Defender-class torpedo boat
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:HMS Defender (1883).jpg |Ship caption=Defender }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = John I. Thornycroft & Company at Chiswick | Operators = {{navy|United Kingdom}} | Class before = {{sclass|Acheron|torpedo boat}} | Class after = HMVS Childers | Subclasses = | Built range = 1883 | In commission range = | Total ships building = 4 | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships scrapped = 4 | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship displacement=12 tons |Ship length={{convert|62|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|7|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= |Ship speed={{convert|17.5|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} |Ship power= {{convert|173|hp|kW|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=*Two-cylinder inverted compound-expansion steam reciprocating engine
|Ship armament=*One McEvoy Spar torpedo
|Ship notes= }} |
The colonial service Defender-class torpedo boats were designed by Thornycroft & Company for the defence of New Zealand, built at Chiswick in 1883 and shipped to New Zealand. They were quickly obsolete and were left to deteriorate in situ. The remains of Defender are preserved at the Lyttelton Torpedo Boat Museum.
Construction
Acquired for the external defence of New Zealand, at a cost of about £3,200 each, all four boats were built and engined by John I. Thornycroft & Company at Church Wharf, Chiswick on the River Thames.Winfield (2004) p.316
Armament
As built the class was armed with a single McEvoy spar torpedo, which was designed to be rammed into a vessel and explode beneath the waterline. A single 2-barrelled Nordenfelt gun comprised the total gun armament. The last pair had 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes fitted at build, and these were later retrofitted to Defender and Taiaroa.
Transport to New Zealand
Operational lives
Torpedo Corps units of the Permanent Militia were formed to operate the boats at the four main ports of Lyttelton (Defender), Port Chalmers (Taiaroa), Devonport (Waitemata) and Wellington (Poneke),{{cite web|url=http://www.navymuseum.mil.nz/history/time/19-cent/torpedo-bay-time-line.htm|title=Torpedo Bay Time-Line at the RNZN Museum website|accessdate=2010-10-20|archive-date=2 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602105334/http://www.navymuseum.mil.nz/history/time/19-cent/torpedo-bay-time-line.htm|url-status=dead}} each with its boatshed and slipway. The boats quickly became obsolete and by 1900 had largely been left to rot.
Ships
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
!Name | Ship Builder | Launched | Fate |
| {{HMS|Defender|1883|2}} | Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick | 30 July 1883 | Abandoned at Purau Bay, Lyttelton Harbour and later preserved at the Lyttelton Torpedo Boat Museum |
| {{HMS|Taiaroa|1883|2}} | Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick | 10 August 1883 | |
| {{HMS|Waitemata|1883|2}} | Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick | 30 August 1883 | |
| {{HMS|Poneke|1883|2}} | Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick | 31 August 1883 |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- [http://nzmaritimeindex.org.nz/ixvessel.asp?ID=80001516&name=&gsn=&owner=&num=&typ=&tid=0&tix=0&pix=0&SourceID=800010007&refid=800010045&hit=15 The New Zealand Maritime Index]
- {{winfield}}
External links
{{Commons category|Defender class torpedo boat}}
{{Defender class torpedo boat}}
{{Colonial service torpedo boats}}
Category:Ships built in Chiswick
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