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.
Spider | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Grasshopper-class torpedo gunboat |
| Builders |
|
| 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 long tons (533 t) |
| Length | 200 ft (61 m) (pp) |
| Beam | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 screws; 2 × triple-expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 19.25 knots (35.65 km/h; 22.15 mph) |
| Range | 2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 66 |
| Armament |
|
The Grasshopper 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 long tons (533 t). They were engined with two sets of Maudslay, Sons & Field triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive 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; 22.15 mph).[1] They carried 100 tons of coal, giving them a range of about 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and were manned by 66 sailors and officers.
The class was each fitted with one 4 inch Gun and six 3-pounder guns. Two 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes and two additional 14-inch torpedo carriages. 4 reload torpedoes were carried
| 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. |
- Winfield (2004), p.304.
- Brown, Les (2023). Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-3990-2285-9.
- 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. OCLC 52620555.