Thor-class river gunboats

This type of gunboat was the oldest class still in service by World War II. There were 9 left, five of which had been converted to auxiliary minelayers during their career. The four still in service had been modernized during time ( a lighter 4.7 or 3 inch gun replaced the older 11 inch ) and were now stationed on the rivers connecting Germany with Holland. The minelayers served mainly in Zeeland or Den Helder.

Hefring

Construction details

Name Dockyard Laid down Launched Commissioned

Balder Christie* May 31 1878 1878 August 8 1879

Braga Christie 1877 1878 June 10 1879

Bulgia Christie March 21 1879 December 4 1879 October 22 1894

Freyr Christie February 15 1877 July 9 1877 November 24 1877

Hadda Koninklijke** 1879 1879 May 10 1880

Hefring Mij Feijenoord April 15 1879 September 16 1879 April 20 1880

Thor Christie September 19 1876 March 31 1877 November 8 1877

Tyr Christie October 4 1877 1878 November 28 1878

Vidar Mij. Feijenoord August 9 1878 February 15 1879 July 22 1879

* Christie, Nolet & De Kuyper, Delfshaven
** Koninklijke Fabriek van Stoom- en andere Werktuigen, Amsterdam

Specifications

Gunboats * Mineraisers**

Displacement 240 - 244 t 223 - 244 t

Crew 30 - 34 34 - 36

Dimensions 28 x 8.2 x 2.3 m 28 x 8.2 x 2.5 m

Armament*** Braga: 1 x 12 cm, 2 x 37 mm, 1 x .50
Hefring: 1 x 12 cm, 2 x 37 mm
Freyr: 1 x 75 mm No. 3
Balder: 2 x 50 mm
Thor: 1 x 150 mm
Tyr: 3 x 37 mm, 2 x .50 Bulgia: 1 x 37 mm
Vidar: 1 or 2 x 37 mm

Mines - 24

* Hadda was an accommodation ship without armament
** These ships were converted to give the mines type 1907 maintenance
*** The armaments given may not be entirely correct. The number, calibre and type of guns carried varied considerably during their careers.

Propulsion details

Gunboats Minelayers

Boilers 2 cylindrical boilers 2 cylindrical boilers

Machinery reciprocating system reciprocating system

Performance 100 or 170 hp 150 hp

Shafts 2 2

Bunkerage 30 tons coal 30 tons coal

Range 1200 miles @ 7,75 knots 1200 miles @ 7 knots

Speed 7,75 knots 7 knots

Histories

Braga Beached on River Waal, May 15 1940. Wreck probably raised and scrapped.

Freyr Scuttled Amsterdam May 14 1940. Raised and used as blockship Den Helder, September 1944. Salvaged and scapped November 1947.

Hefring Sunk own crew in Amsterdam May 14 1940. Raised September 23 1940 and probably scrapped. Also possible is that it was used as a "Küstenschutzboot" and it was lost in service. Another version is that it was towed to the Coenhaven on September 26, where it again sank, was raised and scrapped.

Tyr Captured on Waal River, May 14 1940. Used in the Kriegsmarine as auxiliary minelayer Hafenschutzboot carrying her own name. Found in May 1945 and scrapped.

Balder Captured Bolnes and scrapped.

Bulgia Bombed by German aircraft on May 12 1940 and sunk. Raised July 31 1940 and scrapped.

Hadda Captured Hoek van Holland May 14 1940 and scrapped.

Thor Captured in Den Helder May 14 1940. Sunk by Allied aircraft in Vlissingen February 1941.

Vidar Captured Vlissingen May 18 1940 and scrapped

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Construction details
Name	Dockyard	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
Balder	Christie*	May 31 1878	1878	August 8 1879
Braga	Christie	1877	1878	June 10 1879
Bulgia	Christie	March 21 1879	December 4 1879	October 22 1894
Freyr	Christie	February 15 1877	July 9 1877	November 24 1877
Hadda	Koninklijke**	1879	1879	May 10 1880
Hefring	Mij Feijenoord	April 15 1879	September 16 1879	April 20 1880
Thor	Christie	September 19 1876	March 31 1877	November 8 1877
Tyr	Christie	October 4 1877	1878	November 28 1878
Vidar	Mij. Feijenoord	August 9 1878	February 15 1879	July 22 1879
* Christie, Nolet & De Kuyper, Delfshaven ** Koninklijke Fabriek van Stoom- en andere Werktuigen, Amsterdam

Specifications
	Gunboats *	Mineraisers**
Displacement	240 - 244 t	223 - 244 t
Crew	30 - 34	34 - 36
Dimensions	28 x 8.2 x 2.3 m	28 x 8.2 x 2.5 m
Armament***	Braga: 1 x 12 cm, 2 x 37 mm, 1 x .50 Hefring: 1 x 12 cm, 2 x 37 mm Freyr: 1 x 75 mm No. 3 Balder: 2 x 50 mm Thor: 1 x 150 mm Tyr: 3 x 37 mm, 2 x .50	Bulgia: 1 x 37 mm Vidar: 1 or 2 x 37 mm
Mines	-	24
* Hadda was an accommodation ship without armament These ships were converted to give the mines type 1907 maintenance * The armaments given may not be entirely correct. The number, calibre and type of guns carried varied considerably during their careers.

Propulsion details
	Gunboats	Minelayers
Boilers	2 cylindrical boilers	2 cylindrical boilers
Machinery	reciprocating system	reciprocating system
Performance	100 or 170 hp	150 hp
Shafts	2	2
Bunkerage	30 tons coal	30 tons coal
Range	1200 miles @ 7,75 knots	1200 miles @ 7 knots
Speed	7,75 knots	7 knots

Histories
Braga	Beached on River Waal, May 15 1940. Wreck probably raised and scrapped.
Freyr	Scuttled Amsterdam May 14 1940. Raised and used as blockship Den Helder, September 1944. Salvaged and scapped November 1947.
Hefring	Sunk own crew in Amsterdam May 14 1940. Raised September 23 1940 and probably scrapped. Also possible is that it was used as a "Küstenschutzboot" and it was lost in service. Another version is that it was towed to the Coenhaven on September 26, where it again sank, was raised and scrapped.
Tyr	Captured on Waal River, May 14 1940. Used in the Kriegsmarine as auxiliary minelayer Hafenschutzboot carrying her own name. Found in May 1945 and scrapped.
Balder	Captured Bolnes and scrapped.
Bulgia	Bombed by German aircraft on May 12 1940 and sunk. Raised July 31 1940 and scrapped.
Hadda	Captured Hoek van Holland May 14 1940 and scrapped.
Thor	Captured in Den Helder May 14 1940. Sunk by Allied aircraft in Vlissingen February 1941.
Vidar	Captured Vlissingen May 18 1940 and scrapped