SMS S32 (1886)

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History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameSMS S32
Builder Schichau-Werke, Elbing
Launched12 November 1886
Completed8 December 1886
FateSunk in collision with SMS S76 on 17 August 1910
General characteristics
Displacement119 t (117 long tons) design
Length39.12 m (128 ft 4 in)
Beam5.30 m (17 ft 5 in)
Draught2.52 m (8 ft 3 in)
Installed power900 PS (890 ihp; 660 kW)
Propulsion1 × Triple expansion steam engine
Speed19.9 kn (22.9 mph; 36.9 km/h)
Complement20
Armament3× 35 cm (14 in) torpedo tubes

SMS S32 [a] [b] , was a torpedo boat of the Imperial German Navy. She was built in 1886 by Schichau at Elbing, as one of a large number of small torpedo boats of similar design built for the German navy. S32 was sunk in a collision with the torpedo boat S76 in the Baltic Sea on 17 August 1910.

Contents

Design and construction

In 1884, the Imperial German Navy started to build up a force of torpedo boats, ordering a number of prototypes from several shipyards, both at home and abroad. Following delivery of these prototypes, the Schichau-Werke became the principle supplier of torpedo boats to the German Navy, a position it held for many years, with large orders for torpedo boats of similar, but gradually improving design being placed. [2]

S32 was launched from Schichau's shipyard at Elbing, East Prussia (now Elbląg in Poland) on 12 November 1886 and completed on 8 December 1886. [3] The ship was 39.12 metres (128 ft 4 in) long, with a beam of 5.30 metres (17 ft 5 in) and a draught of 2.52 metres (8 ft 3 in). [4] Displacement was 119 tonnes (117 long tons). She was powered by a three-cylinder Triple expansion steam engine, rated at 900 metric horsepower (890 ihp; 660 kW), which drove a single shaft, giving a speed of 19.9 knots (22.9 mph; 36.9 km/h). [5]

S32 carried three 35 cm (14 in) torpedo tubes, with a single spare torpedo carried. [4] The ship's initial gun armament consisted of a single Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon, [5] [c] which was replaced by a 5 cm SK L/40 gun from 1893. [4] [5] The ship had a crew of 20. [4]

Service

S32 was serving as a training boat as part of the 1st Torpedo Division at Kiel in 1894, [6] and remained on the same duty in 1899. [7] From 5 June 1910, S32 served as the tender for the light cruiser Danzig, which was attached to the naval artillery inspectorate to train the fleet's gunners. [8] On the night of 16/17 August, she was involved in a collision with the torpedo boat S76 in the Kieler Förde. Danzig came to both boats' aid and took off their crews. [8] Both boats sank, although S76 was later salvaged and returned to service. [9]

Notes

  1. ↑ "SMS" stands for " Seiner Majestät Schiff " (transl. His Majesty's Ship)
  2. ↑ The "S" in S32 denoted the shipbuilder who constructed her, in this case Schichau. [1]
  3. ↑ Two Hotchkiss guns according to Conway's. [4]

Citations

  1. ↑ Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 164
  2. ↑ Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979 , pp. 262–263
  3. ↑ Gröner, Jung & Maass 1983 , p. 32
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979 , p. 263
  5. 1 2 3 Gröner, Jung & Maass 1983 , p. 31
  6. ↑ Rangeliste der Kaiserlisch-Deutschen Marine 1894 , p. 35
  7. ↑ Rangeliste der Kaiserlisch-Deutschen Marine 1899 , p. 36
  8. 1 2 Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz, p. 218.
  9. ↑ Gröner, Jung & Maass 1983 , pp. 32, 34

References

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