Grasshopper-class torpedo gunboat
The Grasshopper-class torpedo gunboat was a class of torpedo gunboat built for the Royal Navy in the late 19th century. All three ships were scrapped before World War I.
 HMS Spider, a Grasshopper class torpedo boat | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Grasshopper-class torpedo gunboat |
| Builders: |
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| Operators: |
 Royal Navy |
| Preceded by: | HMS Rattlesnake (1886) |
| Succeeded by: | Sharpshooter class |
| Built: | 1886–1888 |
| In commission: | 1888–1905[1] |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Lost: | 0 |
| Scrapped: | 3 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type: | Torpedo gunboat |
| Displacement: | 525 tons |
| Length: | 200 ft (61 m) pp |
| Beam: | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
| Draught: | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Installed power: |
|
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 19.25 kn (35.65 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,400 nmi (4,400 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h) |
| Complement: | 66 |
| Armament: |
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Design
The Sharpshooter class was designed by Nathaniel Barnaby in 1886 and were essentially repeats of the Rattlesnake of 1886. They had a length between perpendiculars of 200 ft (61 m), a beam of 23 ft (7.0 m) and a displacement of 525 tons.[1] They were engined with two sets of Maudslay, Sons & Field triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive-type boilers, and twin screws. This layout produced 1,600 indicated horsepower (1,200 kW) with natural draught and 2,700 indicated horsepower (2,000 kW) with forced draught, giving them a top speed of 19.25 knots (35.65 km/h).[1] They carried 100 tons of coal, giving them a range of about 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) and were manned by 66 sailors and officers.
Armament
The class was each fitted with one 4 inch Gun and six 3-pounder guns. Two 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo tubes and two further 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo carriages. 4 reload torpedoes were carried
Ships
| Name | Ship builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasshopper | Sheerness Dockyard | 27 April 1886 | 30 August 1887 | July 1888 | Sold for breaking on 11 July 1905. |
| Sandfly | Devonport Dockyard | 19 April 1886 | 20 September 1887 | July 1888 | Sold at Malta for breaking on 17 March 1905. |
| Spider | Devonport Dockyard | 9 June 1886 | 17 October 1887 | December 1888 | Sold at Malta for breaking on 13 May 1903. |
See also
- List of torpedo gunboats of the Royal Navy
References
- Winfield (2004), p.304.
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6.