Viper 1900
|
Name |
No |
Yard No |
Builder |
Laid down |
Launched |
Comp |
Fate |
|
Viper |
366 |
Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn |
1898 |
6.9.1899 |
1900 |
stranded 3.8.1901 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
344 |
|
Displacement full, t |
|
|
Length, m |
65.4 oa 64.0 pp |
|
Breadth, m |
6.40 |
|
Draught, m |
2.54 |
|
No of shafts |
4 (twin screws) |
|
Machinery |
4 Parsons steam turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
10000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
33.7 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 90 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
3000(10) |
|
Armament |
1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I, 5 x 1 - 57/40 6pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 450 TT (4) |
|
Complement |
65 |
Project history:
The 33-knotters had been failures, but already by the time these were running
their trials a new form of machinery had appeared which would prove the answer
to higher speed requirements. In 1897 Parsons' Turbinia had made her
spectacular appearance at the Jubilee Review at Spithead, and shown that the
steam turbine was a workable device. In fact Director of Naval Construction had
known about Parsons' trials for some time before, and had followed them with
interest. It was not therefore surprising that a turbine-powered destroyer
should be ordered from Parsons on 4.3.1898. Soon afterwards Armstrong began a
turbine destroyer 'on spec' at their Elswick yard which would be taken over by
the Admiralty before completion.
Initial results with these vessels were encouraging, but both
were lost almost immediately. Fortunately in neither case did the turbines have
anything to do with the loss. To fill the
need for further testing the Velox, building 'on spec', was purchased.
All of these three turbine destroyers were 30-knotters in all respects including
armament (except their machinery).
The hull of the Viper was subcontracted to Hawthorn Leslie by Parsons. To cope with the problems of absorbing the power from the turbines two propellers were fitted per shaft. The great boon of the turbine, its lack of vibration compared to reciprocating engines, became obvious during trials, as did its much greater ability to sustain high speed.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: 3.8.1901 Viper ran aground off Alderney. In some minutes her hull was broken apart and later was destroyed by waves. No personal losses.
Viper 1900
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