HNoMS Lindaas - Requisitioned steamboat, armed with a 47mm cannon

Til_Dovre_Faller · September 14, 2024, 1:30pm

HNoMS LINDAAS

TYPE: Steamboat/patrol vessel
NAMES:
Norwegian service: D/S Lindaas, S/S Lindaas
German service: D/S Otter
BUILDING SITE: Kristiansands Mekaniske Verksted, Kristiansand S
LAUNCHED: June 1909
REQUISITIONED: Autumn 1939
IN COMMAND: 1939 - 08.05.1940
UNIT: 2. Sjøforsvarsdistrikt 12.Bevokningsdivisjon
OWNERS: Alversund & Manger Dampbåtlag A/S

ARMAMENT

1x 47mm Armstrong cannon
-I haven’t been able to find the exact model/make nor placement of this yet, but it is a Armstrong cannon, and higly likely the L/46

TECHNICAL DATA
Displacement: 139 Gross tonnage
Length: 29.87 Meter
Width: 5.73 Meter
Depth: 2.74 Meter

MACHINERY
1x Triple steam engine 3 cylinders
Cylinder diameter: 10"-16"-27".
Machinery and cooler built at: Kristiansand Mekansike Verksted
Power: 40 NHP
Speed: 10 knots (18.52 Km/h)

CREW
Estimated crew: 18 Men

TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
1909: Lindaas & Masfjordens Dampskibsselskap, Bergen - LINDAAS
1937: Lindaas & Masfjorden Dampskipslag A/S, Bergen - LINDAAS
1939: charter of the Royal Norwegian Navy as guard ship
1940: Rec. of Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine (Hafenschutzflotille Bergen NB 03) - OTTER
1940: 55 Vorpostenflotille V 5503
1945: Lindaas & Masfjorden Steamboat Association, Bergen - LINDAAS
1951: A/S Bergen-Nordhordland Traffic Association, Bergen - LINDAAS
1960: A/S Mastrevik Slip & Mech. Verk., Bergen (Omb. cargo boat)
1961: Olav Fonnes, Mastrevik, Bergen - GERLAUG
1962: New engine: Normo BHK 100 Speed: 7.5 knots
1962: Remeasured: Dwt: 140 t. Brt: 123 t. Net: 61 t. Dim: 32.06-5.73-2.80 m
1967: Alfred Raknes, Aukra, Molde - NIBETA
1973: Olav Kallekleiv P/R, Fotlandsvåg, Molde - NIBETA
1975: Jenning Gustavsen P/R, Molde - NIBETA
1977: P/R Nibeta (Jenning Gustavsen) Molde - NIBETA
1979: Jenning Gustavsen, Molde - NIBETA
1986: Sank in Verpingsvika after lying in storage. Condemned and deleted from the ship register.
1992: Raised and lowered outside Storfjorden

HISTORY
This ship was built at Lindaas & Masfjordens Dampskibsselskap, Bergen with the name Lindaas. in 1937 it was transferred to Lindaas & Masfjorden Dampskipslag A/S, in Bergen. in the autumn of 1939, the ship was requisitioned by the Royal Norwegian Navy as a guard ship and armed with a 47mm cannon.

Before the Second World War, half of the people in Hordaland, Norway had only the sea as their means of communication with the outside world. In other large parts of the county, the road standard was actually so poor that the sea route was the most used route. and it therefore had very serious consequences when six steamboats were requisitioned by the Royal Norwegian Navy and which were later hijacked by the Germans during the war

Cannons on Steamships
In September 1939, the navy requisitioned six steamships. These steamships were to do guard duty for the Royal Norwegian Navy, and cannons were therefore mounted on the steamships. The steamships that were requisitioned were; “Lindaas” from Lindaas-Masfjorden, “Haus” and “Oster” from Indre Nordhordland, “Øygar” from Hjelma and Herdla, and “Alversund” and “Manger” from Alversund and Manger.

When Norway was invaded by Germany on 9 April 1940, these ships were on post. These then reported enemy attacks, and some of the ships, such as “Haus” and “Øygar”, later took part in battles, and “Øygar” was nearly sunk in one of these battles. “Alversund” was sunk by its own crew in an attempt to avoid it falling into the hands of the enemy, but was soon raised by the Germans. The Germans eventually confiscated all these boats during the war.

These ships were the glue between village and town in these areas, as both people, cattle, foodstuffs, dairy products and much else were transported via these ships, and they were also the biggest collective travel offer at that time here. The route offer was seriously weakened in 1939 when they were requisitioned, and weakened even more when the Germans took these ships in addition to a number of others during the war. this was the case for a long time after the war as well, because the Germans damaged the ships so much that they had to be repaired and modernized at the same time.

IN GAME
This is very simlar to the vessels with the 65mm quick firing cannon equipped. I am not sure abou tthe specs of this 47mm cannon, but i have managed to get it verified by a man who 30 years ago, spent a lot of his time collecting and interwieving survivors of these fights, and he say it is an Armstrong cannon, i am almost certain that it is (the L/46 Armstrong). But the firerate is possibly higher than the 65mm cannon and could then potentially be a little better. but with the slow speed and vouinerability, i don’t know if the manouverability and armament can make up for it. I anyways thought this could be a fun ship. if it wouldn’t get a place in any techtree, it can at least be one of these bot vessels that sit and guard the zones to be captured.

HNoMS Lindaas in german service as “Otter”, i am sure the cannon in front is the Norwegian 47mm