River Gunboats
Page 40
Launched:
1933 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 45 tons; L: 25.9m/85ft; B: 3.9m/12ft 9in; D: 0.90m/2ft 11½in.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; diesel engine, 240bhp/12 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 6-pounder Hotchkiss QF; 2 × 7.7mm MG/Bulletproof plating.
Wei Ming Class
Four fast 30-ton armoured river gunboats, Wei Ming, Hsiao Chiang, Chin Min and Chin Chiang, were ordered from Kawasaki in 1935, to be reassembled at Harbin. All four had Japanese names, but only two, Kosatura and Siraume, are recorded, and their allocation to which gunboat is unknown. During the Soviet invasion, Wei Ming was lost on 10 August 1945. The other three were seized by Soviet forces and incorporated into the Soviet Navy as BK-128, BK-129 and BK-130 respectively.
Launched:
1935 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 30 tons.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; diesel engine/18 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 1-pounder (37mm) Hotchkiss QF; 3 × 7.7mm MG/Bulletproof plating.
Fate:
Wei Ming sunk 10 August 1945, others incorporated into Soviet Navy 22 August 1945.
Kozakura and Hakubai seen at their launch ceremony at Harbin on 25 August 1935. Note the garlands around their bridges, and the fighting tops of one of the Shuntian class in the right background. (Imperial Japanese Navy photo)
Hai Tien and Hai Yuang
In order to provide instruction for the Manchurian crews of the Wei Ming class, the Japanese Navy ordered two training gunboats, Kozakura and Hakubai from Harima, Yard Nos 217 and 218 respectively, to be sent in sections to Harbin and reassembled there. On 25 February 1939, both were transferred to the Manchukuo Navy’s Sungari Flotilla as Hai Tien and Hai Yang. On 22 August 1945 Hai Tien was seized by Soviet troops. Records are unclear as to the fate of her sister Hai Yuang: according to one report she was scuttled by her crew on 10 August 1945; another report has her captured by Soviet armoured river gunboats five days later.
Launched:
25 July 1935 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 30 tons; L: 25m/82ft; B: 3.65m/12ft; D: 0.60m/2ft.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Ikegai diesel engines, total 120bhp/13.2 knots.
Guns/Armour:
3 × 7.7mm MG; minesweeping gear/Bulletproof plating.
Fate:
Hai Tien captured by Soviet forces 22 August 1945, fate of Hai Yuang unknown.
Shuan An and Shuan Kai
Shuan An was built by Kawasaki in Kobe, and Shuan Kai by Mitsubishi in Yokahama. Both were transported in sections to be assembled by Kawasaki at Harbin. Their Japanese names were Ryoga 1 and 2 respectively. Both were lost during the Soviet invasion, on 10 August 1945.
Launched:
23 July 1934 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 42 tons; L: 25.8m/84ft 8in; B: 3.85m/12ft 7½in; D: 0.90m/2ft 11½in.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; diesel engine/12 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 37mm Pom-Pom; 2 × 7.7mm MG/Bulletproof plating.
Fate:
Lost 10 August 1945.
On Min Class 15-ton River Patrol Launches
Eight 15-ton patrol launches were built by Kawasaki at Harbin: On Min, Hai Min, Hui Min, Pu Min, Wen Min, Yi Min, En Min and Wan Min. Yi Min and En Min were both lost on 28 May 1939; three were seized by the Soviets and incorporated in their Navy: Hai Min becoming SKA-267, Hun Min SKA-268, and Pu Min SKA-269; On Min, Wen Min and Wan Min were stricken during the Second World War.
Launched:
1933 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 15 tons; L: 18.2m/59ft 8in; B: 3.4m/11ft 2in; D: 0.80m/2ft 7½in.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; diesel engine, 80bhp/11 knots.
Guns/Armour:
3–5 × 7.7mm MG.
Fate:
3 stricken, 2 lost, remainder seized by Soviets.
Din Shun Class 10-ton River Patrol Launches
Between 1938 and 1940 Kawasaki at Harbin built eight 10-ton river patrol launches, named Din Shun, Tsing Yun, Chang Yun, Kiang Yun, Sun Yun, Yun Shun, He Shun and Tsin Shun. They displaced 10 tons, and were powered by a diesel engine giving a speed of 16 knots. Their armament comprised two 7.7mm machine guns. All were lost or seized during the Soviet invasion.
Converted Paddle Steamers
Prior to the Second World War, the Japanese took over and armed as part of the Manchukuo River Defence Force four ex-Russian paddle tugs belonging to the Eastern Chinese Railway. All displaced 250 tons, and were armed as auxiliary patrol vessels with a 3in gun and probably several MG. Their Manchu names were Kiang Ping, Kiang An, Li Tsy (all built 1897) and Kiang Chin (built 1903). Their Japanese names were, respectively, Kotsu, Kagima, Ryusei and Kohei. All had been stricken by 1943.
CAPTURED VESSELS
Hai Hsing
Yung Chi was one of the Yung Feng class of Chinese river gunboats. Damaged by Japanese aircraft on the Yangtze on 21 October 1938, she ran aground. Salvaged by the Japanese and repaired, on 22 May 1940 she was transferred to the Manchukuo Navy as Hai Hsing.
Recaptured by the Kuomintang Army in September 1945, she regained her former name. Sunk by Communist forces on 25 April 1945, she was salvaged a second time and commissioned in the People’s Republic Navy. She was finally scrapped in 1964. For details as built, see CHINA.
Li Sui
The ex-German Vaterland, seized by the Chinese on 20 March 1917 at Nanking. Captured by Japanese troops on the Songhua River in 1932, she was overhauled by Kawasaki at Harbin and then commissioned into the Manchukuo River Defence Force. Her Japanese name was Risui. Li Sui was captured by Soviet troops on 22 August 1945 and commissioned into the Soviet Amur Flotilla as Pekin. For details as built, see GERMANY.
Li Chieh
The ex-German Otter. Seized by the Chinese on 20 March 1917 at Nanking and transferred to the Songhua River, where she was taken over by the Japanese and transferred to the Manchukuo Navy. Li Chieh was sunk on 12 October 1929 by the Soviet river monitor Sverdlov. For details as built, see GERMANY.
Shun Tsu
The ex-Russian armoured motor boat Bars. Built for the White Russian Kama Flotilla, on 6 January 1920 she fell into the hands of the Bolsheviks and was transferred to the Amur Flotilla. During a storm on Lake Khanka in October 1922, she was abandoned by her Soviet crew, and later salvaged by the Chinese. Taken over by the Japanese, she was transferred to the Manchukuo Navy in 1933. Her Japanese name was Kokonoe. Her Maxim MG was replaced by a 6.5mm Japanese MG, but her Hotchkiss QF cannon was retained. Shun Tsu was lost during the Soviet invasion on 10 August 1945. For details as built, see RUSSIA.
Kiang Ning and Kiang Tsing
These were former Chinese armoured river gunboats taken over by the Manchurian Sungari Flotilla. They were both stricken during the Second World War.
MOZAMBIQUE
The following Portuguese patrol boats were transferred to Mozambique on independence in 1975: Bellatrix class P 1154 and P 1155. For details, see PORTUGAL.
Project 1400 Grif Class
In August 1979 the Soviet Union transferred to Mozambique one Zhuk class patrol boat, followed by two more in October 1980. The vessels’ Soviet numbers were 411–413. For details, see RUSSIA Part II.
Namacurra Class Patrol Boats
In September 2004 the South African navy transferred to Mozambique two Namacurra class units. For details, see SOUTH AFRICA.
NIGERIA
The Niger Delta is a huge region the size of Scotland and Belgium combined, containing a maze of over 3,000 creeks and waterways, and is also the source of Nigeria’s considerable petroleum resources. The delta is a hotbed of dissidents protesting against the despoliation of their land and the subsequent pollution, and as usual, such anti-government movements all-too-often
degenerate into banditry, kidnapping and extortion. To attempt to bring order to the delta, the Nigerian government requested 200 river gunboats from the United States. Faced with American reluctance, they therefore turned to various international suppliers, and obtained more than 215 small patrol vessels through the Suncraft Strategic Marine Partnership. Using them, the Army and the Navy have made considerable inroads into pacifying the region. The Nigerian Joint Task Force has been able to carry the fight to the insurgents, destroying their camps and hundreds of illegal refining installations.
Stingray 10
One hundred and fifty of these fast and versatile craft have been purchased. They are extremely useful for troop transport.
Launched:
By Suncraft International.
Dimensions:
L: 10m/32ft 9¾in; B: 3.05m/10ft; D: 0.35m/1ft 1¾in.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × 300bhp diesel engines/35 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 12.7mm HMG/Ballistic protection to wheelhouse.
Fate:
In service.
Proof that the fight is real and up close: The rear armoured glass windows of this Stingray 10 craft have taken a number of small-arms hits. Other impacts are visible, showing that the wheelhouses have been constructed of armour plate. (Photo from Website: http://www.nairaland.com/1386870/african-militaries-security-services-strictly/616)
Stingray 12
Forty of these 12m boats were purchased.
Launched:
By Suncraft International.
Dimensions:
L: 12m/39ft 4½in. B: 3.6m/11ft 9¾in. D: 0.6m/1ft 11½in.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × 350bhp diesel engines/30 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 12.7mm HMG/Ballistic protection to wheelhouse.
Fate:
In service.
A heavily-armed Stingray 12, with bow door. (Photo from Website: http://www.nairaland.com/1386870/african-militaries-security-services-strictly/616)
Stingray 16 SPD
Fifteen were purchased.
Launched:
By Suncraft International.
Dimensions:
L: 16m/52ft 6in; B: 4.1m/13ft 5½in; D: 0.7m/2ft 3½in.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × diesel engines, total 1,200bhp/30 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 12.7mm HMG/Ballistic protection to wheelhouse.
Fate:
In service.
Stingray 17 SPD
Four were purchased.
Launched:
By Suncraft International.
Dimensions:
L: 17m/55ft 9in; B: 3.6m/11ft 9¾in; D: 0.95m/3ft 1½in.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × diesel engines, total 2,400bhp/45 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 12.7mm HMG/Ballistic protection to wheelhouse.
Fate:
In service.
Stingray 20 SPD
Four were purchased.
Launched:
By Suncraft International.
Dimensions:
L: 20m/65ft 7½in; B: 5.6m/18ft 4½in; D: 0.8m/2ft 7½in.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × diesel engines, total 890bhp/20 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 12.7mm HMG/Ballistic protection to wheelhouse.
Fate:
In service.
Suncraft Manta Mark II
A lineup of Manta Mk II patrol boats. The Manta triple-hull craft can be of aluminium or GRP. Both types have ballistic protection against multiple 7.62mm projectiles (Photo from Website: https://beegeagle.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/nigerian-navy-now-also-acquiring-larger-manta-mk-iii-littoral-interceptor/)
A unit in GRP, with angled wheelhouse front. (Photo from Website: http://www.nairaland.com/1386870/african-militaries-security-services-strictly/616)
Manta Mk III
Launched:
By Suncraft International.
Dimensions:
L: 16.5m/54ft 1½in; B: 4.3m/14ft 1in; D: 1m/3ft 3in.
Crew:
6.
Power/Speed:
Twin waterjets; 2 × 1,200bhp MTU diesel engines/45 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 12.7mm HMG/Armour protection to NIJ Level 3.
Fate:
In service.
RBS Defender
Launched:
By RBS.
Dimensions:
Displ: 2.7 tons; L: 8.9m/29ft 2in (Class A); 9m/29ft 6in (Class B); B: 2.6m/8ft 6in; D: 0.98m/3ft 3in.
Crew:
4 + 6 troops.
Power/Speed:
2 × Honda 225bhp outboard petrol engines/46 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 12.7mm HMG; 1 × 7.62mm MG.
Fate:
In service.
Shaldag Patrol Boats
Launched:
By Israel Shipyards Ltd.
Dimensions:
Displ: 72 tons; L: 24.8m/81ft 4in; B: 6m/19ft 8in; D: 1.2m/3ft 11in.
Crew:
15.
Power/Speed:
Twin steerable KaMeWa waterjets; 2 × 8MTU 12V 396 TE engines/50 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 25mm Typhoon Weapon System; 1 × 20mm; 2 × .50 cal MG.
Fate:
In service.
PARAGUAY
Paraguay has some 2,500km (1,500 miles) of navigable waterways: the Paraguay River flows into the Paraná River and finally into the Rio de la Plata, entering the Atlantic at Buenos Aires. The Paraguayan Navy has been landlocked since the War of the Triple Alliance, but that has not in the past prevented it from purchasing some of the most effective river gunboats afloat. By keeping them in fresh water rivers the Paraguayan ships have enjoyed long careers. Today economic factors dictate that their riverine forces are made up of patrol vessels of modest size.
With the escalation of tension between Paraguay and her neighbours in the early 1860s, Marshal-President Solanó López ordered five ironclads: Minerva and Bellona from Lairds, Triton and Meduza from Dudgeon Brothers, and Nemesis from Arman Brothers, Bordeaux. When war broke out, the Paraguayans were obliged to default on the payments for the ships, and all were purchased by their enemy Brazil. For details, see BRAZIL. In a desperate attempt to seize ironclads, the Paraguayans trained specialised teams of boarders, known as the ‘bogabantes’, who used canoes to approach Brazilian warships, usually at night or in the early morning. As the Brazilian crews invariably took refuge inside their armoured casemates or turrets, and often companion vessels would fire grapeshot to clear the decks of their compatriots, these brave attempts were always doomed to failure.
BATTLE OF RIACHUELO (WAR OF THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE)
This battle resulted from the attempt by Solanó López to destroy the Brazilian river force and gain control over the Paraná River. It took place on 11 June 1865 at Riachuelo, just to the south of Corrientes.
The Paraguayans gathered a force of two corvettes, Tacuarí (620 tons, 120ihp steam engine, 2 × 68-pounder + 6 × 32-pounder SB), and Paraguarí (730 tons, 130ihp steam engine, 2 × 68-pounder + 6 × 32-pounder SB, built in England), backed by seven armed river steamers, Ygureí (650 tons, 130ihp steam engine, 3 × 68-pounder + 4 × 32-pounder SB), Marquéz de Olinda (300 tons, 80ihp, 4 × 18-pounders), Salto Oriental (300 tons, 70ihp, 4 × 18-pounders), Yporá (300 tons, 80ihp, 4 × SB), Yberá (300 tons, 4 × SB), Pirabebé (150 tons, 60ihp, 1 × 18-pounder) and Jejuí (no details found).
Due to Captain Meza ignoring Lopez’s order to carry out a surprise attack and board the moored line of Brazilian ships, the heavier firepower of the Brazilians resulted in the loss of four Paraguayan ships, Paraguarí, Jejuí, Marquéz de Olinda and Salto Oriental. They would never again attempt to challenge Brazilian domination of the river.
Pirapó
Pirapó was launched as the Confienza, a three-masted second class gunboat of the Royal Sardinian Navy. She took part in the struggle
for Italian independence on the side of Cavour and Garibaldi, being so badly damaged in an attack on the royal fortress of Gaeta that it was decided to convert her to an explosive-laden demolition vessel, to be detonated under the walls of the fortress. Saved by the capitulation of the kingdom, she later cruised to South America, and in March 1880 was sold to Paraguay at Montevideo and renamed Pirapó.
Launched:
March 1860 by Foce Shipyard, Genoa.
Dimensions:
Displ: 296 tons full load; L: 34.2m/112ft 2in (between perpendiculars); B: 6.7m/22ft; D: 2.1m/6ft 10½in.
Crew:
63.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; steam engine, 60ihp/7–8 knots.
Guns/Armour:
4 × 30-pounder SB (in Italian service).
Fate:
Stricken after 1888.
Teniente Herreros
An iron-hulled wood-burning Aviso de Guerra (Patrol Vessel) taken into service with the Paraguayan Navy before 1913. After a major overhaul in 1929 she took part in the Chaco War of 1932–5, patrolling the Paraguay River, being also used as a transport. She was no longer on the active list after 1972.
Launched:
Sometime before 1891.
Dimensions:
Displ: 42 tons; L: 19.3m/63ft 4in; B: 3.36m/11ft; D: 1.68m/5ft 6in.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; steam engine/5.5 knots.
Guns/Armour: