SMS S51 (1889)
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name |
|
| Builder | Schichau-Werke, Elbing |
| Launched | 28 November 1889 |
| Completed | 12 September 1890 |
| Fate | Mined and sunk 29 May 1915 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 152 t (150 long tons) design |
| Length | 44.20 m (145 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) |
| Draught | 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power | 1,571 PS (1,550 ihp; 1,155 kW) |
| Propulsion | 1 × Triple expansion steam engine |
| Speed | 21.5 kn (24.7 mph; 39.8 km/h) |
| Complement | 20 |
| Armament | 3× 35 cm (14 in) torpedo tubes |
SMS S51[a][b] was a torpedo boat of the Imperial German Navy. She was built in 1889–1890 by Schichau at Elbing, as one of a large number of small torpedo boats of similar design built for the German navy. S51 was renamed T51 in 1910, and served as a minesweeper during the First World War, and was mined and sunk on 29 May 1915.
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]
In August 1888, an order was placed for 16 torpedo boats, S42–S57.[3] S51 was laid down at Schichau's shipyard at Elbing, East Prussia (now Elbląg in Poland) as Yard number 412,[4], was launched on 28 November 1889 and completed on 12 September 1890.[5] The ship was 44.20 metres (145 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 5.00 metres (16 ft 5 in) and a draught of 2.70 metres (8 ft 10 in).[4][6][7] Displacement was 152 tonnes (150 long tons) full load. She was powered by a three-cylinder triple expansion steam engine, rated at 1,571 metric horsepower (1,550 ihp; 1,155 kW), fed by a single coal-fired locomotive boiler, which drove a single shaft, giving a speed of 21.5 knots (24.7 mph; 39.8 km/h).[4] The ship was later reboilered with a water-tube boiler and converted to use oil fuel.[7]
S51 carried three 35 cm (14 in) torpedo tubes, with a single spare torpedo carried.[6] The ship's initial gun armament consisted of two Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon,[6][7] which was replaced by a 5 cm SK L/40 gun from 1893.[6][4] The ship had a crew of 20.[6]
Service
By 1908, S51 was used as a minesweeper, being a member of the 2nd Minesweeping Division.[8] On 11 November 1910, along with a large number of other old torpedo boats, S51 was redesignated to free the 'S' numbers for new construction, with the ship becoming T51.[5][6]
T51 remained part of the 2nd Minesweeping Division into 1914.[9]
Notes
- ^ "SMS" stands for "Seiner Majestät Schiff" (transl. His Majesty's Ship)
- ^ The "S" in S51 denoted the shipbuilder who constructed her, in this case Schichau.[1]
Citations
- ^ Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 164
- ^ Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979, pp. 262–263.
- ^ Fock 1979, p. 121.
- ^ a b c d Gröner, Jung & Maass 1983, p. 31.
- ^ a b Gröner, Jung & Maass 1983, p. 33.
- ^ a b c d e f Chesneau & Kolesnik 1979, p. 263.
- ^ a b c Fock 1979, p. 122.
- ^ Rangeliste der Kaiserlisch-Deutschen Marine 1908, pp. 64–65.
- ^ Rangeliste der Kaiserlisch-Deutschen Marine 1914, p. 85.
References
- Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
- Fock, Harald (1979). Schwarze Gesellen: Band 1: Torpedoboote bis 1914 (in German). Herford, Germany: Koehlers Verlagsgeselschaft mbH. ISBN 3-7822-0193-0.
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1983). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815–1945: Band 2: Torpedoboote, Zerstörer, Schnellboote, Minensuchboote, Minenräumboote (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graef Verlag. ISBN 3-7637-4801-6.
- Rangeliste der Kaiserlisch-Deutschen Marine für das Jahr 1908 (in German). Berlin: Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn. 1908.