in) (17.7-inch) torpedo tubes. Two of these tubes were at the front sides of the ship. This allowed them to fire almost straight ahead. One torpedo tube was at the back, in the middle of the ship.
The ship needed a crew of 21 people to operate it.
Viper's Life and Service
The building of the Yarrow torpedo boat, named Viper, started in 1895. It was built at Yarrow's shipyard in Poplar, London. The ship was launched into the water in January 1896. This was earlier than the competing torpedo boat built by Schichau, called Natter.
Testing and Success
During its sea trials (tests in the water), Viper reached an impressive speed of 26.5 knots (49.1 km/h; 30.5 mph) (30.5 miles per hour). It was fully finished and ready for service in October 1896.
Both Viper and Natter were stable and handled well in the sea. However, Natter shook a lot when going fast. Because of this, the Austro-Hungarian Navy chose Yarrow's design. They ordered four more ships, slightly larger, based on Viper's design. These new ships were called the Cobra-class torpedo boat class.
World War I Service and End
In 1910, Austria changed the names of most of its torpedo boats. Viper became known as Tb 17. When the First World War began, Tb 17 was part of a local defense group. This group was based at Cattaro. She was still there in 1917.
During the war, Tb 17 worked as an escort ship. This meant she protected other ships. She also helped clear mines from the water. After the war, in 1919, she was given to France as a War reparation. This was part of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Viper was then taken apart for scrap metal in 1920.
