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HNoMS Vale (1874)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vale-class gunboat
History
Norway
NameVale
NamesakeVáli – son of the god Odin and the giantess Rindr
BuilderKarljohansverns Verft Naval Yard in Horten
Yard number54
Launched14 April 1874
Commissioned1874
Capturedby the Germans in 1940
Service record
Operations: Norwegian Campaign
Germany
Acquired1940
FateHanded back to Norway after VE Day
Service record
Operations: Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Norway
NameVale
Acquired1945
Decommissioned1946
General characteristics as built
Class and typeVale-class Rendel gunboat
Displacement260 tons
Length28 m (91.86 ft)
Propulsion220 hp steam engine
Speed8.5 knots (15.74 km/h)
Complement41
Armament
  • 1 × 21 cm (10.5 inch) RML gun
  • 1 × 1pdr (cm / inch) QF gun
  • 1 × 1pdr (cm / inch) revolving gun
General characteristics after rebuild
Displacement260 tons
Length28 m (91.86 ft)
Propulsion220 hp steam engine
Speed8.5 knots (15.74 km/h)
Complement31
Armament
  • 1 × 12 cm (4.72 inch) gun
  • 3 × 37 mm (1.46 inch) guns
  • 50 mines

Gunboat Vale was a Vale-class Rendel gunboat built for the Royal Norwegian Navy at Karljohansvern Naval Yard in 1874. She was one of a class of five gunboats - the other ships in the class was Brage, Nor, Uller and Vidar.

Vale was, in addition to the heavy, muzzle-loading main gun, armed with a small 'Quick Fire' gun and a 37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon (broadly similar to the Gatling gun).

Later Vale and her sister ships was rebuilt as mine layers, and she served in this role when the Germans invaded in 1940. During the Norwegian Campaign she served mainly in the Sognefjord. She was captured by German forces after the surrender of Norwegian forces in southern Norway, and returned to Norway after the war.

The vessel was built at the Naval Yard at Horten, and had yard number 54.

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