Drache-class ironclad

Drache at anchor after her 1867 refit
Class overview
Builders: Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste
Operators: Austria–Hungary
Preceded by: None
Succeeded by: Kaiser Max class
Built: 1861–62
In commission: 1862–83
Completed: 2
Scrapped: 2
General characteristics (as built)
Type: Ironclad armored frigate
Displacement: 2,779 long tons (2,824 t)
Length: 70.1 m (230 ft 0 in)
Beam: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draft: 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 1 Shaft, 1 Steam engine
Sail plan: Barque-rigged
Speed: 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph)
Complement: 346
Armament:
Armor: Waterline belt: 115 mm (4.5 in)

The Drache-class ironclads were a pair of wooden-hulled armored frigates built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the 1860s, the first ironclads built for Austria-Hungary.[1] They participated in the Austrian victory over the Italians in the Battle of Lissa.

Design and description

The Drache class was designed in response to the Formidabile-class ironclads bought from France by Italy in 1860.[2] They were rated as third-class armored frigates.[1] They had an overall length of 70.1 meters (230 ft 0 in), a beam of 14 meters (45 ft 11 in) and a draft of 6.8 meters (22 ft 4 in). They displaced 2,824 long tons (2,869 t) at normal load, and 3,110 long tons (3,160 t) at deep load. The ships had a horizontal steam engine that drove their single propeller using steam provided by four boilers that exhausted through one funnel. The engine produced a total of 2,060 indicated horsepower (1,540 kW) which gave the ships a speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). For long-distance travel, the Draches were fitted with three masts and barque rigged.[2] The ships had a complement of 346 officers and crewmen.[1]

The frigates were armed with ten 48-pounder smoothbore guns and eighteen 24-pounder rifled, muzzle-loading (RML) guns. They were equipped with ram bows. The Drache-class ironclads had a waterline belt of wrought iron that was 115 millimeters (4.5 in) thick.[1]

Ships

Ship Builder[1] Laid down[3] Launched[1] Completed[3]
SMS Drache Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste 18 February 1861 9 September 1861 November 1862
SMS Salamander February 1861 22 August 1861 May 1862

Service

Both ships participated in the Battle of Lissa against the Italians, Drache being damaged during the engagement.[3] They were refitted and rearmed, Drache in 1869–72 and Salamander in 1869–70. The refit included an increase in sail area to 1,090.0 square meters (11,733 sq ft) and the replacement of their armament with ten Armstrong RML 7-inch (178 mm) guns and two 2-inch (51 mm) RML guns.[1] Drache was stricken on 13 January 1875 and broken up in 1883. Salamander was stricken that same year and became a mine storage hulk until she was scrapped in 1896.[4]

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gardiner, p. 267
  2. 1 2 Silverstone, p. 17
  3. 1 2 3 Silverstone, pp. 26, 31
  4. ↑ Silverstone, p. 31

References

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