- Yes.
- No.
- In a future Dutch/BeNeLux techtree.
- In the French BeNeLux sub-tree.
- Other (Please explain in the comments).
- I said “No” in the first question.
- As laid down (4 x 105mm, 2 x 6,5mm)
- 1930’s refit (4 x 105mm)
- 1941 refit (4 x 105mm, 2 x 40mm, depth charges)
- I said “No” in the first question.
Today I’m going to suggest a very cool armoured gunboat of the Netherlands Navy.
This is the Brinio-class, HNLMS Gruno (1913)!
HNLMS Gruno most likely sometime in the 1930’s
Source: Foto's
History
Spoiler
HNLMS Gruno still in her original as laid down configuration
Source: Foto'sThe Brinio-class armoured gunboats were designed around 1910, and their role would be that of Harbour/Coastal defence boats. Another role for them was to protect smaller minelayers. For these planned defence roles the ships were not given a lot when it came to speed, but they more then made up for this in firepower and armour.
Also fun fact, the Brinio-class ships were the first full diesel powered boats the Dutch Navy used.
HNLMS Gruno was the third and last ship made of the class. She was laid down on the 12th of Februari 1912, and would be commissioned on the 15th of Juli 1915. HNLMS Gruno and her two sister ships all differed slightly in powerplants, this is ofcourse not visible from the outside. Except for one thing, the smokestacks. All three ships had different smoke stacks later in their carreers, so this became an easy way to identify the ships from the outside. The sketch shown below shows the differences.
A simple sketch showing the different smoke stacks each ship of the Brinio-class had. It’s a very simply way to tell the three sister ships apart
Source: “Nederlandse marineschepen 1939-1945” book, by Peter KimenaiHNLMS Gruno didn’t have a very exciting carreer during WW1 or the Interwar period. The only thing that did happen was that she was refitted slightly a bunch of times. The bridge, masts and overall upper superstructure was changed around a lot from the 1920’s till 1930’s.
HNLMS Gruno most likely sometime in the 1930’s
Source: Foto'sWhen Germany invaded the Netherlands on the 10th of May 1940, HNLMS Gruno was called into action. At that time she was present near the small islands at the north of the Netherlands. She was there to protect Dutch minefields. Four days later she was ordered to flee to Great Britain. She managed to navigate her way onto the open sea, and with the help of a British destroyer, she managed to make it to Great Britain.
HNLMS Gruno would end up getting assigned to the Thames Local Defence Flotilla on the 29th of May 1940 and given the callsign F81. Later in Januari 1941 the ship was given a British Asdic Type 140A sonar and depth charges. The ship was also given two 40mm pom-poms, which was most likely done at the same time the sonar and depth charges were added.
From March 1943 till April 1944 the HNLMS Gruno carried out escort duties from New Castle. From the 12th of April the ship was put up as an accommodation ship.
When the second world war had ended the HNLMS Gruno returned to the Netherlands, and was given the callsign N2. From the 20th of Februari 1948 she was once again used as an accommodation ship.
In 1959 the HNLMS Gruno would end up getting sold and was scrapped soon after.
HNLMS Gruno whilst in dock in 1932
Source: Foto's
Design
Spoiler
A blueprint of the HNLMS Gruno
Source: https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/4.MST/invnr/1415/file/NL-HaNA_4.MST_1415HNLMS Gruno was 52,66 metres long, had a beam of 8,52 metres and a draft of 2,78 metres, and had a standard displacement of 533tons, and a full displacament of 581 tons. She had a crew of 52 men (This increased to 66 during the German invasion) and were able to reach a top speed of 14 knots.
HNLMS Gruno was armed with four 10,5cm Semi-Automatisch No. 1 guns. These four guns were mounted in single mounts, with one at the front, one at the rear, and one on each side of the ship. Giving the ship a max broadside of three guns.
These guns had acces to two types of HE rounds. It also had a Canister and a Starshell round.The boats were also armed with two single 6,5mm No. 1 machine guns. These are 6,5mm Schwarzlose M.08 machine guns. One was in front of the bridge, and another on a platform towards the rear, superfiring over the rear 10,5cm gun.
The Brinio-class ships were also armoured. The ship was protected by a 55mm thick belt. Towards the inside of the ship the citadel was also 55mm thick. The belt and citadel were connected by a 17mm thick deck. This 17mm thick deck kind of acted as turtleback armour, and in places where there was no citadel armour present, the 17mm deck armour ran from one side of the ship to the other via a curved shape.
Lastly the conning tower and 10,5cm gunshields were also 50mm thick.
A blueprint of the inside of the HNLMS Gruno. Here we see the armour layout of the middle and ends of the ship
Source: | Nationaal Archief
At some point the old 6,5mm machine guns were removed. Most likely due to them being outdated. But unlike her sister ships, it would seem that HNLMS Gruno didn’t get any other machine guns in place of the old 6,5mm onces. This removal of the machine guns was most likely done sometime during the 1930’s.
In Januari 1941 HNLMS Gruno was serving in Great Britain, and was also given some British weapons. Two 40mm 2-pdr QF Mark VIII autocannons were added where the old machine guns used to be. And the ship was also given depth charges together with a British Asdic Type 140A sonar.
A blueprint of HNLMS Gruno, showing the various air vents and oil tanks, and also the internal armour layout that runs throughout the ship
Source: | Nationaal Archief
Ingame
Spoiler
The HNLMS Gruno would be a very nice addition to the game. The ship sits exactly between the small river gunboats and larger destroyers. And yet it has more armour then most destroyers ingame. I think this would be an excellent addition for a coastal techtree, the 105mm guns are perfect to use against pretty much any kind of enemy ship. And whilst the secondairy machine guns are not that great, we can also pick the later refit where the HNLMS Gruno gets two 40mm pom-poms!
Now where should these boats go to? As usualy with my Dutch vehicle suggestions, I ofcourse want to see this ingame in a Dutch or BeNeLux techtree. Ofcourse the BeNeLux has been added to France, so this is now the only option where Dutch vessels will go to. But it must be said that the Netherlands and France have nothing in common, and do not make sense to combine together ingame.
In the French tree the HNLMS Gruno would actually be a nice addition. The French coastal tree already has some large gunboats in it, but none of those are armoured. The HNLMS Gruno would add a nice compact and armoured gunboat into the techtree.
Specifications
Spoiler
A blueprint of the HNLMS Gruno
Source: | Nationaal ArchiefStandard displacement: 533 tons
Max displacement: 581 tons
Length: 52,66 m
Beam: 8,52 m
Draft: 2,78 m
Powerplant: 2 x 6-cylinder 2-stroke P. Smit Jr.-Krupp-Germania diesel engines
Power output: 600 hp
Maximum speed: 14 knots (25,93 km/h)
Crew: 52 men (66 men during the German invasion, 1940)Armor:
Belt: 55 mm
Deck: 17 mm
Citadel: 55 mm
Conning tower: 50 mm
10,5 cm gun shields: 50 mmArmament: (As laid down)
4 x 1 10,5 cm Semi-Automatisch No. 1 guns
2 x 1 6,5mm No. 1 machine guns (Schwarzlose M.08)1930’s refit:
4 x 1 10,5 cm Semi-Automatisch No. 1 guns1941 refit:
4 x 1 10,5 cm Semi-Automatisch No. 1 guns
2 x 1 40 mm 2-pdr QF Mark VIII autocannon (Vickers Pom-Pom)
Depth charges were added together with a Asdic Type 140A sonar
A photo taken of HNLMS Gruno whilst she’s got the two 40mm pom-poms fitted
Source: HNMS Gruno (F 81) of the Royal Dutch Navy - Dutch Gunboat of the Gruno class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net
And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed reading about this little boat.
See you on the battlefield!
Sources
Spoiler
History and information:
- “Nederlandse marineschepen 1939-1945” book, by Peter Kimenai
- Nederlandse kanonneerboten - TracesOfWar.nl
Extra sources:
Photos:
Blueprints: