SMS Tiger (1887)
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 Austro-Hungarian yacht SMS Lacroma, 1906
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Austria-Hungary | |
| Name | SMS Tiger |
| Builder | Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste |
| Laid down | 5 October 1886 |
| Launched | 26 June 1887 |
| Completed | March 1888 |
| Renamed | Lacroma, 1906 |
| Reclassified | Yacht, 1906 |
| Stricken | 1906 |
| Fate | Broken up in Italy, 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | none |
| Type | Cruiser |
| Displacement | 1,657 t (1,631 long tons) |
| Length | 76.02 m (249 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 10.55 m (34 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) |
| Installed power | 5,700 ihp (4,300 kW) |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 compound expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement | 188 |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 4 × 120 mm (4.7 in) Krupp guns 10 × 47 mm (1.9 in) guns 4 × 360 mm (14.2 in) torpedo tubes |
SMS Tiger was a so-called "torpedo ram cruiser" (Torpedo-Rammkreuzer) of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. An enlarged and improved version of Panther and Leopard she was part of a program to build up Austria-Hungary's feet of torpedo craft in the 1880s. In 1906 she was converted to an admiralty yacht and renamed SMS Lacroma.
Design
As envisaged by the Austro-Hungarian Navy Commander (Marinekommandant), Vice Admiral Maximilian Daublebsky von Sterneck, Tiger would have a reinforced bow for ramming as well as torpedoes for attacking larger warships. She also would be small and fast enough to undertake patrol and reconnaissance duties. Tiger's design encompassed three weapons that fascinated naval theorists of the day--the ram, the torpedo, and the gun.
Built by Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino at San Rocco, Tiger was launched on 28 June 1887. A steel-hulled vessel of 1,657 tons, she measured 249 feet 5 inches (76.02 m) in length with a beam of 34 feet 9 inches (10.59 m) and a draft of 15 feet 5 inches (4.70 m). Propulsion was supplied by two compound steam engines with four double-ended boilers, producing 6,200 horsepower (4,600 kW) for a speed of 19.25 knots (35.65 km/h). Tiger had a lower profile but the same pronounced ram bow as Panther and Leopard. The crew comprised 188 officers and men.
Tiger's armament consisted of four 120 millimetres (4.7 in) Krupp guns on hull sponsons, six 47 millimetres (1.9 in) quick-firing guns, four 47 mm revolver cannon and four 14-inch (360 mm) torpedo tubes.
Service history
Like Panther and Leopard, Tiger was employed at first as leader of a division of torpedo boats. Later, she alternated between service on various stations, training cruises, and flag-showing visits.
Conversion
Tiger was converted into an admiralty yacht in 1905-06 with her armament reduced to four 47 mm Skoda guns and four 47 mm Hotchkiss guns. The hull sponsons were removed with their associated guns. On 16 February 1909 the German gun-boat Tiger is recorded visiting Lahadatu, British Northern Borneo, Captain Ackerman in command, the Prince of Hesse was a Midshipman on board. She stayed for two days and left for Manila on 19 February.[1] She was renamed Lacroma in 1906.
In 1915 Lacroma was completely disarmed and handed over to the new Yugoslav Navy in 1919. She was ceded to Italy in 1920 and scrapped there.
Notes
- ^ British North Borneo Herald, 16 March 1909, p. 63
References
- Greger, René (1976). Austro-Hungarian Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0623-7.