NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Hecla 1880s  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Hecla (ex-British Crown)	7A, C7		Harland & Wolff, Belfast		7.3.1878	10/1878	destroyer depot ship 1912

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	6400
Displacement full, t
Length, m	119.6 pp
Breadth, m	11.8
Draught, m	6.89
No of shafts	2
Machinery	sails + 2 2-cyl HIC, boilers
Power, h. p.	1758
Max speed, kts	12.1
Fuel, t	coal 2200
Endurance, nm(kts)	26400(10)
Armament	5 x 1 - 160/16 64pdr 71cwt MLR, 1 x 1 - 121/21 40pdr 35cwt BL, 4 2nd class torpedo boats
Complement	277

Graphics

Project history

Hecla was the merchant ship British Crown purchased whilst building. She carried a number of Second Class TBs, and was fitted to service other TBs and to see to the torpedo and mining needs of a fleet. She served with the Mediterranean Fleet, and was commanded by a succession of distinguished officers who were amongst the leading torpedo specialists. Many of the most important experiments in torpedo tactics were carried out under their control. Had war come no doubt the Hecla and Vulcan would have proved useful launching strikes with their small TBs against enemy bases.     Hecla was described as a 'torpedo depot ship and floating factory'.

Modernizations

1880s: - 1 x 1 - 160/16; + 1 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk I/II

Naval service

In 1912 Hecla was converted to destroyer depot ship and sold to BU in July, 1926.