River Gunboats
Page 45
Small River Patrol Boats (Lanchas de Fiscalização Pequenas)
Algol
P 1138 Algol was a one-off small river patrol boat, the first to use the reliable Cummins diesel engines, which would reappear in many of the follow-on patrol boats. She was deployed to Angola in 1965.
Algol, pennant number 1138. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
The German MG13 machine gun, known as the Dreyse in Portuguese service. Here it is tripod-mounted with an AA sight and a 75-round double drum magazine. It also used a 25-round box magazine. The gun was extremely reliable and fired at a cyclic rate of 600 rpm. (Photo from Website: modernfirearms.net)
Launched:
1964 by Argibay, Lisboa.
Dimensions:
Displ: 24 tons full load; L: 17.7m/58ft; B: 4m/13ft 1½in; D: 1m/3ft 3in.
Crew:
7.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Cummins diesel engines, 500bhp/15 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 7.92mm Dreyse MG, later replaced by MG42s.
Fate:
Stricken 1975.
Castor
P 580 Castor was another one-off design. She was deployed on Lake Nyasa in 1964 and four years later was handed over to Malawi.
Launched:
1964 by Mondego DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 22 tons full load; L: 17.7m/58ft; B: 4m/13ft 1½in; D: 1m/3ft 3in.
Crew:
7.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Cummins diesel engines, 500bhp/15 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 20mm Oerlikon.
Fate:
1968 transferred to Malawi.
Castor hauled out of the water at Metangula for maintenance. (Photo EstadoMaior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
Antares class Regulus at speed on the Zaire River. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
Antares Class
Antares, Vega, Sirius and Régulus. As a major departure, the first three vessels were built in the UK using a moulded GRP hull. The last member of the class was then built in Portugal.
Launched:
1959 Antares, Vega and Sirius by James Taylor, Shoreham, England. 1962 Régulus by Navalis, Lisboa.
Dimensions:
Displ: 18 tons; L: 17.1m/56ft 1in; B: 4.64m/15ft 2¾in; D: 1.22m/4ft.
Crew:
7.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Cummins diesel engines, 460bhp/18.2 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 20mm Oerlikon.
Fate:
Sirius and Vega sunk during the invasion of Goa, December 1961; Régulus transferred to Malawi in 1969; Antares transferred to Angola 1975.
Bellatrix Class
P 363 Bellatrix, P 364 Canopus, P 365 Deneb, P 366 Espiga, P 367 Fomalhaut, P 368 Pollux, P 377 Altair, P 378 Rigel, P 1151 Arcturus, P 1152 Aldebaran, P 1153 Procion, P 1154 Sirius and P 1155 Vega. The first eight were built in Germany and the remainder in Portugal.
P 367 Fomalhaut at speed on the Zaire River, with her Zodiacs alongside. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
Launched:
1961 P 363–P 368, 1962 P 377 and P 378; by Bayerische Schiffbaugesellschaft, Erlanbach. 1968 P 1151–P 1153, 1970 P 1154 and P 1155 by Arsenal do Alfeite, Almada.
Dimensions:
Displ: 23 tons, 28 tons full load; L: 20.7m/67ft 11in; B: 4.63m/15ft 2in; D: 1.22m/4ft.
Crew:
7.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Cummins diesel engines, 460bhp/15 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 20mm Oerlikon.
Fate:
P 363–P 365, P 367, P 1151–P 1153 stricken 1975.
Júpiter Class
P 1132 Júpiter, P 1133 Vénus, P 1134 Marte, P 1135 Mercúrio, P 1136 Saturno and P 1137 Urano.
Launched:
1965 by Mondego DY.
Dimensions:
Displ: 32 tons, 44 tons full load; L: 21m/68ft 10¾in; B: 5.03m/16ft 6in; D: 1.31m/4ft 3½in.
Crew:
8.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Cummins diesel engines, 1,270bhp/20 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 20mm Oerlikon.
Fate:
P 1134–P 1137 transferred to Angola 1975; P 1132 and P 1133 stricken 1975.
Júpiter. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
Albufeira, with rocket launcher fixed on top of the forward gunshield. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
Alvor Class
P 1156 Alvor, P 1157 Aljezur, P 1158 Albufeira.
Launched:
1967 P 1156; 1968 P 1157 and P 1158 Arsenal do Alfeite, Almada.
Dimensions:
Displ: 36 tons full load; L: 21.1m/69ft 2¾in; B: 5.49m/18ft; D: 1.56m/5ft 1½in.
Crew:
7.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Cummins diesel engines 235bhp/12.3 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 20mm Oerlikon.
Fate:
P 1156–P 1158 stricken 1975.
Albatroz Class
P 1162 Albatroz, P 1163 Açor, P 1164 Andorinha, P 1165 Águia, P 1166 Condor and P 1167 Cisne.
Launched:
1974 P 1162, P 1163, P 1166, P 1167; 1975 P 1164 and P 1165 by Arsenal do Alfeite, Almada.
Dimensions:
43.5 tons, 48.6 tons full load; L: 21.9m/71ft 10in; B: 5.3m/17ft 4½in; D: 1.9m/6ft 2¾in.
Crew:
8.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Cummins 50-M2 diesel engines, 1,100bhp/14 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 20mm Oerlikon.
Fate:
All stricken by 2016 except for P 1167, still in service.
Albufeira, with rocket launcher fixed on top of the forward gunshield. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
Large River Patrol Boats (Lanchas de Fiscalização Grandes)
The following two classes were of particular value in Guinea, but gave useful fire support in all the riverine combat zones where their deeper draught enabled them to penetrate.
Argos Class
P 372 Argos, P 361 Lira, P 362 Orion, P 373 Cassiopeia, P 374 Dragão, P 375 Escorpião, P 379 Hidra, P 379 Pegaso, P 1130 Centauro and P 1131 Sagitário.
On 26 December 1963 P 374 Dragão fell into a well-prepared ambush on the Cacheu River in Guinea. One of the twenty-two hits from LMGs had penetrated the hull and disabled the remote engine control system. Until it could be repaired, the patrol boat drifted out of control, and it was evident that armour plating was required, particularly around the magazine and machinery space. This would also be applied to four newer gunboats that replaced the original vessels in late 1964.
Orion on a river in Guinea. She has been fitted with armour protection to cover vital areas. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
The German MG42 which replaced the Dreyse on the river gunboats in Africa. It could fire at a cyclic rate of between 1,200 and 1,500 rpm. (Photo from Website: http://normandie44.canalblog.com)
Launched:
1963 P 372, P 374, P 375 and P 379; 1964 P 373 and P 376, by Arsenal do Afeite; 1964 P 361, P 362; 1965 P 1130 and P 1131, by Viana do Castelo.
Dimensions:
Displ: 180 tons, 210 tons full load; L: 41.7m/136ft 9¾in; B: 6.2m/20ft 4in; D: 2.1m/6ft 10¾in.
Crew:
24.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Maybach diesel engines, 1,200bhp/17 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 40mm Bofors; 2 × 7.92mm Dreyse MG, later replaced by MG42s/Modified with armour plate on the machinery and magazine spaces.
Fate:
P 373 and P 1131 stricken 1974; rest transferred to independent Angola 1974.
Cacine underway. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
&n
bsp; Cacine Class
P 1140 Cacine, P 1141 Cunene, P 1142 Mandovi, P 1143 Rovuma, P 1144 Quanza, P 1145 Geba, P 1146 Zaire, P 1147 Zambeze, P 1160 Limpopo, P 1161 Save.
Launched:
1968 P 1140–P 1143, 1972 P 1161, 1973 P 1160 by Arsenal do Afeite; 1969 P 1144 and P 1145, 1970 P 1146, 1971 P 1147 by Mondego.
Dimensions:
Displ: 293 tons, 310 tons full load; L: 44m/144ft 4in; B: 7.67m/25ft 2in; D: 2.2m/7ft 2½in.
Crew:
33.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × Maybach 12V528 diesel engines. 4,400bhp. Replaced 1992–4 with: 2 × MTU12V528 diesel engines 4,400bhp/20 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 40mm Bofors; 1 × 32-barrelled 37mm rocket launcher; 2 × 7.92mm MG 42s/Armour plate on the machinery and magazine spaces. 1992–4: + 1 × 20mm Oerlikon.
Fate:
All stricken between 1997 and 2015.
Lake Nyasa Flotilla
To chart the shoreline and territorial waters of Lake Nyasa, the patrol boat Castor and survey launch Mina had been transported overland to the lake. When the independence struggle began, in order to try to control the infiltration of insurgents across the waters of the Lake, in August 1965 it was decided to reinforce the Lake Nyasa Force. Operação ‘Atum’ (Operation ‘Tuna’) was duly launched, and in the autumn it was planned to transport overland to the lake the Antares class gunboat Régulus, two of the Júpiter class, Marte and Mercúrio, and the large landing craft LDM 404.
Régulus and LDM 404 reached the lake with only minor difficulties, but the much larger and heavier Marte and Mercúrio ran into serious problems. They were carried for the major part of their journey on two Leyland Centurion tank transporters borrowed from South Africa. On crossing the Rio Machele Bridge, which was officially rated at 100 tons capacity, the structure collapsed under the weight of the first transporter, and the vehicle and Marte had to be extricated from the wreckage. The second transporter prudently crossed the river at a drift built by the troops. Its turn was to come just a short distance from their destination, when the transporter carrying Mercúrio slid into a sink hole in the water-soaked ground, and tilted at up to 40 degrees before it could be recovered. Finally the convoy reached the Lake and safely discharged the two gunboats. By 23 August 1967 a further five landing craft and the gunboats Saturno and Urano had joined the Lake Nyasa Launch Squadron.
Mercúrio temporarily raised on her transport wagon to clear the side girders of a railway bridge. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
To strengthen ties with friendly Malawi, in August 1968 Castor was transferred to the Malawi Navy, and renamed John Chilembwe, and Régulus followed in March 1969, being renamed Chibisa.
Mercúrio crossing a drift. (Photo Estado-Maior da Armada and Revista da Armada)
RIO MINHO PATROL BOATS
The Portuguese continue to keep at least one patrol boat on the Rio Minho, to police the frontier between Portugal and Spain. They have been traditionally known by the name of Rio Minho.
Infante D. Manuel
Infante D. Manuel, later renamed Rio Minho for her area of operations, was built to patrol the Spanish-Portuguese frontier which is formed by the River Minho. With the passing of tensions in the region, she was subsequently employed on fishery protection duties and local administrative tasks. No less than sixty-eight crewmen could be allocated to the vessel, but the majority served ashore.
Infante D Manuel, built in 1895. The almost completely exposed boiler shows that the vessel was intended for showing the flag rather than actual close-range riverine combat. (Model in the Lisbon Maritime Museum)
Launched:
1895 by Arsenal da Marinha, Lisboa.
Dimensions:
Displ: 38 tons; L: 24.6m/80ft 8½in; B: 4m/13ft 1½in; D: 0.60m/1ft 11½in.
Crew:
8.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; VTE steam engine, 64ihp/7.5 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 3-pounder Hotchkiss Model 1885 QF; 1920s + 1 × MG.
Fate:
Stricken before 1950.
P 370 Rio Minho
The lightly-armed patrol boat Rio Minho of 1957, more akin to a police/customs vessel, on the Portuguese–Spanish frontier.
The latest Rio Minho, bearing the same pennant number P 370 as her predecessor of 1957. (Photo posted by Joao Quaresma on Website: www.shipspotting.com)
Rio Minho 1991
Launched:
1991.
Dimensions:
Displ: 70 tons; L: 22.5m/73ft 10in.
Crew:
8.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × diesel engines/9.5 knots.
Guns/Armour:
Probably MG only.
Fate:
In service.
CHINA GUNBOATS
Pátria
Pátria was a lightly-armoured gunboat, stationed at Macau, and sold to the Chinese Navy for use as a river gunboat, renamed Fu Yu. For her subsequent fate, see CHINA.
Launched:
1903 by Arsenal da Marinha, Lisboa.
Dimensions:
Displ: 626 tons; L: 60m/196ft 9½in; B: 8.38m/27ft 6in; D: 2.56m/8ft 4¾in.
Crew:
88.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × VTE steam engines, 1,890ihp/16.7 knots.
Guns/Armour:
4 × 100mm; 6 × 3-pounder QF; 1 × MG/Belt 12.7mm.
Fate:
Sold to China 1931.
Macau
Macau, a standard Yarrow type, was the sole China gunboat tasked with protecting Portuguese nationals and interests in China and capable of mounting the Chinese river systems. Based normally in the Portuguese colony of Macau, she was taken over by the Japanese in August 1943 and incorporated in the IJN under the name of Maiko. At the close of the Second World War, Maiko became Chinese. For her subsequent fate, see JAPAN and also CHINA.
Launched:
1909 by Yarrow.
Dimensions:
Displ: 95 tons, 133 tons full load; L: 36.5m/119ft 9in; B: 6.02m/19ft 9in; D: 0.66m/2ft 2in.
Crew:
24.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; Tunnel guide blade type; 2 × VTE steam engines. 250ihp/11.8 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 6-pounder Hotchkiss QF; 3 × MG/Bulletproof hull and superstructure.
Fate:
August 1943 taken over by Japan.
Macau dressed overall, and flying the Portuguese ensign.
ROMANIA
Romania guards the entry to the Danube from the Black Sea. From their War of Independence from Turkey up to the present day, the Romanians have taken that role extremely seriously. At the end of the First World War, they added three ex-Austro-Hungarian monitors to their existing flotilla of four, making the Romanian Navy the most powerful force on the Danube. After the vicissitudes of the Second World War, when the Romanian monitors were first seized by the Soviets then returned post-war, Romania has concentrated on building up a formidable flotilla of modern river monitors.
Much of the information, and the majority of the illustrations which follow, have been culled from the excellent website: http://romaniaforum.info/index.php. Our thanks go to our fellow enthusiasts for their continuing research work which has brought the Romanian Danube monitors worldwide attention.
România
Built for Bucharest merchant Nicolae Ciocan to tow salt barges on the Siret and Danube and later named Printul Konachi Vogoride, she was confiscated by the Romanian government in 1861. Commissioned into the navy, she was renamed România. During the War of Independence, România was fitted with wooden bulwarks as a timberclad. Used as a transport during the latter part of the war, she underwent major repairs in 1881, then served as a hydrographic survey vessel on the Danube. She was still extant in 1906, but had been stricken before the First World War.
Launched:
1857 by Neuburg-Klaster, Vienna.
Displ: 130 tons; L: 35m/114ft 10in; B: 6m/28ft 2½in; D: 0.6m/1ft 11½in.
Power/Speed:
Side paddle wheels; steam engine, 240ihp/8 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1861: 4 × small (Falconet) SB guns. Later: 2 × 37mm Hotchkiss revolver cannon + 2 × five-barrelled Nordenfelt MG.
Fate:
Stricken prior to 1914.
Gunboat România seen from the stern quarter during the War of Independence. (Photo posted on Website: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Romanian_War_of_Independence)
România after rebuilding and rearming. (Plan from Website: http://romaniaforum.info/index.ph)
Fulgerul
Fulgerul (‘Lightning’) was ordered from FCM in France as the first modern Romanian warship, to patrol the Danube at a time of great upheavals in the Balkans.
She had the pronounced snout of contemporary French designs, at a time when the ram was considered an essential attribute, but her painfully slow speed of just 7 knots disqualified Fulgerul from making successful ramming attacks against any opponent with way on her and capable of manoeuvring.
One has to consider her turret as a gimmick. On such a small and short vessel, the designer obviously had to comprompise, and the turret ended up in the best position for a foremast. So the mast was bolted to a fixed pillar inside, which must have complicated the armament arrangement, requiring the cannon to be offset to one side. This in turn could have led to off-centre turning motions when it was fired! The original 90mm Krupp proved too big for the cramped turret, and was quickly replaced by a 57mm calibre gun, and lastly by a pair of 11.43mm Nordenfelt machine guns. The turret had obviously been added to impress potential enemies, but to pass through the Dardanelles on the vessel’s delivery voyage, it had been removed and sent overland, to avoid creating too much of a diplomatic scandal with the Ottomans, Fulgerul’s likely future opponents. Finally, a report mentions that when a soldier accidentally discharged his rifle and struck the turret, the bullet penetrated the ‘armour’. Obviously he had fired at close range, inside the zone beyond which the armour was intended to ward off rifle bullets, but nevertheless, following this incident the turret was removed.