Norge class (1900)

Sjøforsvaret, Coast Defence Ships (1900): HNoMS Norge, HNoMS Eidsvold

The Eidsvold class were two coastal defence ships built for the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1899 by Armstrong Whitworth, launched in 1900 and completed in 1901. HNoMS Eidsvold and HNoMS Norge were referred locally as “panserskip” (“armoured ship”), and in some publications called “coastal batteships”. Coastal they were certainly, armoured and well armed for their size but in now way comparable to 1900s pre-dreadnoughts. Still, they constituted an affordable deterrence in the confines of the most important fjords, and notably to defend Oslo, that is combined with mines, torpedo boats and fortifications. They saw WWI and WW2, still under neutrality, and both met their end during Operation Weserübung in April 1940 in the hands of the Kriegsmarine, during the battle of Narvik.

Development

In 1895, Norway was aware of its limitations in case of a military action by Sweden (until the 1905 dissolution of the Swedish-Norwegian personal union) and that year, the Norwegian parliament authorized the construction of two “Panserskipp” to replace obsolete monitors, such as the three Scorpionen classs (launched 1866-69) and the larger Thor (1872) still in service. So the naval plan asked for four (later changed to two) coastal defence ships and a new cruiser to complete the 1861 Viking (1181t), Frithjof (1896). The general design and philosophy of the Tordenskjold class, a new an innovative vessel capable of sea going actions unlike the Monitors, was what the Norwegian Navy needed notably to be posted in other fjords if needed or patrol the coast.

Appearance as ordered to Armstrong in 1898

In 1898 was voted at last a repeat, but with improvements, in what became the Norge or Eidsvold class depending on publications. They were both ordered to Armstrong Whitworth just like the previous Tordenskjold pair, but with scores of modifications and improvements across the board. They were basically designed as scaled up versions with a stronger secondary battery, but taking advantage of a new type of armour. It was Harvey on the Tordenskjolds, but Armstrong proposed the Krupp Cemented process for the second class. The ship also were larger, from 3850 to 4160 tonnes. The powerplant was revised with water-tube boilers instead of fire-tube for a top speed contracted as 16 knots but exceeding 17 on trials. Their appearance was different, with two funnels. This gave them the appearance at a distance and without reference to scale, of typical British pre-dreadnought battleships.

HNoMS Norge and Idsvold were ordered at the same time at Withworth in 1899 (exact date unknown) launched on 31.1.1900 for Norge and 14 june 1900 for Eidsvold, completed in February 1901 for Norge, possibly earlier for Eidsvold (probably January). They were for 40 years the largest Norwegian warships, until today’s Fridtjof Nansen class frigates (5300t). Two more vessels of the same type, but more powerful were ordered in 1912, the Bjørgvin class, also to UK. They were seized while in construction in 1914 and completed for the RN as the Glatton class monitors.

Design of the class

Apparance as completed in 1900.

Hull and general design

“Eidsvold” and “Norge” were built on the experienced gained with the former Tordenskjold class, longer, beamier, with two smaller funnels instead of a large one. They were 94.6 meters long (versus 92.66m), 15.7 meters wide (versus 14.78m) and 5.4 meters deep (versus 5.38 m). Total displacement was 4,233 tonnes versus 3858 tonnes, fully loaded. Standard displacement was probably around 3,645 tonnes.

Apparance in Brasseys annual 1902

As for the appearance, these were flush-deck, low freeboard vessels, with a ram bow, pointed poop, symmetrical with a conning tower topped by a bridge forward, two fighting tops on their military masts, topped by a light projector’s platform. The two funnels were located amidships and the sides, apart the secondary armament was occupied by six rescue boats, four on deck, two under davits. Each had a full wartime crew of 270 men.

Powerplant

The machines were brand new, two vertical triple-expanding steam engines fed by six Yarrow coal-fired boilers for 4,500 indicated horsepower (3,400 kW), for a top speed of approx. 17.2 knots on trials, 16.5 knots officially in service. They were generally considered faster than their predecessors, also rated at 16 knots. They were relatively stable due to their low silhouette and beam ratio, so up to the task of coastal navigation along the coast of Norway. They carried 550t of coal for coal 6000 nm range at 10 knots estimated.
No changes were made in the machinery so by 1940 they were understandably worn out yet well maintained and still capable of 15 knots at best.

Depiction on Brasseys 1902

Protection

These two ships were protected by Krupp Cemented armour (KC) instead of Harvey, which was stronger and more flexible, yet thinner.
These ships received an armored belt along the waterline of 152.4 mm (8 inches) over 60% of the length, tapared down to 127mm (5 inches) at the upper edge
The gun turrets had 229 mm (9 inches) steel armor (exactly 22.86 cm)
The waterline deck was protected by 51 mm steel armor turtleback down to 37 mm for the flat section and both ends.
The conning tower forward was open at the rear and made of 152.4 mm (8 inches) KC steel.
To compare, this was better than the previous Tordenskjold-class, which turrets were protected by 203mm, whereas the belt was thicker at 178 mm.

Armament

They were armed better than the previous vessels, albeit not large enough to handle large guns than the Armstrong 21 cm adopted for the design. Tehcnically these were the same 209mm/44 or 8.26-inch. This was completed by six Amstrong 15 cm (5.90-inch) guns, three per side, instead of 120mm/44 (4.5 inches) on the previous class. The light armament was composed of eight 12-pdr or 7.6 cm (3-inch) guns, four 3-pdr Hotchkiss and two 45 cm Torpedo tubes (versus 6x 76mm/40, 6x 37mm/45 Hotchkiss on the Tordenskjold-class).

209mm/44 Armstrong C

Two main 8.26-inches guns, each in its own cast turret, forward and aft on deck. A lighter anti-torpedo Hotchkiss gun was mounted on top. This armament was unchanged until their loss in 1940. No data.

149mm/46 Armstrong FF

Six in all, three per side, two on either forward and aft part of the central battery casemate, one amidship sponsoned, and shielded with the best fire arc.

Light Armament

As completed in 1901 these ships had eight 76mm (3 inches)/40 Armstrong N, and four 47mm (3 pdr)/46 Hotchkiss guns. Some of the 3-in were located amidships close to the sponsons secondary gun, four on the roofs of the battery deck fore and aft. The Hotchkiss 3 pdr were located on each fighting top fore and aft and two close to the conning tower forward.

Torpedo Tubes

Same 450 mm models using Whitehad Mark I models.
This armament was revised in the interwar (see below).

The class appearance in 1940 (the blueprints). In their forst refit modernization in 1927, they received each two 47mm (6 pdr)/46 QF high angle Mk I guns.
Around 1939, two extra 76mm/28 Bofors M36 were installed (location unclear, perhaps on top of the turrets) and two 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk I AA guns as well as two 12.7mm/90 heavy machine guns.

Launching ceremony booklet

Career of the Norge class

A model kit diorama showing HNoMS Eidsvold and HNoMS Tordenskold side by side.

Little information is available about their peacetime career between 1901 and 1940. On the morning of 9 April 1940, a Kriegsmarine naval force carrying the mountain division entered Ofotfjord, sneaking in the fog and heavy snow. They soon spotted Eidsvold and reciprocally. The captain was asked by megaphone to surrenderand accept a boat for parleys, but long story short it was turned down, and the battle-ready German destroyers already had their torpedo tubes prepared, they launched a spread and sank Eidsvold before she could even point her guns. Norge was deeper inside the fjord and heard the explosions but nothing could be seen. The captain ordered battle stations, and a watch sinballed two German destroyers appearing, speeding up in their direction.

Captain Per Askim gave orders to open fire, since at least the ship was ready, and landed four main guns rounds (1 fore, 3 aft) and 7-8 eight rounds from the starboard 15 cm guns on KMS Z11 Bernd von Arnim at a range later estimated as 800 metres (870 yd). The adverse weather conditions made optical sights almost useless and the first salvo fall short, the others over a target that not stationary but speeding up.

Norge in 1933

She was joined by another, and both did not even reply at first, instead simply sailing alongside the pier and taking position to land their troops. Bernd von Arnim eventually opened fire with her 12.7 cm (5-inch) guns and FLAK albeit the very poor weather did not improve accuracy on their side as well. In doubt, she fired half her torpedoes in three salvoes of two each. The first two salvoes missed, the last hit her midships. The double detonation broke her back, she flooded rapidly and she sank in less than a minute, her propellers still turning when her stern rose above the waves. 90 of her crew were rescued by the Germans, but 101 went down with her. Between the explosion heard and this, the engagement lasted 20 minutes. Her wreck was located and was surveyed many times since.

In June 1911, Eidsvold sailed to Britain to represent Denmark for the the coronation of King George V. Not much is available about her interwar career. Like her sister she wa smodernized twice, in 1927 and 1939. On the morning of 9 April 1940, the Kriegsmarine detachment carrying the Gebirgsjager (mountain division) entered Narvik harbour at dawn, in dense fog and heavy snow. They were spotted and this was promptly reported to Eidsvold and Norge, in both the captain signalled actions stations. Guns were loaded with live ammunition, lifevests issued, hatches closed, muzzle freed, ammo boxes open, etc. At 04:15 Eidsvold, further out in the fjord, was spotted first. Captain Odd Isaachsen Willoch ordered by signal Aldis lamp to the dark shape approaching, the leading German destroyer, a challenge. Failing to respond to the signal, he ordered a warning shot at her bow and flew a two flag signal to halt.

The Germans Navy on its side had instructions to avoid casualties and trie to led the operation peacefully if possible. The lead German destroyer Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp, the nearest, stopped and the captain walk on the bridge’s wing with a megaphone, signalling Eidsvold that she would send an boat with an officer to negotiate reddition terms. The distance fell to just 200 metres, when a small launch ferried Korvettenkapitän Gerlach and a signalman to Eidsvold. They were received on the aft deck by the second in command and brought to the bridge to speak to Captain Willoch while at the same time, Eidsvold trained its lights on the German destroyer and trained on her both 21 cm guns and 15 cm guns. In such close quarter and flat trajectories, the destroyer might be blow away in no time. Even in these adverse conditions, the destroyer was outmatched, except if she already trained her torpedoes on her, the quickest way to expedite things.

Meanwile on the bridge, Gerlach tried to convince Willoch they went in peace, ans that he should surrender his ship. The latter answered his duty made it imperative to resist such demand but still asked a ten-minute break to consider it. He retired, but only to contact his superiors and the captain of Norge for reinforcement, and his intention to resist. This was intercepted on board the destroyer, which in between, was joined by another, taking up a position 700 metres (2,300 ft) from her with her torpedo tubes trained on her. At that distance, the torpedoes would be on target in less than a minute.

At his return, Willoch was talekd about to surrender again, but this was turned down. The two man departed their way, Gerlach joining his boat. While he was already rowing out of the way, the signalman fire a red flare (other sources, from the deck of Eidsvold). Captain Willoch rushed back to bridge shouting “På plass ved kanonene. Nå skal vi slåss, gutter!” (“Man the guns. We’re gonna fight, boys!”) and with the machinery now at full pressure, started to manoeuver turned towards the closest destroyer and accelerate with the three 15 cm guns trained ready to open fire.
This was too late. Ready, four torpedoes were sent on the ship, a s much as 2-3 hit her before she could fire a shot. Later investigations by the Norwegians established she was hit near the aft turret, midship and the bow. One ignited a magazine and she was blown in a spectacular explosion seen and heard milmes away around the fjord (notably heard by her sister Norge). She sunk in seconds with only six of her crew rescued, 175 went down with her. The wreck had been rediscovered and explored since.

Read More/Src

Ceremony, King Haakon on board Eidsvold

Books

Abelsen, Frank (1986). Norwegian naval ships 1939–1945 (in Norwegian and English). Oslo: Sem & Stenersen AS. ISBN 82-7046-050-8.
Børresen, Jacob (2018). “The Coastal Battleship Eidsvold (1900)”. In Taylor, Bruce (ed.). The World of the Battleship: The Lives and Careers of Twenty-One Capital Ships of the World’s Navies, 1880–1990. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-0870219061.
Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 369–70. ISBN 0-85177-133-5.
Jenks, J. E., ed. (8 July 1911). “Foreign Ships at the Coronation”. Army and Navy Register. L (1646). Washington, D.C.: Army & Navy Publishing Co.: 2–4.
Marius Thomassen: 90 år under rent norsk orlogsflagg, s. 21 og 22.

Links

navypedia.org/ norge
skovheim.org/ eidsvold
vrakdykking.com/narvik3.htm
on uboat.net/
no.wikipedia.org/ Norwegian Warships List
en.wikipedia.org/ HNoMS_Norge
sjohistorie.no/
tynebuiltships.co.uk/