Difference between revisions of "T.B. 1 Class Torpedo Boat (1876)"

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The [[Royal Navy]]'s first first-class torpedo boat, '''H.M.S. ''Lightning''''' (later re-designated '''T.B. 1''', not to be confused with either the [[T.B. 1 Class Torpedo Boat (1883)|second-class torpedo boats of 1883]] or the numeric designation of the [[Cricket Class Torpedo Boat (1906)|''Cricket'' class coastal destroyers of 1906]]) was constructed by [[Thornycroft]].  It was armed with 14-in Whitehead torpedoes, displaced 32.5 tons and was 87 feet in overall length and could make 19 knots.
+
The [[Royal Navy]]'s first first-class torpedo boat, '''H.M.S. ''Lightning''''' (later re-designated '''T.B. 1''', not to be confused with either the [[T.B. 1 Class Torpedo Boat (1883)|second-class torpedo boats of 1883]] or the numeric designation of the [[Cricket Class Torpedo Boat (1906)|''Cricket'' class coastal destroyers of 1906]]) was constructed by [[John I. Thornycroft & Company]].  It was armed with 14-in Whitehead torpedoes, displaced 32.5 tons and was 87 feet in overall length and could make 19 knots.
  
 
The success of this prototype prompted orders for 18 more boats to a similar specification from Thornycroft and other builders.  None of the boats carried guns, only torpedoes being fired from a variety of means:  fixed bow tubes, drop collars, and deck mounted tubes.  There was some variety to their particulars, but we treat them as a common class with sub-types.
 
The success of this prototype prompted orders for 18 more boats to a similar specification from Thornycroft and other builders.  None of the boats carried guns, only torpedoes being fired from a variety of means:  fixed bow tubes, drop collars, and deck mounted tubes.  There was some variety to their particulars, but we treat them as a common class with sub-types.
  
<div name=fredbot:ships title="{{Title here}}">
+
<div name=fredbot:ships>
 
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border=2 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 0 0 1em 0.5em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;" align=center;
 
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border=2 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 0 0 1em 0.5em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;" align=center;
 
|-
 
|-
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! align=center | Fate
 
! align=center | Fate
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-1Lightning}}
+
| {{Template:UK-2TB1}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
|
+
 
|1876
 
|1876
|
+
|1876
 +
|1877
 
|Broken up 1896
 
|Broken up 1896
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB2}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB2}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
 
|1878
 
|1878
|
+
|1878
|Broken up  
+
|Broken up 1897
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB3}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB3}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
 
|1878
 
|1878
|
+
|1878
|Broken up
+
|Sold by 1906
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB4}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB4}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
|
+
|1879
|Broken up
+
|Sold 1905
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB5}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB5}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
|
+
|1879
|Broken up  
+
|Broken up 1897
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB6}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB6}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
|
+
|1879
|Broken up
+
|Sold 1906
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB7}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB7}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
|
+
|1879
|Broken up
+
|Sold 1904
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB8}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB8}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
|
+
|1879
|Broken up  
+
|Broken up 1903
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB9}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB9}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
|
+
|1879
|Broken up  
+
|Broken up 1900
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB10}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB10}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
|
+
|1880
|Broken up  
+
|Broken up 1904
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB11}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB11}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1880
|
+
|1880
|Broken up  
+
|Broken up 1904
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB12}}
 
| {{Template:UK-2TB12}}
|[[Thornycroft]]
+
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1880
|
+
|1880
|Broken up  
+
|Broken up 1904
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB13}}
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB13}}
|[[Maudslay]]
+
|[[Maudslay, Sons and Field]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
 
|
 
|
|Broken up 1896
+
|Broken up 1897
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB14}}
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB14}}
|[[Yarrow]]
+
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1879
 
|
 
|
 
|Broken up 1904
 
|Broken up 1904
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|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB17}}
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB17}}
|[[Yarrow]]
+
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 
|
 
|
 
|1878
 
|1878
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|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB18}}
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB18}}
|[[Yarrow]]
+
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 
|
 
|
 
|1878
 
|1878
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|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB19}}
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB19}}
|[[J. S. White]]
+
|[[J. Samuel White]]
 
|
 
|
|1878
+
|1880
 
|
 
|
 
|Broken up 1899
 
|Broken up 1899
 
|- align=left
 
|- align=left
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB20}}
 
| {{Template:UK-1TB20}}
|[[Rennie]]
+
|[[J. & G. Rennie]]
 
|
 
|
 
|1880
 
|1880
|
+
|1880
 
|Broken up 1903
 
|Broken up 1903
 
|}
 
|}
 
</div name=fredbot:ships>
 
</div name=fredbot:ships>
  
==T.B. 1==
+
==Service==
 +
It was soon recognized that their small size limited their seaworthiness severely.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Monday, 2 February, 1880.  Issue '''29793''', col B, p. 10.</ref>  When the Admiralty decided to deploy two boats to the Mediterranean bases in 1880, they were ferried out as deck cargo aboard the troopship ''[[H.M.S. Tamar (1863)|Tamar]]''.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence".  ''The Times''.  Friday, 20 August, 1880.  Issue '''29965''', col A, p. 8.</ref>
 +
 
 +
===T.B. 1===
 +
Originally named '''H.M.S. ''Lightning''''', and often referred to as such in contemporary accounts.
  
==T.B. 2 Type==
+
===T.B. 2 Type===
Eleven additional boats, T.B. 2 through T.B. 12 were built by Thornycroft.
+
Eleven additional boats, ''T.B. 2'' through ''T.B. 12'', were built by Thornycroft.  They were almost identical to ''Lightning'', but lacked her coach roof (a legacy of being based off a civilian steam launch design).
  
 
As ''Lightning'' had been altered to land her drop collars for a bow-mounted tube, these ships had just a single bow-mounted tube for their 14-in Whitehead torpedoes.
 
As ''Lightning'' had been altered to land her drop collars for a bow-mounted tube, these ships had just a single bow-mounted tube for their 14-in Whitehead torpedoes.
Line 161: Line 165:
 
However, oddly, two drop collars for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes were later added, though it is not clear whether this meant the torpedo tubes were removed.{{Conways1860|p. 101}}
 
However, oddly, two drop collars for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes were later added, though it is not clear whether this meant the torpedo tubes were removed.{{Conways1860|p. 101}}
  
==T.B. 13==
+
===T.B. 13===
T.B. 13 was [[Maudslay]]'s try to surpass the successful example of Thornycroft's torpedo boat {{UK-1Lightning|f=p}}.
+
T.B. 13 was [[Maudslay, Sons and Field]]'s try to surpass the successful example of Thornycroft's torpedo boat {{UK-1Lightning|f=p}}.
 
It had a brass hull, which was unusual.  She was a poor sea boat and slow, despite an engine that seemed strong.
 
It had a brass hull, which was unusual.  She was a poor sea boat and slow, despite an engine that seemed strong.
  
==T.B. 14==
+
===T.B. 14===
T.B. 14 was [[Yarrow]]'s try.  It was regarded as the best effort at creating an effective vessel on the ''Lightning'' archetype.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
T.B. 14 was [[Yarrow & Company]]'s try.  It was regarded as the best effort at creating an effective vessel on the ''Lightning'' archetype.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
  
==T.B. 15==
+
===T.B. 15===
 
[[Hanna, Donald & Wilson]]'s boat.
 
[[Hanna, Donald & Wilson]]'s boat.
  
 
It was sent to the Cape of Africa soon after completion, and eventually wound up with her hull being made into a retaining wall.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
It was sent to the Cape of Africa soon after completion, and eventually wound up with her hull being made into a retaining wall.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
  
==T.B. 16==
+
===T.B. 16===
Built by Lewin at Poole, T.B. 16 was never accepted into service.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
Built by Lewin at Poole, ''T.B. 16'' was never accepted into service owing to the slow pace of construction.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}  The cause of these delays was the decision to employ a hydraulic jet propulsion system instead of a conventional power plant.{{LyonWinfieldSteamList|p. 309}}
  
==T.B. 17 Type==
+
===T.B. 17 Type===
T.B. 17 and T.B. 18 were [[Yarrow]]-built boats intended for Russia that were purchased by the [[Royal Navy]] during the war scare.
+
''T.B. 17'' and ''T.B. 18'' were [[Yarrow & Company]]-built boats intended for Russia that were purchased by the [[Royal Navy]] during the war scare.
  
 
A single bow-mounted tube for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes.  Later, their tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
A single bow-mounted tube for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes.  Later, their tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
  
==T.B. 19==
+
===T.B. 19===
[[J. S. White]]-built version of Thornycroft's torpedo boat {{UK-1Lightning|f=p}}.
+
[[J. Samuel White]]-built version of Thornycroft's torpedo boat {{UK-1Lightning|f=p}}.
  
Though the aspiring competitors were apparently provided some level of detail of ''Lightning'''s design, the amount of copying and the terms of its provision are unknown.
+
Though the aspiring competitors were apparently provided some level of detail of ''Lightning'''s design, the amount of copying and the terms of its provision are unknown.
  
 
The ship did not prove very long in service and was considered unfit in 1886.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
The ship did not prove very long in service and was considered unfit in 1886.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
Line 190: Line 194:
 
A single bow-mounted tube for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes.  Later, their tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
A single bow-mounted tube for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes.  Later, their tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
  
==T.B. 20==
+
===T.B. 20===
T.B. 20 was built by [[Rennie]] and turned poorly and was so slow that she only could sprint 11 knots in 1894.  She spent her service in Hong Kong.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
''T.B. 20'' was the second attempt by [[J. & G. Rennie]] to fulfill their contract for a torpedo boat, the first having been rejected by the Admiralty and sold aboard.  ''T.B. 20'' turned poorly and was so slow that she only could sprint 11 knots in 1894.  She spent most of her service in Hong Kong.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}{{LyonWinfieldSteamList|p. 309}}
  
 
A single bow-mounted tube for a 14-in Whitehead torpedo with a spare.  Later, the tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
A single bow-mounted tube for a 14-in Whitehead torpedo with a spare.  Later, the tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
Line 220: Line 224:
  
 
chain=Torpedo Boats,First-class Torpedo Boats
 
chain=Torpedo Boats,First-class Torpedo Boats
 +
 +
{group
 +
name=''Lightning''
 +
}
  
 
{ship
 
{ship
name=Lightning
+
name=T.B. 1
prefix=H.M.S.
+
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1860|p. 101}}
+
builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1860|p. 101}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=
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{group
 
{group
name=Thornycroft Boats
+
name=Thornycroft Repeat ''Lightnings''
 
}
 
}
  
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name=T.B. 2
 
name=T.B. 2
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1860|p. 101}}
+
builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1860|p. 101}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=
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name=Other Builders
 
name=Other Builders
 
}
 
}
 
  
 
{ship
 
{ship
 
name=T.B. 13
 
name=T.B. 13
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[Maudslay]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
builder=[[Maudslay, Sons and Field]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=
launch=1878{{Conways1860|p. 102.  The date of launch is imprecise}}
+
launch=1879{{LyonWinfieldSteamList|p. 309}}
 
comm=
 
comm=
 
fate=Broken up
 
fate=Broken up
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name=T.B. 14
 
name=T.B. 14
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[Yarrow]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
builder=[[Yarrow & Company]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=
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name=T.B. 17
 
name=T.B. 17
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[Yarrow]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
builder=[[Yarrow & Company]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=
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name=T.B. 18
 
name=T.B. 18
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[Yarrow]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
builder=[[Yarrow & Company]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=
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name=T.B. 19
 
name=T.B. 19
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[J. S. White]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
builder=[[J. Samuel White]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=
launch=1878{{Conways1860|p. 102.  The date of launch is imprecise}}
+
launch=1880{{LyonWinfieldSteamList|p. 309}}
 
comm=
 
comm=
 
fate=Broken up
 
fate=Broken up
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name=T.B. 20
 
name=T.B. 20
 
pend=
 
pend=
builder=[[Rennie]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
+
builder=[[J. & G. Rennie]]{{Conways1860|p. 102}}
 
order=
 
order=
 
laid=
 
laid=

Latest revision as of 12:11, 25 April 2018

The Royal Navy's first first-class torpedo boat, H.M.S. Lightning (later re-designated T.B. 1, not to be confused with either the second-class torpedo boats of 1883 or the numeric designation of the Cricket class coastal destroyers of 1906) was constructed by John I. Thornycroft & Company. It was armed with 14-in Whitehead torpedoes, displaced 32.5 tons and was 87 feet in overall length and could make 19 knots.

The success of this prototype prompted orders for 18 more boats to a similar specification from Thornycroft and other builders. None of the boats carried guns, only torpedoes being fired from a variety of means: fixed bow tubes, drop collars, and deck mounted tubes. There was some variety to their particulars, but we treat them as a common class with sub-types.

Service

It was soon recognized that their small size limited their seaworthiness severely.[1] When the Admiralty decided to deploy two boats to the Mediterranean bases in 1880, they were ferried out as deck cargo aboard the troopship Tamar.[2]

T.B. 1

Originally named H.M.S. Lightning, and often referred to as such in contemporary accounts.

T.B. 2 Type

Eleven additional boats, T.B. 2 through T.B. 12, were built by Thornycroft. They were almost identical to Lightning, but lacked her coach roof (a legacy of being based off a civilian steam launch design).

As Lightning had been altered to land her drop collars for a bow-mounted tube, these ships had just a single bow-mounted tube for their 14-in Whitehead torpedoes.

However, oddly, two drop collars for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes were later added, though it is not clear whether this meant the torpedo tubes were removed.[3]

T.B. 13

T.B. 13 was Maudslay, Sons and Field's try to surpass the successful example of Thornycroft's torpedo boat H.M.S. Lightning. It had a brass hull, which was unusual. She was a poor sea boat and slow, despite an engine that seemed strong.

T.B. 14

T.B. 14 was Yarrow & Company's try. It was regarded as the best effort at creating an effective vessel on the Lightning archetype.[4]

T.B. 15

Hanna, Donald & Wilson's boat.

It was sent to the Cape of Africa soon after completion, and eventually wound up with her hull being made into a retaining wall.[5]

T.B. 16

Built by Lewin at Poole, T.B. 16 was never accepted into service owing to the slow pace of construction.[6] The cause of these delays was the decision to employ a hydraulic jet propulsion system instead of a conventional power plant.[7]

T.B. 17 Type

T.B. 17 and T.B. 18 were Yarrow & Company-built boats intended for Russia that were purchased by the Royal Navy during the war scare.

A single bow-mounted tube for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes. Later, their tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.[8]

T.B. 19

J. Samuel White-built version of Thornycroft's torpedo boat H.M.S. Lightning.

Though the aspiring competitors were apparently provided some level of detail of Lightning's design, the amount of copying and the terms of its provision are unknown.

The ship did not prove very long in service and was considered unfit in 1886.[9]

A single bow-mounted tube for 14-in Whitehead torpedoes. Later, their tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.[10]

T.B. 20

T.B. 20 was the second attempt by J. & G. Rennie to fulfill their contract for a torpedo boat, the first having been rejected by the Admiralty and sold aboard. T.B. 20 turned poorly and was so slow that she only could sprint 11 knots in 1894. She spent most of her service in Hong Kong.[11][12]

A single bow-mounted tube for a 14-in Whitehead torpedo with a spare. Later, the tube and spare torpedo were replaced with dropping gear for two torpedoes.[13]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Monday, 2 February, 1880. Issue 29793, col B, p. 10.
  2. "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Friday, 20 August, 1880. Issue 29965, col A, p. 8.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 101.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.
  5. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.
  6. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.
  7. Lyon; Winfield. The Steam & Sail List. p. 309.
  8. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.
  9. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.
  10. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.
  11. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.
  12. Lyon; Winfield. The Steam & Sail List. p. 309.
  13. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 102.

Bibliography


T.B. 1 Class First-class Torpedo Boat
Lightning
  T.B. 1  
Thornycroft Repeat Lightnings
T.B. 2 T.B. 3 T.B. 4 T.B. 5 T.B. 6
  T.B. 7 T.B. 8 T.B. 9  
  T.B. 10 T.B. 11 T.B. 12  
Other Builders
T.B. 13 T.B. 14 T.B. 15 T.B. 17 T.B. 18
  T.B. 19 T.B. 20  
  Torpedo Boats (UK) H.M. T.B. 63 –>
  First-class Torpedo Boats (UK) T.B. 39 Class –>