G1 class Torpedo Boat (1903)

Like Nordic Countries, the Netherlands were still fond of torpedo boats when WW2 broke out. They were a cheap way to dispense torpedoes as a deterrent to any ship, and less costly and complex to operate than submarines. However like many nations at the time, they had been designed prior to WW1. The G class were originally sixteen torpedo boats built for the Royal Netherlands Navy, of medium size, larger than the smaller K class (“Klein”/small) and larger than the Z class (“Zeer groot”/very large). The G class (“Groot”/large) were built over a long period from 1903 to 1913, improved over the years, making for four subclasses: G1, G3, G7, and G13, all active in WW1 but gradually decommissioned. Only the G13 sub-class was still active in 1939 (at least three of them). They saw little action by then.

Development

G2 in its 1918 dark wartime livery. Back in 1904 they were still in white hull, buff structures livery.

The Koninklijke Marine basically was developed before WW1 around a core of coast defence ships, cruisers, gunboats, and torpedo boats squadrons, spread between the united provinces and East Indies: The 1886, 82t Ardjoeno class were sent to the KNIL in the East Indies and still partly active in WW1, as the 59t Lamongan, and back home, the 101t Hydra and 140t Ophir class. HNlmS Hydra was even still around in 1927. Second class TBs (that distinction was dropped later) were six 30-47t boats from 1881 to 1891 sporting Roman numerals. The 1905 “K” for “Klein” or “small” as registered after the reform were the last three. The first Destroyers were the Fret class (1910) but back in 1901, the naval staff decided to reform its torpedo boat range into three “classes”, small, medium (large) and “very large” giving the three letters seen above. We will start this new cycle with the medium ones, the “G” class for “Groot” or “large”, which is only relative to their tonnage compared to previous boats.

In all twelve of these G class were ordered from 1903, all 140 tonnes, developed in parallel to the Draak class (three 103 tonnes boats launched 1906-1907). They were followed by four boats of the G13 class, 180 tonnes. Given the sub-class G1, G2 and G7 were pretty close, the two will be seen separately here. They were classic torpedo boats of their age, with two VTE engines (no steam turbines) fed by coal-fired boilers, and a top speed of 26 knots. They were armed also with three torpedo tubes, two single aft of the forecastle turtleback, and one single at the poop, without reloads. There was a small CT and bridge, aft helmsman’s post and access hatches to the space below. The crew lived forward, and the machinery took all the space amidship and partly aft where were the second living quarters and notably the galley and mess.
For the later G13 class the idea was to improve seaworthiness (see below). The G1, G3 and G7 subclasses were nearly identical, and they would serve as inspiration for the Z-class torpedo-boats built afterwards. G1 to G8 were also named in addition to their G-number, but it was never official in the navy register.
The G1 and G2 were prototypes, the G3 and G7 were gradual improvement of the same design with little changes.

Design of the G1 class

Hull and general design

Original Plans of G2, click for the 1280px variant
The G1 class were typical for torpedo boats of their age, they really were made for coastal operations, flush deck with limited seaworthiness, and also typical for torpedo boats they had no forecastle but instead a turtle deck to break and split waves, protecting the true weather deck behind and in particular the two torpedo tubes bank behind. This turtledeck had bollards and a capstan as well as strappings for two anchors. The stem was straight with a curve chin and reinforced steel piece. There was a small platform at the end of the forecastle to support a light gun. Behind, were the two torpedo tubes placed on each broadside, with enough room between them to manage a 150° traverse. Then came the small open bridge with two short wings for the few officers.

There was a chadburn, repeater, voice pipes and a small bin for flags displayed on the shorter foremast. Typical of the time, the hull had almost no constant beam but a gradual shape with buoyancy and flat sides all the way, not flare at all. Steel construction with transverse cross-members. They displaced 140 t (140 long tons) light and 180 t (180 long tons) full load, for a full length of 46.5 meters long or 152 feet; 4.7 meters in beam or 15 ft 4 inches and 2.3 meters in draft or 8 feet max.

The came the two funnels emerging from a superstructure built over the main deck above the machinery space. Between the two thin, round-section funnels was a large dorade box for ventilation, with a compressor to force air in, and smaller ones further aft above the VTE space. There was an utility boat for the crew of 25 above the engine roof than can be laid down by a boom crane anchored on the aft mainmast, taller and also used for signals. The main mess and officer’s quarters were located below, as well as the galley, and additional berthing. One 50 mm gun was located forward, the other was starboard aside the aft mast. The helmsman’s post was located with its bar directly behind with a repeater connected to the bridge. Plans shows bulkheads between the poop and living quarters, then between the living quarters and boiler room, and between the boiler room (the two boilers were in line, one after the other) and the VTE machinery space, and between there and the aft living quarters. Past the single torpedo tube, were was the main searchlight on a pivot at the poop, which was rounded, with a stern hinged rounded rudder. Protection bars protected the single propeller below.

Powerplant

The G1 class were classic for the time before turbines and oil, a transition which happened around 1905. VTE were kept for the whole series. There was a single vertical triple expansion steam engine aft admiship, preceded by the two round coal-fired Yarrow boilers, one after the other in the amidship section. The entire propulsion space took 2/3 of the hull. Coal could be stored in spaces on either sides of the boilers along the flanks, filled via two ports above the storage either side. They buffered somewhat a hit. The single drive shaft was 27-28 meters long, starting with the crankshaft below the cylinders of the VTE and supported at its end by a Vee type strut. The fixed pitch bronze propeller was three bladed. Immediately after was the rounded rudder. Full output was 2000 indicated horsepower, and a reserve of 34 up to 40 tonnes of coal, for a top speed of 25 knots. Range was 2,200 nautical miles at 10 knots economical speed according to navypedia.

Armament

The G1 class and following were armed the same: Three torpedoes and their tubes (no reload) of the 45 cm type, and two defensive light guns, 20mm, one forward on top of the “forecastle” and another starboard close to the mainmast. However, its possible than G1 and G2 initially were equipped as many sources shows, by a forward bow fixed torpedo tube and two aft, possibly in an arrangement with the two tubes on the broadside. Photos of early service (with a white livery and buff funnels and mast) shows however the arrangement described above and judged superior to the Draak class (one single bow tube, one single deck tube aft).

45 cm Torpedoes

By default of better data these were most likely the British class 18-inches Whitehead type Mark III (In Dutch service called the “Type III”). The latter model was developed from the Holland type submarines and was mass-produced both in the US and Britain for them. It weighted 845 pounds for 140 inches (3.55 meters) in length, 17.7 inches (45 centimeters) diameter, and an effective firing range of 800 yards.

The Warhead carried 118 Ibs of wet guncotton, activated by a Mk 1 contact exploder. It was powered by a 3-cylinder reciprocating engine to 27 knots with a depth control system and gyroscope to remain on course. In all, these submarines carried 12 of them. The Mark III or in Dutch “Typ III 45” was manufactured at the torpedo factories in Weymouth and Saint-Tropez and used from 1922 to 1946 with 129 purchased. It weighted 785 kilograms for 5.43 meters and carried 165 kilograms of TNT for a range of 2,000 meters at 40 knots and 6,000 meters at 26 knots based on its 4-cylinder pneumatic radial engine. This was later likely upgraded to new models in the late interwar.

50 mm guns

Unless it’s an error from conways, the G1 to G12 were supposed to sport two 50 mm guns. Since they did not exist per se in the Dutch Navy (only 37 or 75 mm) they were likely instead 4.9 cm Krupp guns.
The first sub-class unofficially called “Johan Van Brakel” until G4 are confirmed by navypedia to have indeed 50mm/37 Krupp No.1. The G13 class had instead 75mm guns.

⚙ G1 specifications
Displacement	140 t (140 long tons) light and 180 t (180 long tons) full load
Dimensions	46.5 x 4.7 x 2.3 m (152 feet x 15 ft 4 in x 8 ft)
Propulsion	1 shaft VTE, 2 Yarrow coal boilers: 2000 ihp
Speed	25 kts (46 kph, 29 mph)
Range	34-40t coal, 2,200 nm/10 kts
Armament	2x 5cm/37 Krupp guns, 3x 450 mm TTs
Crew	21

The G13 class

The G class led to the Z class which clearly had a “german style” and were ordered from Germany in 1912 but seized while in construction in 1914 and more were built in the Netherlands during the war on a modified design. But meanwhile in 1911, the admiralty saw these German designs and wanted to adopt the same “toothbrush style” forecastle for the next G-class batch of four on order. So after the G7 sub-class, the new design was attributed the numeral 13 (no names). The G13 sub-class were the last “medium” TBs built in the Netherlands, and the only ones still active in 1940. To achieve seaworthiness, these four vessels had a characteristic tall prow and short forecastle that stopped well short of the bridge, which was more developed and beefier than earlier TBs. The two forward tubes were still located on this break, typical of contemporary German high seas TBs, albeit the Dutch ones were fairly small in comparison, despite being larger than the G1 series. As shown in the table below, they were longer and beamier, with a displacement light that matched the fully loaded displacement of their predecessors. They were all started at De Schelde, Vlissingen in early 1913, launched in 1913-14 and completed for the last one as WW1 broke out.
Apart the larger hull, the extra beam also enabled the installation of larger boilers as well, likely of local construction, which brought an extra 600 indicated horsepower to the table, which translated in a higher speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph). They also carried more coal, almost ten tons more, bur range depending on the sources was the same or lower. The other difference was the replacement of the 5 cm Krupp guns by their 75mm/37 equivalents, still Krupp, albeit some sources like wiki states these were “L/30 Bofors No. 4 guns” so possibly a licenced Krupp gun by Bofors adopted by Sweden and the Netherlands.
In any case, these were much more potent guns for the size of the ships.

⚙ G13 specifications
Displacement	180 t (180 long tons), 230 t (230 long tons) full load
Dimensions	49.5 x 5.2 x 2.9 m (162 ft 5 in, 17 ft 1 in x (9 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts VTE 2 cyl. boilers 2600 ihp
Speed	26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range	coal 44t, range 1,230 nm at 8 knots
Armament	2x Krupp N°4 75mm/37 guns, 3x 45 mm TTs
Crew	27

Career of the G1 class

G1 “Johan van Brakel” was laid down at De Schelde, Vlissingen as yard N°109 in 1903, launched on 17 Dec. 1904 and completed in 1905. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G2 “Jan Danielzoon van der Rijn” was laid down at De Schelde, Vlissingen as yard N°110 in 1903, launched on 17 Dec. 1904 and completed in 1905. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G3 “Meijndert Jentjes” was laid down at Fijenoord, Schiedam as yard N°192 in 1903, launched in 1904 (date unknown) and completed in 1905. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G4 “Willem Willemsze” was laid down at Fijenoord, Schiedam as yard N°193 in 1903, launched in 1904 (date unknown) and completed on 7 December 1904. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G5 “Roemer Vlacq” was part of the second batch, laid down in 1905 at Fijenoord, launched on 1906 and completed in 1906. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G6 “Pieter Constant” was laid down in 1905 at Fijenoord, launched in 1906 and commissioned on 1 November 1906. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G7 (no name) was part of a 3rd batch. She was laid down at Fijenoord in 1905, launched on 1905, commissioned on 1906. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G8 “Cornelis Janssen de Haan” was laid down at Fijenoord in 1905, launched in 1906 and commissioned on 8 October 1906. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G9 (no name) was laid down in 1907 at Fijenoord, launched on 1907 and commissioned in 1908. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G10 (no name) was laid down in 1908 at Fijenoord, launched on 1908 and commissioned in 1908. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G11 (no name) was laid down in 1908 at Fijenoord, launched on 1909 and commissioned in 1909. Los during the war in 1918 after striking a mine.

G12 (no name) was laid down in 1909 at Fijenoord, launched and commissioned the same year. No career logs. She was decommissioned and stricken in 1919, sold for BU.

G13 (no name) was part of the last batch, new design, as lead ship. Laid down on March 1913 at De Schelde as yard number 151, launched 18 October 1913 and commissioned on 11 March 1914. In 1940 to avoid catpured she sailed to Britain, and was later integrated in the RN from December 1940 to July 1942. Her crew was sent to a more modern ship, and she was mothballed until BU in February 1943.

G14 (no name) was laid down at De Schelde, Villingen in May 1913 as yard N°152, launched on December 1913 and commissioned in June 1914. Only one in her class decommissioned and stricken in January 1919 after an accidental boiler explosion.

G15 (no name) was laid down on 10 June 1913 at Fijenoord, Schiedam, launched on 3 January 1914, commissioned on 3 August 1914. In 1940 to avoid catpure she sailed to Britain, and was later integrated in the RN from December 1940 to July 1942. Her crew was sent to a more modern ship and she was later mothballed. BU in February 1943.

G16 was laid down on 10 June 1913 at Fijenoord, Schiedam on 22 July 1913 (yard N°255), launched on 10 March 1914 and commissioned on 29 July 1914. No long for her WWI career and interwar. On 14 May 1940 she still was active with the Royal Netherlands Navy but in overhaul when the invasion of the low countries occurred. She was scuttled on 14 May 1940 to avoid capture. Raised by the Kriegsmarine she entered service with the latter as TFA9 and soldiered on and recaptured by the British on 3 May 1945. Retro-ceded to the Netherlands, she was sold for BU afterwards.

Read More/Src

Links

navypedia.org/ G1 class
navypedia.org/ netherlands/ G13.htm
web.archive.org/ navypedia.org/ Dutch TBs
en.wikipedia.org/ G-class_torpedo_boat