Şoimul-class torpedo boat facts for kids
Şoimul
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Quick facts for kids Class overview |
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| Name: | Şoimul-class torpedo boat |
| Builders: | Yarrow, London |
| Operators: |  Royal Romanian Navy |
| Built: | 1882 |
| In service: | 1882–1949? |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Retired: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Torpedo boat |
| Displacement | 12 tons |
| Length | 19.2 m (63 ft) |
| Beam | 2.43 m (8 ft) |
| Draft | 0.91 m (3 ft) |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft, 150 hp (112 kW) |
| Speed | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Complement | 8 |
| Armament | 1 × spar torpedo |
| Notes | Armored conning tower |
The Şoimul class was a group of two special boats called spar torpedo boats. They were part of the Romanian Navy. These boats were built in 1882 and served for a very long time, almost until the 1950s.
Contents
Meet the Şoimul Torpedo Boats
The Şoimul class boats were small but important warships. They were designed to attack larger enemy ships using a special weapon called a spar torpedo. These boats played a role in the Romanian Navy for many years.
Building and Design
Both Şoimul class boats were built by a company called Yarrow Shipbuilders in London, England. They were finished in 1882. Each boat was quite small, weighing about 12 tons. This is how much water they pushed aside when floating.
The boats were about 19.2 meters (63 feet) long. Their width, or beam, was about 2.43 meters (8 feet). They sat about 0.91 meters (3 feet) deep in the water, which is called their draft.
Power and Speed
Each boat had an engine that produced 150 horsepower. This power turned a single propeller shaft. This allowed the boats to reach a top speed of 16.5 knots. That's about 30.5 kilometers per hour (19 miles per hour).
Weapons and Crew
The main weapon on these boats was a single spar torpedo. This was a long pole with an explosive charge at the end. The boat would ram the enemy ship with this pole to make the torpedo explode.
The crew controlled the torpedo from a protected area called an armored conning tower. This tower was located at the back of the boat. Each Şoimul class boat needed a crew of eight people to operate it.
Their Time in Service
The two Şoimul class boats served the Romanian Navy for many decades. Records show they were still active during Second World War. They continued to serve for a few years after the war ended.
These boats were part of a group of ten small armed boats used by Romania during the war. They were among the smaller vessels, showing how long their design remained useful.
