TYPE: Monitor
BUILDING SITE: Motala shipyard, Norrköping
NAVY SHIP LIST NUMBER: Serial number 49
BUILT NUMBER: 52
CONSTRUCTION COST: 362 250,- Norwegian rigsdaler included weapons
LAUNCHED: 5 June 1872
HOIST COMMAND: 3 June 1876
ARMAMENT
1876
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2x 270mm (26.7cm) Rifled Armstrong Muzzle loader cannon
-Barrel lenght in caliber: L/12.5 NO1
-Weight: 18 430 Kilogram
-Mount: Mounted in fixed iron sled footing with recoil brake in turret with turret rotation
-Material: Steel with Coils
-Manufacturer: Armstrong -
1x 76.4mm Palliser Rifled muzzle loader cannon
-Barrel lenght in caliber: L/12.6 NO1
-Manufacturer: Palliser
-Material: Steel with Coils around the back. A few cannons are cast in metal
-Weight: 140 Kilogram
-The entire length of the cannon: 1,113.8 Millimeters
- Barrel length: 962.0 Millimeters
-Knurled part of the barrel: 842.0 Millimeters
-Length of the pins: 59.9 Millimeters
-Inner barrel: 76.4 Millimeters
-Exterior at the mouth: 124.9 Millimeters
-Above the back piece: 188.2 Millimeters
-The studs: 68.1 Millimeters
-Rifling:
-System: Wrede, Helicoidale
-Number of rifles: 3 for steering cams
-Number of rifles: 3 for centering lugs
-The width of the rifles: 20.1 Millimeter guide lugs
-The width of the rifles: 18.8 Millimeter centering lugs
-The depth of the rifles: 2.2 Millimeters
-Depth of the rifles: 0.6 Millimeter centering lugs
-Mount:
-Mounting: Sled Affutaje with for pivot as a boat launch
-The sled’s greatest length: 2.04 metres
-The sled’s weight: 145 Kilograms
-The rapper’s greatest length: 0.98 metres
-Rapper’s weight: 100 Kilograms
1888
Spoiler
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2x 270mm (26.7cm) Rifled Armstrong Muzzle loader cannon
-Barrel lenght in caliber: L/12.5 NO1
-Weight: 18 430 Kilogram
-Mount: Mounted in fixed iron sled footing with recoil brake in turret with turret rotation
-Material: Steel with Coils
-Manufacturer: Armstrong -
1x 76.4mm Palliser Rifled muzzle loader cannon
-Barrel lenght in caliber: L/12.6 NO1
-Manufacturer: Palliser
-Material: Steel with Coils around the back. A few cannons are cast in metal
-Weight: 140 Kilogram
-The entire length of the cannon: 1,113.8 Millimeters
- Barrel length: 962.0 Millimeters
-Knurled part of the barrel: 842.0 Millimeters
-Length of the pins: 59.9 Millimeters
-Inner barrel: 76.4 Millimeters
-Exterior at the mouth: 124.9 Millimeters
-Above the back piece: 188.2 Millimeters
-The studs: 68.1 Millimeters
-Rifling:
-System: Wrede, Helicoidale
-Number of rifles: 3 for steering cams
-Number of rifles: 3 for centering lugs
-The width of the rifles: 20.1 Millimeter guide lugs
-The width of the rifles: 18.8 Millimeter centering lugs
-The depth of the rifles: 2.2 Millimeters
-Depth of the rifles: 0.6 Millimeter centering lugs
-Mount:
-Mounting: Sled Affutaje with for pivot as a boat launch
-The sled’s greatest length: 2.04 metres
-The sled’s weight: 145 Kilograms
-The rapper’s greatest length: 0.98 metres
-Rapper’s weight: 100 Kilograms -
1x 25.4mm Palmkrantz-Winborg Machinegun
-Barrel lenght in caliber: L/35
-Mount: Mounted on a pedestal/affutasje aft
-Barrels: 10x
-Weight: 190 Kilograms
-Total Lenght: 1.432 Millimeter
-Manufacturer: Nordenfelt
1897
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2x 124mm Nordenfelt Rapid firing cannons
-Manufacturer: SA John Cockerill, Searing, Belgium
-Caliber: 12.4cm L/44
-Whole cannon lenght: 5.549.2 Millimeter
-Barrel lenght: 5.264.2 Millimeter
-Rifling: 36 Rifles Circular with uniform twist on the last 8 calibres. End twist 6 degrees. The rifles have the same depth and width
-Ammunition: uncertain, most likely saphe and he
-Ammunition stowage: Uncertain, it was stored in crates on the pllatform as seen in the picture above, the amount in each crate vary according to caliber
-Montage: Consists of the plinth, stand, cradle with brake cylinder, side alignment device and height alignment device
-Type: Nordenfeldt with eccentric screw mechanism
-Cannon Material: Steel (Martin - Siemens), Forged, Hardened in oil and annealed. It is a jacketed cannon made up of a core tube and a jacket
-Armored shield:
-Front: 30 Millimeter
-Sides: 25 Millimeter
-Roof: 25 Millimeter -
2x 65mm Nordenfeldt rapid firing cannons
-Barrel lenght in caliber: L/43
-Weight: 515 Kilograms
-Manufacturer: SA John Cockerill, Searing, Belgium
-Cannon Material: Steel (Martin - Siemens), Forged, Hardened in oil and annealed. It is a jacketed cannon made up of a core tube and a jacket
-Type: Nordenfeldt with eccentric screw mechanism
-Mount: Consists of a skewed conical stand, pivot fork, cradle with brake cylinder and height adjustment device
-Whole cannon lenght: 3013 Millimeter
-Barrel lenght: 2823 Millimeter
Rifling: 26 rifling, circular with uniform twist on the last 8 calibers. end twist 6 degrees, the riffles have the same width and depth
-Placement: On the brigdes in armored shields
-Armour: Slightly bent shield in 6mm Nicle-steel -
2x 37mm Hotchkiss Revolvercannons
-Barrel lenght in caliber: L/20
-Placement/mount: Placed on the deck in shields of 5mm special steel
TECHNICAL DATA
Displacement: 2035 Tons
Lenght: 62.3 Meter
Width: 14.6 Meter
Depth: 3.9 Meter
MACHINERY
1x Horizontal single-expanding steam machine
-Power: 500 Indicated Horsepowers
4x Box-shaped tube boilers
Propellers: 1x 4 bladed
Speed: 9.2 Knots (17.03 Km/h) at 72 rpm
Bunker: 186 Tons of Stone Coal (1800 barrels)
CREW
Estimated crew: 80 Men
The size of the crew varied between 82 and 99 men during the various voyages
ARMOR
Hull material: Iron and Wrought Iron Armor
Tower: 356 Millimeter
On the Barbet: 360 Millimeter
Sides: 176 Millimeter
Deck: 26 Millimeter
TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
1872: Launched the 5th of June
1876: Hoist command the 3rd of June
1876: Department trip
1888: Coastal Defense Department expedition 1888 and 89
1897: Rebuilt/remodeled
1905: Mobilized in defense of Tønsbergfjord’s Fortifications
1916: Mobilized as mother ship for chartered guard vessels
1917: Command canceled on 20 October
1918: Sold for scrapping in Stavanger
1919: Wrecked south of Tjøme on 8 March while being towed to Stavanger, 2 men perished
HISTORY
There are no known pictures of the vessel that i have managed to find, but i have found detailed drawings of HNoMS Thor
Brief history
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The command was lifted on Thor on 3 June 1876 in Horten.
In 1897, the monitor underwent a major rebuilding and refitting.
In 1905, when the mobilization order was given on 13 September, Thor was in Melsomvik loading dock.
The command was lifted on 14 September. The equipment began with help from the Skagerakeskadren, which was located in Melsomvik. The crew was full by midnight on 18 September.
The time until 17 September was used for various courses and instructions. Thor then went to Sand, where they anchored as an advanced defense in Tønsbergfjord’s Fortifications. On 9 October, assistance was provided to the galley ANNA CAROLINE of Fredriksværn, which had run aground on Veierland’s north coast. On 12 October, Thor went from Sand to Karljohansværn. Disarmament began that afternoon, and the command was disbanded in Horten on 15 October 1905.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Thor was located in the Melsomvik warehouse. As a result of the outbreak of war, the vessel took command on 2 August 1914. The equipment was completed on 4 August. On 5 August, Thor went to Sandsbukten, where it anchored at 4 anchors. Here it was almost like a mother ship for a number of rented guard vessels. On 20 August, Thor went from Sandsbukten to Melsomvik depot, where the command was canceled on 21 August 1914.
As a result of the war, Thor took command again on 30 October 1916 in Melsomvik, and the equipment was completed on 6 November. Two guard boats then towed the monitor out to Jarlsø, where it anchored for 2 anchors and mooring chain ashore. Here it was located as an advanced defense in Tønsbergfjorden’s Fortifications during the period of full equipment.
On 29 March 1917 at 02:00 German D/S ERVIN of Flensburg was inspected. The steamship had anchored northwest of Torgersøya lighthouse. It was transported at Norwegian expense. This was the only incident in the neutrality protection for monitor Thor. On 17 October, the monitor was towed by the guard boats DOMINION 1 and TORSBERG from Jarlsø to Karljohansværn. Disarmament began in Horten the following day.
The command was canceled for the last time on 20 October 1917.
In 1918 THOR was decommissioned, and in 1919 it was sold to Stavanger Skipsophugningsco for scrapping. But it was to end its days differently. On the evening of 7 March 1919, skipper Pedersen on the tug GOLIATH decided to begin the tow from Horten to Stavanger despite strong winds. On the night of 8 March south of Tjøme, GOLIATH began to take in sudden seas. To save the tug and himself, he cut the tow and let Thor drift. On board Thor were 2 young men: Frithjof Pedersen and Vilmer Mikalsen sat as helmsmen. Thor drifted ashore and wrecked at the southern tip of Hoflø with the loss of the two helmsmen, who have not been found since.
What could be removed from the wreck was taken up, a favorite diving object and today the wreck is a place for amateur divers.
A little about the Monitor-ship’s background
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Firepower, protection and movement are key military concepts that have also been weighed against each other within the development of naval destroyers, of course to some extent with economic aspects. The experiences of the Crimean War had shown that the age of sailing ships was over. The British gradually switched to steamships, and with HMS Warrior from 1859 they had also begun experiments with partial armoring of their southern ships. The idea of purifying the factors of protection and firepower came from the Swedish designer John Ericcson, and it is no coincidence that it was precisely during the American Civil War that it would win its first honors.
During the winter of 1862, the southern states had converted the old steam frigate Merrimac into a sort of armored fortress, which could also be used as a battering ram. the floor was peeled down to the waterline and reinforced. On the hull, a large Kasemat was built, 53 meters long, with sloping sides that received 51 cm pine planks, plus 10 cm oak planks, plus double armor plates. The reinforcement on each side was 1x 15cm rifled cannon and 3x 23cm smoothbore cannons plus guns in the bow and stern.
On 8 March 1862, the Merrimac, which had now actually been named Virginia, attacked a force of Northern vessels of three sailing frigates and two steam frigates at Hampton Roads near Norfolk. They went straight for the North States’ fire which bounced off the armor and they sank two frigates and killed 250 men. Even they only had 2 dead, some loose armor plates and some engine problems
The Northern States had long been aware of the Southern States’ plans and the aforementioned John Ericsson had, in competition with several constructors, been commissioned to construct a vessel that could compete with such a flying fortress in defensive operations. He then designed the vessel which was called the Monitor, and which gave its name to this type of vessel. The monitor was smaller than the converted frigates. It had almost the entire hull under water. The freeboard (?) was very low, with a thick log cushion, and on top of this solid armour. The deck was also of course armored and there was only one gun turret on the deck, which in return was heavily armored and rotatable, and which provided space for 2 large 28cm guns. Monitor only stuck 9 feet, as opposed to Merrimac’s 23 feet, and consequently had higher speed and somewhat better maneuverability.
As chance would have it, just as the day after March 9, 1862, the Merrimac was about to return to Hampton Roads and complete its destruction, the Monitor arrived on the scene of war and was able to take the battle for the Merrimac. It was a long battle in which neither vessel could sink the other. The Merrimac had a higher rate of fire, and as the Monitor achieved its objective by stopping the Merrimac, it was considered by many to be the victorious party
The Norwegian Monitor’s
Norway had 4 Monitors, Scorpionen, Mjølner; Thor and Trudvang. these are simlar in armament but their history is a little bit different, and some specifications. but this is mainly about the first, Scropionen.
In all navies it was understood that the battle at Hampton Roads was epoch-making. It was understood that the armor meant that the time for wooden ships was over. The problem was that Europe had 2,500 wooden ships and that the transition to iron and armor would take some time. The monitors were primarily archipelago vessels, and it was therefore primarily with the small coastal navies that this concept won out. For the major naval powers that operated on the world’s oceans, the monitors were less suitable, and although they also switched to armour, they built larger vessels such as the Dreadnought
In Norway, in the wake of the Crimean War, there had been a somewhat greater willingness to allocate money to the navy’s vessels. It was against this background that in 1859 it had been decided to build the steam frigate Kong Sverre, the steam corvette Nordstjernen and four steam gunboats, that there should also be room to start the construction of four new tower vessels, which the monitors were also called, says something about their supposed importance. The right-wing in politics probably also saw the monitors as a contribution to the common union defense to which they believed themselves committed, but at the same time they could be considered as nationally justified. When the last of the 4 monitors was delivered in 1872, the good times for the navy’s shipbuilding were over for a good while
The monitors according to Ericcson’s drawings were all built at the shipyard in Horten, with the exception of one vessel “Mjølner” which was built at the Motala shipyard in Sweden, probably for reasons of capacity. It was built on an iron frame, with which the yard had now gained some experience from the steam gunboats, and they were fitted with wrought iron hulls. The new Armstrong 26.7cm rifled cannons were originally chosen as main gunners. Two such were placed next to each other inside the armored tower. They stood on rails so that they could be cranked in for charging inside the tower. With a weight of nearly 20 tons per piece, it was heavy stuff. only the grenades weighed approx. 160 kg and was lifted up with a winch. the tower itself was also rotatable by hand. In addition, they had a small 76mm cannon as a “boat gunner” (?) on the accompanying steam sloop.
The monitors were equipped for practice cruises a number of times, usually two by two, together with torpedo boats or gunboats. due to the lack of conveniences, the voyages were normally made to domestic coastal waters, but sometimes they also went to Swedish or Danish ports. In 1872 they practiced together with three Swedish monitors.
The events of these cruises were few, but both commanders and royals came several times for inspections during practice, so their possible importance was certainly recognized. Mjølner undoubtedly received the most attention outside of military circles when it ran aground on an underwater reef off Kragerø, Norway, already during the test voyage in 1869. It was firmly fixed there for over a week before it was unloaded and pulled off. The underwater reef was then renamed “Monitorbåen”. (the story was probably less well known among the Germans who also went on the reef one summer day in 1940 with one of our old torpedo boats).
We can understand that the comforts were poor as the messes and cabins were below the waterline with descent through a thick hatch. BECAUSE of the storm water, it didn’t take much before the hatches had to be scaled and the artificial ventilation produced such a strong draft that candles had to be covered with gas canisters. in the engine room it quickly became sauna temperatures! up to 70 degrees Celsius it could!!
On dog watch “Hundevakten” on 17 May 1898, the non-commissioned officer met God himself in the cannon tower. “It looked dark, but suddenly I was so happy that I hardly felt like touching the deck when I walked”. The congregation “Smith’s friends” was thus created by strong hallucinations on the monitor Thor.
As part of the rearmament against the Swedes, the monitors were upgraded in 1897. The large rifled cannons were replaced with two 12.4cm fast-firing Nordenfelt guns in a common armor shield on the old tower. in addition, you got two 65mm cannons on the bridges and two 37mm revolver guns on the deck.
After this, they were also moved in pairs to the new staging ports Melomsvik outside Tønsberg and Husvik near Oscarsborg. During the mobilization in 1905, they were equipped. Thor and Trudvang were placed as protection outside Tønsberg’s fortifications and Skorpionen and Mjølner were given a similar task at Oscarsborg. After being able to take part in the celebrations in Kristiania in October, Skorpionen and Mjølner went back to Horten where they were taken out of service the same year.
Thor and Trudvang remained in circulation. Thor was first equipped during the mobilization in August 1914 before both vessels for a period from 1916-17 served in the neutrality protection around the storage base. Then it was over and they were both sold to Stavanger for scrapping, but Thor never got that far. due to bad weather, and in order to save itself, the tug had to cut the tow on 8 March 1919. Thor ran aground and sank at Hoflø. On this last voyage, in peacetime, the two oarsmen on board also lost their lives.
IN GAME
This is a very very old vessel, and the first loadout is of muzzle loaded cannons, wich has no function in-game (currently) ;). at least the latest armament should be worthy and competetive, this is pretty well armored, and a hard vessel to hit due to it’s low profile, so it might be able to ho as far up as 1.0-2.0+? This is the most heavely armored monitor in Norwegian service, and would be really hard to kill in the lover tiers, even with torpedoes
Palmkrantz-Winborg Machinegun
76.4mm Palliser Rifled muzzle loader cannon
270mm (26.7cm) Rifled Armstrong Muzzle loader cannon
HNoMS Thor Drawings
PICTURES
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SOURCES
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MAIN SOURCE (Limited Acess)
Nasjonalbiblioteket
OTHER
90 år under rent norsk orlogsflagg
Norske marinefartøy - samtlige norske marinefartøy 1814-2008 og marinens flygevåpen 1912-1944 | ARK Bokhandel
Nasjonalbiblioteket
Leselystig 39: Modeller som forteller – Norsk Marinehistorie | Polar Coordinate
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