| Yugoslav torpedo boat T3 | |
|---|---|
| Career (Austria-Hungary) |  |
| Name: | Tb 78 T |
| Builder: | Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino |
| Laid down: | 22 October 1913 |
| Launched: | 4 March 1914 |
| Commissioned: | 23 August 1914 |
| Out of service: | 1918 |
| Fate: | Assigned to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes |
| Career (Kingdom of Yugoslavia) |  |
| Name: | T3 |
| Acquired: | March 1921 |
| Out of service: | April 1941 |
| Fate: | Captured by Italy |
| Career (Italy) |  |
| Name: | T3 |
| Acquired: | April 1941 |
| Out of service: | 16 September 1943 |
| Fate: | Captured by Germany at Rijeka |
| Career (Third Reich) |  |
| Name: | TA48 |
| Acquired: | 16 September 1943 |
| Out of service: | 1945 |
| Fate: | Sunk at Trieste by Allied bombing on 20 February 1945 |
| Notes: | crewed by Croatian sailors |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Tb 74 T-class sea-going torpedo boat |
| Displacement: |
262 long tons (266 t) (design) 267.3 long tons (271.6 t) (fully loaded) |
| Length: | 57.8 m (190 ft) |
| Beam: | 5.8 m (19 ft) |
| Draught: | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) |
| Installed power: |
5,000 shp (3,700 kW) 2 x Yarrow water-tube boilers |
| Propulsion: | 2-shaft Parsons steam turbine |
| Speed: | 28 knots (52 km/h) |
| Range: | 220 nmi (410 km; 250 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement: | 41–52 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
2 x 66 mm (2.6 in)/30 guns 1 x 8 mm (0.31 in) machine gun 2 x 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes |
The Yugoslav torpedo boat T3 was a torpedo boat built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy as Tb 78 T in 1914. She saw active service during World War I, and after the defeat of Austria-Hungary in 1918, she was allocated to the Royal Yugoslav Navy (Serbo-Croatian language: Kraljevska Jugoslovenska Ratna Mornarica; Кpaљeвcкa Југословенска Pатна Морнарица) and was renamed T3. During the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, it was captured by the Royal Italian Navy (Italian language: Regia Marina ) and saw active service under its Yugoslav designation. Following the Italian capitulation in September 1943, she was captured by the German Navy (German language: Kriegsmarine) and redesignated TA48. In German service her crew consisted entirely of Croatian officers and enlisted men. She was sunk by the Royal Air Force in February 1945 while in the port of Trieste.
Background[]
In 1910, the Austria-Hungary Naval Technical Committee initiated the design and development of a 275 long tons (279 t) coastal torpedo boat, specifying that it should be capable of sustaining 30 knots (56 km/h) for 10 hours. This specification was based an expectation that the Strait of Otranto, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea, would be blockaded by hostile forces during a future conflict. In such circumstances, there would be a need for a torpedo boat that could sail from the Austro-Hungarian Navy base at Cattaro to the Strait during darkness, locate and attack blockading ships and return to port before morning. Turbine power was selected for propulsion. Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino of Trieste was selected for the contract to build eight vessels, ahead of one other tenderer.[1]
Description and construction[]
The boats had an overall length of 57.8 m (190 ft), a beam of 5.8 m (19 ft), and a normal draught of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). While their designed displacement was 262 long tons (266 t), they displaced 267.3 long tons (271.6 t) fully loaded. The crew consisted of 41 officers and enlisted men. The boats were powered by a Parsons steam turbine driving two propellors, using steam generated by a pair of Yarrow water-tube boilers,[1] using a mixture of coal and fuel oil.[2] The turbine was rated at 5,000 shp (3,700 kW) and designed to reach a top speed of 28 knots (52 km/h). They carried enough coal and fuel oil to give them a range of 220 nmi (410 km; 250 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[2]
The boats were originally to be armed with three 30-calibre 66 mm (2.6 in) guns, but this was reduced to two before the first boat was completed. They were also equipped with two 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes. Tb 78 T was the fifth of its class, and was launched on 4 March 1914. In 1914, one 8 mm (0.31 in) machine gun was added.[1]
Career[]
The Tb 74 T-class were the first small Austro-Hungarian Navy boats to use turbines, and this contributed to ongoing problems with the class. During World War I, Tb 78 T was used for convoy, escort and minesweeping tasks, and anti-submarine operations, and in 1917, the 66 mm guns were placed on anti-aircraft mounts. She survived the war intact, and in 1920 she was allocated to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and renamed T3.[1]
In April 1941, Yugoslavia was invaded by the Axis powers, and T3 was captured by the Royal Italian Navy (Italian language: Regia Marina ) and was operated by them under her Yugoslav designation. When the Italians capitulated in September 1943, the Germans seized T3 in the port of Rijeka and renamed her TA48. During her time in German service she was crewed exclusively by Croatian officers and sailors, and her complement was increased to 52.[1] The German Navy fitted her with two single 20 mm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns.[3] She was sunk in the port of Trieste by the Royal Air Force on 20 February 1945.[1][4]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Gardiner 1985, p. 339.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lenton 1975, p. 106.
- ↑ Lenton 1975, p. 107.
- ↑ Chesneau 1980, p. 357.
References[]
- Chesneau, ed (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922–1946. London, England: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-146-5.
- Gardiner, ed (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906–1921. London, England: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
- Lenton, H.T. (1975). German Warships of the Second World War. London, England: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 978-0-356-04661-7.
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