Cricket Class Torpedo Boat (1906): Difference between revisions
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The thirty-six '''''Cricket'' Class Torpedo Boats''' were originally dubbed "coastal destroyers", but were reclassified as first-class torpedo boats before 1907. | The thirty-six '''''Cricket'' Class Torpedo Boats''' were originally dubbed "coastal destroyers", but were reclassified as first-class torpedo boats before 1907. They were often referred to as "the oily wads" due to their oil-burning nature. | ||
The first twelve ordered were given names but were re-numbered - confusingly - as T.B. 1-12 as part of the denigration to torpedo boats. | The first twelve ordered were given names but were re-numbered - confusingly - as T.B. 1-12 as part of the denigration to torpedo boats. | ||
Two additional orders of twelve boats each followed, and these boats never had names, but only numbers T.B. 13-36.{{Conways1906|pp. 72-3}} | Two additional orders of twelve boats each followed, and these boats never had names, but only numbers T.B. 13-36.{{Conways1906|pp. 72-3}} | ||
The "Crickets" were unusual in being Britain's concerted final step into delivering torpedo boats. Destroyers would take over from here, with the torpedo boat idea eventually collapsing into the truly minute [[Coastal Motor Boat]] concept. | |||
<div name=fredbot:ships> | <div name=fredbot:ships> | ||
| Line 20: | Line 22: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB1}} | | {{Template:UK-TB1}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|23 Jan, 1906 | |23 Jan, 1906 | ||
| Line 27: | Line 29: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB2}} | | {{Template:UK-TB2}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|11 Mar, 1906 | |11 Mar, 1906 | ||
| Line 34: | Line 36: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB3}} | | {{Template:UK-TB3}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|1906 | |1 Sep, 1906 | ||
| | | | ||
|Sold 1920 | |Sold 1920 | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB4}} | | {{Template:UK-TB4}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | |30 Oct, 1906 | ||
| | | | ||
|Sold 1920 | |Sold 1920 | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB5}} | | {{Template:UK-TB5}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | |15 Dec, 1906 | ||
| | | | ||
|Sold 1920 | |Sold 1920 | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB6}} | | {{Template:UK-TB6}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | |24 Jun, 1906 | ||
| | | | ||
|Sold 1920 | |Sold 1920 | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB7}} | | {{Template:UK-TB7}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | |20 Dec, 1906 | ||
| | | | ||
|Sold 1921 | |Sold 1921 | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB8}} | | {{Template:UK-TB8}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | |1 Dec, 1906 | ||
| | | | ||
|Sold 1921 | |Sold 1921 | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB9}} | | {{Template:UK-TB9}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|18 Mar, 1907 | |18 Mar, 1907 | ||
| | | | ||
|Collision | |Collision 26 Jul, 1916 | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB10}} | | {{Template:UK-TB10}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|15 Feb, 1907 | |15 Feb, 1907 | ||
| Line 90: | Line 92: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB11}} | | {{Template:UK-TB11}} | ||
|[[Yarrow]] | |[[Yarrow & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|29 Jan, 1907 | |29 Jan, 1907 | ||
| Line 97: | Line 99: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB12}} | | {{Template:UK-TB12}} | ||
|[[Yarrow]] | |[[Yarrow & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|15 Mar, 1907 | |15 Mar, 1907 | ||
| Line 104: | Line 106: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB13}} | | {{Template:UK-TB13}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|10 Jul, 1907 | |10 Jul, 1907 | ||
| Line 111: | Line 113: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB14}} | | {{Template:UK-TB14}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|26 Sep, 1907 | |26 Sep, 1907 | ||
| Line 118: | Line 120: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB15}} | | {{Template:UK-TB15}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|19 Nov, 1907 | |19 Nov, 1907 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB16}} | | {{Template:UK-TB16}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|23 Dec, 1907 | |23 Dec, 1907 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB17}} | | {{Template:UK-TB17}} | ||
|[[Denny]] | |[[William Denny & Brothers]] | ||
| | | | ||
|21 Dec, 1907 | |21 Dec, 1907 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB18}} | | {{Template:UK-TB18}} | ||
|[[Denny]] | |[[William Denny & Brothers]] | ||
| | | | ||
|15 Feb, 1908 | |15 Feb, 1908 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB19}} | | {{Template:UK-TB19}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|7 Dec, 1907 | |7 Dec, 1907 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB20}} | | {{Template:UK-TB20}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|21 Jan, 1908 | |21 Jan, 1908 | ||
| Line 160: | Line 162: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB21}} | | {{Template:UK-TB21}} | ||
|[[Hawthorn Leslie]] | |[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|20 Dec, 1907 | |20 Dec, 1907 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB22}} | | {{Template:UK-TB22}} | ||
|[[Hawthorn Leslie]] | |[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|1 Feb, 1908 | |1 Feb, 1908 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB23}} | | {{Template:UK-TB23}} | ||
|[[Yarrow]] | |[[Yarrow & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|5 Dec, 1907 | |5 Dec, 1907 | ||
| Line 181: | Line 183: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB24}} | | {{Template:UK-TB24}} | ||
|[[Palmer]] | |[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|19 Mar, 1908 | |19 Mar, 1908 | ||
| Line 188: | Line 190: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB25}} | | {{Template:UK-TB25}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|28 Aug, 1908 | |28 Aug, 1908 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB26}} | | {{Template:UK-TB26}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|28 Aug, 1908 | |28 Aug, 1908 | ||
| Line 202: | Line 204: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB27}} | | {{Template:UK-TB27}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|28 Sep, 1908 | |28 Sep, 1908 | ||
| Line 209: | Line 211: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB28}} | | {{Template:UK-TB28}} | ||
|[[J. | |[[J. Samuel White]] | ||
| | | | ||
|29 Oct, 1908 | |29 Oct, 1908 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB29}} | | {{Template:UK-TB29}} | ||
|[[Denny]] | |[[William Denny & Brothers]] | ||
| | | | ||
|29 Sep, 1908 | |29 Sep, 1908 | ||
| Line 223: | Line 225: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB30}} | | {{Template:UK-TB30}} | ||
|[[Denny]] | |[[William Denny & Brothers]] | ||
| | | | ||
|29 Sep, 1908 | |29 Sep, 1908 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB31}} | | {{Template:UK-TB31}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|10 Oct, 1908 | |10 Oct, 1908 | ||
| Line 237: | Line 239: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB32}} | | {{Template:UK-TB32}} | ||
|[[Thornycroft]] | |[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|23 Nov, 1908 | |23 Nov, 1908 | ||
| Line 244: | Line 246: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB33}} | | {{Template:UK-TB33}} | ||
|[[Hawthorn Leslie]] | |[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|22 Feb, 1909 | |22 Feb, 1909 | ||
| Line 251: | Line 253: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB34}} | | {{Template:UK-TB34}} | ||
|[[Hawthorn Leslie]] | |[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|22 Feb, 1909 | |22 Feb, 1909 | ||
| Line 258: | Line 260: | ||
|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB35}} | | {{Template:UK-TB35}} | ||
|[[Palmer]] | |[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|19 Apr, 1909 | |19 Apr, 1909 | ||
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|- align=left | |- align=left | ||
| {{Template:UK-TB36}} | | {{Template:UK-TB36}} | ||
|[[Palmer]] | |[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]] | ||
| | | | ||
|6 May, 1909 | |6 May, 1909 | ||
| Line 272: | Line 274: | ||
|} | |} | ||
</div name=fredbot:ships> | </div name=fredbot:ships> | ||
==Design and Construction== | |||
The small vessels had three screws and were oil-fired. One commander regarded these as a great step up from the 27- and 30-knotters he'd served in previously. | |||
The middle shaft had a smaller propellor, and this was the only one which could be reversed, offering deficient backing power and denying them the enhanced manoeuvrability achievable in other ships by backing down an outer engine. | |||
A large wardroom was provided for the captain and his two officers. In most ships, this was partitioned by private expenditures to offer the captain his own room, entered by an overhead ammunition hatch. | |||
The last twelve ships boasted a steam capstan in place of the meager hand-worked ones in the other units.{{DawsonFlotillas|p. 105}} | |||
Tests performed in {{UK-TB33}} in 1909 determined that [[18-in Mark VI* H. Torpedo (UK)|Mark VI* H.]] torpedoes fitted with pioneers (a type of net-penetrating head apputenance) would not clear obstructions such as the funnel casing on firing from the foremost or the midship tubes. Tests were called for to see if the same were true in other units.{{ARTS1909|p. 33}} | |||
==Armament== | ==Armament== | ||
* Two 12-pdr guns, | The tiny 3-pdr weaponry of the "160 Footers" was replaced by a much more powerful 12-pdr weapon. | ||
* Three 18-in | |||
* Two 12-pdr guns, seemingly on P. I mountings.{{INF}} | |||
* Three [[18-in Light Pattern A.W. Torpedo Tube (UK)|18-in Light Pattern A.W. Torpedo Tubes]]{{UKTorpM1909III|pp. 233}} on the centreline, one right aft. | |||
In late-1913, the 12-pdr mountings were equipped with percussion firing gear.{{AWO1913|430 of 1 Aug, 1913}} | In late-1913, the 12-pdr mountings were equipped with percussion firing gear.{{AWO1913|430 of 1 Aug, 1913}} | ||
==Career== | |||
It was decided in June 1914 that these ships were not to be fitted with searchlight control.{{AWO1914|43 of 19 June, 1914}} | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
{{refbegin}} | |||
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket-class_coastal_destroyer}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
| Line 299: | Line 320: | ||
cat=FirstClassTorpedoBoat | cat=FirstClassTorpedoBoat | ||
type=first-class torpedo boat | type=first-class torpedo boat | ||
prefix=H.M. | |||
chain=Torpedo Boats,First-class Torpedo Boats | chain=Torpedo Boats,First-class Torpedo Boats | ||
| Line 309: | Line 331: | ||
name=T.B. 1 | name=T.B. 1 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[J. | builder=[[J. Samuel White]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=late 1905{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=late 1905{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=23 1 | launch=23 1 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 324: | Line 346: | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=11 3 | launch=11 3 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
fatedate=1920{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | fatedate=1920{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
} | } | ||
{ship | {ship | ||
| Line 337: | Line 358: | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=1 9 | launch=1 9 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 350: | Line 371: | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=30 10 | launch=30 10 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 363: | Line 384: | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=15 12 | launch=15 12 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 373: | Line 394: | ||
name=T.B. 6 | name=T.B. 6 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=24 6 | launch=24 6 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 386: | Line 407: | ||
name=T.B. 7 | name=T.B. 7 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=20 12 | launch=20 12 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 398: | Line 419: | ||
name=T.B. 8 | name=T.B. 8 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=1 12 | launch=1 12 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 410: | Line 431: | ||
name=T.B. 9 | name=T.B. 9 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=18 3 | launch=18 3 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Collision | fate=Collision | ||
fatedate= | fate2=in North Sea | ||
fatedate=26 7 1916{{DittColl|p. 81}} | |||
} | } | ||
| Line 422: | Line 444: | ||
name=T.B. 10 | name=T.B. 10 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=15 2 | launch=15 2 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Mined | fate=Mined | ||
fate2=in North Sea | |||
fatedate=10 6 15{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | fatedate=10 6 15{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
} | } | ||
| Line 435: | Line 458: | ||
name=T.B. 11 | name=T.B. 11 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Yarrow]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[Yarrow & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=29 1 | launch=29 1 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Mined | fate=Mined | ||
fate2=in North Sea | |||
fatedate=7 3 16{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | fatedate=7 3 16{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
} | } | ||
| Line 451: | Line 475: | ||
order=" | order=" | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=15 3 | launch=15 3 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Mined | fate=Mined | ||
fate2=in North Sea | |||
fatedate=10 6 15{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | fatedate=10 6 15{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
} | } | ||
| Line 465: | Line 490: | ||
name=T.B. 13 | name=T.B. 13 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[J. | builder=[[J. Samuel White]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=10 7 | launch=10 7 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Collision | fate=Collision | ||
fate2=in North Sea | |||
fatedate=26 1 16{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | fatedate=26 1 16{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
} | } | ||
| Line 481: | Line 507: | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=26 9 | launch=26 9 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 494: | Line 520: | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=19 11 | launch=19 11 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 507: | Line 533: | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=23 12 | launch=23 12 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 517: | Line 543: | ||
name=T.B. 17 | name=T.B. 17 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Denny]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[William Denny & Brothers]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=21 12 | launch=21 12 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 543: | Line 569: | ||
name=T.B. 19 | name=T.B. 19 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
launch=7 12 | launch=7 12 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
comm= | comm= | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
| Line 569: | Line 595: | ||
name=T.B. 21 | name=T.B. 21 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
| Line 595: | Line 621: | ||
name=T.B. 23 | name=T.B. 23 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Yarrow]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[Yarrow & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
| Line 608: | Line 634: | ||
name=T.B. 24 | name=T.B. 24 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Palmer]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=November 1906{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
| Line 626: | Line 652: | ||
name=T.B. 25 | name=T.B. 25 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[J. | builder=[[J. Samuel White]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
| Line 678: | Line 704: | ||
name=T.B. 29 | name=T.B. 29 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Denny]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[William Denny & Brothers]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
| Line 704: | Line 730: | ||
name=T.B. 31 | name=T.B. 31 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
| Line 730: | Line 756: | ||
name=T.B. 33 | name=T.B. 33 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
| Line 756: | Line 782: | ||
name=T.B. 35 | name=T.B. 35 | ||
pend= | pend= | ||
builder=[[Palmer]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | builder=[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | order=September 1907{{Conways1906|p. 72}} | ||
laid= | laid= | ||
Latest revision as of 23:23, 6 April 2024
The thirty-six Cricket Class Torpedo Boats were originally dubbed "coastal destroyers", but were reclassified as first-class torpedo boats before 1907. They were often referred to as "the oily wads" due to their oil-burning nature.
The first twelve ordered were given names but were re-numbered - confusingly - as T.B. 1-12 as part of the denigration to torpedo boats.
Two additional orders of twelve boats each followed, and these boats never had names, but only numbers T.B. 13-36.[1]
The "Crickets" were unusual in being Britain's concerted final step into delivering torpedo boats. Destroyers would take over from here, with the torpedo boat idea eventually collapsing into the truly minute Coastal Motor Boat concept.
| Overview of 36 vessels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citations for this data available on individual ship pages | |||||
| Name | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| T.B. 1 | J. Samuel White | 23 Jan, 1906 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 2 | J. Samuel White | 11 Mar, 1906 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 3 | J. Samuel White | 1 Sep, 1906 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 4 | J. Samuel White | 30 Oct, 1906 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 5 | J. Samuel White | 15 Dec, 1906 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 6 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 24 Jun, 1906 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 7 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 20 Dec, 1906 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 8 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 1 Dec, 1906 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 9 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 18 Mar, 1907 | Collision 26 Jul, 1916 | ||
| T.B. 10 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 15 Feb, 1907 | Mined 10 Jun, 1915 | ||
| T.B. 11 | Yarrow & Company | 29 Jan, 1907 | Mined 7 Mar, 1916 | ||
| T.B. 12 | Yarrow & Company | 15 Mar, 1907 | Mined 10 Jun, 1915 | ||
| T.B. 13 | J. Samuel White | 10 Jul, 1907 | Collision 26 Jan, 1916 | ||
| T.B. 14 | J. Samuel White | 26 Sep, 1907 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 15 | J. Samuel White | 19 Nov, 1907 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 16 | J. Samuel White | 23 Dec, 1907 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 17 | William Denny & Brothers | 21 Dec, 1907 | Sold 1919 | ||
| T.B. 18 | William Denny & Brothers | 15 Feb, 1908 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 19 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 7 Dec, 1907 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 20 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 21 Jan, 1908 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 21 | Hawthorn Leslie & Company | 20 Dec, 1907 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 22 | Hawthorn Leslie & Company | 1 Feb, 1908 | Sold 1920 | ||
| T.B. 23 | Yarrow & Company | 5 Dec, 1907 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 24 | Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company | 19 Mar, 1908 | Collision 28 Jan, 1917 | ||
| T.B. 25 | J. Samuel White | 28 Aug, 1908 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 26 | J. Samuel White | 28 Aug, 1908 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 27 | J. Samuel White | 28 Sep, 1908 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 28 | J. Samuel White | 29 Oct, 1908 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 29 | William Denny & Brothers | 29 Sep, 1908 | Sold 1919 | ||
| T.B. 30 | William Denny & Brothers | 29 Sep, 1908 | Sold 1919 | ||
| T.B. 31 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 10 Oct, 1908 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 32 | John I. Thornycroft & Company | 23 Nov, 1908 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 33 | Hawthorn Leslie & Company | 22 Feb, 1909 | Sold 1922 | ||
| T.B. 34 | Hawthorn Leslie & Company | 22 Feb, 1909 | Sold 1921 | ||
| T.B. 35 | Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company | 19 Apr, 1909 | Sold 1922 | ||
| T.B. 36 | Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company | 6 May, 1909 | Sold 1921 | ||
Design and Construction
The small vessels had three screws and were oil-fired. One commander regarded these as a great step up from the 27- and 30-knotters he'd served in previously.
The middle shaft had a smaller propellor, and this was the only one which could be reversed, offering deficient backing power and denying them the enhanced manoeuvrability achievable in other ships by backing down an outer engine.
A large wardroom was provided for the captain and his two officers. In most ships, this was partitioned by private expenditures to offer the captain his own room, entered by an overhead ammunition hatch.
The last twelve ships boasted a steam capstan in place of the meager hand-worked ones in the other units.[2]
Tests performed in T.B. 33 in 1909 determined that Mark VI* H. torpedoes fitted with pioneers (a type of net-penetrating head apputenance) would not clear obstructions such as the funnel casing on firing from the foremost or the midship tubes. Tests were called for to see if the same were true in other units.[3]
Armament
The tiny 3-pdr weaponry of the "160 Footers" was replaced by a much more powerful 12-pdr weapon.
- Two 12-pdr guns, seemingly on P. I mountings.[Inference]
- Three 18-in Light Pattern A.W. Torpedo Tubes[4] on the centreline, one right aft.
In late-1913, the 12-pdr mountings were equipped with percussion firing gear.[5]
Career
It was decided in June 1914 that these ships were not to be fitted with searchlight control.[6]
See Also
Footnotes
Bibliography
| Cricket Class First-class Torpedo Boat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1905 Order | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 1 | T.B. 2 | T.B. 3 | T.B. 4 | T.B. 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 6 | T.B. 7 | T.B. 8 | T.B. 9 | T.B. 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 11 | T.B. 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1906 Order | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 13 | T.B. 14 | T.B. 15 | T.B. 16 | T.B. 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 18 | T.B. 19 | T.B. 20 | T.B. 21 | T.B. 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 23 | T.B. 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 1907 Order | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 25 | T.B. 26 | T.B. 27 | T.B. 28 | T.B. 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 30 | T.B. 31 | T.B. 32 | T.B. 33 | T.B. 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T.B. 35 | T.B. 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <– | T.B. 114 Class | Torpedo Boats (UK) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <– | T.B. 114 Class | First-class Torpedo Boats (UK) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
