HNoMS Tyr (1887)
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small}  Norway
|
|
| Name: | Tyr |
| Namesake: | Týr – god of single combat and heroic glory in Norse mythology |
| Builder: | Karljohansvern Naval Yard in Horten |
| Yard number: | 67 |
| Laid down: | 1884 |
| Launched: | 16 March 1887 |
| Commissioned: | 1887 |
| Captured: | by the Germans 20 April 1940 |
| Service record | |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | Norwegian Campaign |
| Victories: |
|
 Nazi Germany
|
|
| Name: | Tyr |
| Acquired: | 20 April 1940 |
| Fate: | Handed back to Norway after VE Day |
| Service record | |
| Operations: | |
|
Norway
|
|
| Name: | Tyr |
| Decommissioned: | 1945 |
| Renamed: | Bjørn West (1949) |
| Fate: | Sold to civilian owners in 1946, converted into car ferry, still afloat as a hulk as of 2006[update] |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type: | Gor-class Rendel gunboat |
| Displacement: | 290 tons |
| Length: | 31.8 m (104.33 ft) |
| Beam: | 8.5 m (27.89 ft) |
| Draft: | 2.2 m (7.22 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Two 420 hp Compound steam engines |
| Speed: | 10 knots (18.52 km/h) |
| Complement: | 44 men |
| Armament: |
|
| General characteristics after rebuild to minelayer | |
| Displacement: | 290 tons |
| Length: | 31.8 m (104.33 ft) |
| Beam: | 8.5 m (27.89 ft) |
| Draft: | 2.2 m (7.22 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Two 420 hp Compound steam engines |
| Speed: | 10 knots (18.52 km/h) |
| Complement: | 38 men |
| Armament: |
|
HNoMS Tyr was a Gor-class Rendel gunboat built for the Royal Norwegian Navy at Karljohansverns Verft Naval Yard in Horten. She was laid down in 1884 and launched in 1887 with build number 67.Tyr was one of a class of two gunboats - the other ship in her class being HNoMS Gor. Gor and Tyr can be seen as improved Vale-class gunboats, of 290 tons instead of the 250 tons standard for that class.
Captured during the German invasion of Norway, she was pressed into service in an attempt to mine Sognefjord. After attacks by Norwegian aircraft and ships she took no further part in the conflict. After the war she was returned briefly to the Royal Norwegian Navy then entered civilian service in a number of roles over the years.
The main gun of the ship was 7.8m meters long, or about a quarter of the length of the whole vessel. In addition she was armed with three revolving guns for closer ranges.
Shortly before the First World War, Tyr was rebuilt as a minelayer. During this rebuild, the heavy gun was replaced with a more modern 12 cm breech-loader, and one of the 37 mm guns was replaced with a more potent 76 mm gun. After the heavy gun and ammunition were removed, she could carry 55 mines.
By 1940, two Madsen machine guns had been added for anti-aircraft purposes.
On 9 April 1940, the day of the German invasion of Norway, the commander of Lerøy guard district, Captain F. Ulstrup, received a message informing him that German warships had forced their way past the small Lerøy Fort on their way towards Bergen. Captain Ulstrup immediately boarded Tyr and sailed out to mine the Lerøyosen approaches to the south-western Norwegian city. At 0130hrs the Norwegian minelayer began mining the stretch of water between Lerøy island and Sotra, putting out seven mines right before the German invasion flotilla arrived at Lerøyosen. Making good her escape Tyr placed another sixteen mines in the Vatlestraumen approaches north of Bergen.
...
Wikipedia