Wespe 1900
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Wespe | 31 | Weser, Bremen | 1875 | 6.7.1876 | 11.1876 | stricken 6.1909 | |
| Viper | 32 | Weser, Bremen | 1875 | 21.9.1876 | 3.1877 | crane ship 6.1909 | |
| Biene | 33 | Weser, Bremen | 1876 | 2.12.1876 | 8.1877 | repair ship 9.1910 | |
| Mücke | 34 | Weser, Bremen | 1876 | 5.5.1877 | 2.1878 | heating ship 3.1911 | |
| Scorpion | 35 | Weser, Bremen | 1876 | 19.5.1877 | 12.1877 | test hulk 3.1911 | |
| Basilisk | 36 | Weser, Bremen | 1877 | 14.9.1878 | 8.1880 | survivability test hulk 9.1910 | |
| Camaeleon | 37 | Weser, Bremen | 1877 | 21.12.1878 | 11.1879 | stricken 6.1909 | |
| Crocodill | 40 | Weser, Bremen | 1878 | 13.9.1879 | 5.1880 | target ship 3.1911 | |
| Salamander | 41 | Weser, Bremen | 1878 | 6.1.1880 | 10.1880 | stricken 6.1909 | |
| Natter | 44 | Weser, Bremen | 1879 | 29.9.1880 | 5.1881 | electric power station 3.1911 | |
| Hummel | 45 | Weser, Bremen | 1879 | 12.2.1881 | 8.1881 | repair hulk 9.1910 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
1098 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1163 |
|
Length, m |
46.4 oa 45.5 wl |
|
Breadth, m |
10.6 |
|
Draught, m |
3.37 - 3.40 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 DC, 4 cylindrical boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
700 |
|
Max speed, kts |
10 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 40 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
700(7) |
| Armour, mm | wrought iron: belt: 203 - 102, deck: 40, barbette: 203 |
|
Armament |
1 x 1 - 305/20 RK L/22 C/76 |
|
Complement |
76 - 88 |
Project history: These shallow draught, coastal defence gunboats were like larger versions of the British 'Rendel gunboats' and were intended to be capable of grounding themselves on the sandbanks off the German coast to act as fixed batteries. The big gun forward had only a limited traverse and was aimed by pointing the boat in the direction of the enemy. They were very poor seaboats, and were laid up for most of their lives, though no doubt they would have been useful vessels in any war off Germany's coast, in their earlier years.
Ship protection: The gun was protected by an armoured breastwork 203mm thick on 210mm teak, and the waterline belt was 152mm amidships, 203mm fwd and 102mm aft, backed by 210mm wooden layer. Deck contained of two layers, 22 and 28mm iron. Later boats recieved CTs with 20mm sides.
Modernizations: 1883, all: + 2 x 1 - 87/22 RK L/24 C/82, 2 x 5 - 37/27 RV L/30, 2 - 350 TT (bow), CT with 20mm sides was installed.
Naval service: No significant events.
Viper
© Ivan Gogin, 2014