SMS Leopard
Encyclopedia
SMS Leopard was a torpedo cruiser
(Torpedoschiff) of the Austro-Hungarian Navy
. She and her sister ship, SMS Panther
, were part of a program to build up Austria-Hungary's fleet of torpedo craft
in the 1880s.
Maximilian Daublebsky von Sterneck
, outlined in a memorandum of 8 September 1884 the requirements for a torpedo ram cruiser. Such a vessel should have a reinforced bow
for ramming
as well as torpedoes for attacks on larger warships. The cruisers
would also be small and fast enough to undertake patrol and reconnaissance
duties. They were originally classified as "torpedo ships" (Torpedoschiff) - equivalent of a torpedo cruiser
in other navies. In 1903 they were reclassified as 3rd Class Cruisers, then in 1909 as small cruisers (Kleine Kreuzer).
When funds for two vessels were approved by the Austro-Hungarian Reichsrat
, bids were solicited from British builders. The order went to the firm of W.G. Armstrong of Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, and its chief designer, William White
(afterwards the British Director of Naval Construction from 1885 to 1902).
As designed by White, Leopard was a steel-hulled vessel of 1,557 tons displacement
. She measured 240 feet nine inches in length with a beam of 34 feet 11 inches and a draft (as completed) of 14 feet five inches. Propulsion
was supplied by two compound steam engines with four cylindrical boilers, giving a maximum speed of 19.4 knots. The crew numbered 186 officers and men.
Original armament of Leopard comprised two 12cm Krupp guns, four 4.7cm quick-firing guns, six 4.7cm revolver cannon and four 14-inch torpedo tubes. The torpedo tubes were located singly, in the bow, stern
, and at either beam. Leopard was built with as pronounced a ram bow as the larger Austro-Hungarian warships of the time.
, found that the ship's draft
aft was four feet 11 inches deeper than intended.
After lengthy disagreement, White (by now DNC) and the shipyard
admitted the error, which was partly offset through a redistribution a weight, reducing the excessive draft to two feet five inches.
Upon completion, Leopard was leader of a torpedo boat
flotilla
. She and Panther represented Austria-Hungary at the Barcelona World's Exposition in 1888. In 1891 Leopard's four 4.7cm quick-firing guns were replaced with ten 4.7cm guns. She was reclassified as a 3rd Class cruiser in 1903 and as a small cruiser (Kleiner Kreuzer) in 1909. Also in 1909, the aft torpedo tube was removed and four 6.6cm guns were added to her armament.
Leopard was taken out of service and placed in reserve in 1910. The Panther, however, was used for shore bombardment and as a seagoing training ship during the First World War, and
was decommissioned only weeks before Austria-Hungary's collapse. In the spring of 1915 Leopard briefly served as a training ship for the torpedo school. She was employed for subsidiary local defense at Pola
from May 1915 to November 1918. Both ships were then allocated to Britain as a war reparation in 1920, but subsequently sold and scrapped in Italy.
Torpedo gunboat
In late 19th-century naval terminology, torpedo gunboats or, in north European usage, torpedo cruisers, were a form of gunboat armed with torpedoes and designed for hunting and destroying smaller torpedo boats...
(Torpedoschiff) of the Austro-Hungarian Navy
Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....
. She and her sister ship, SMS Panther
SMS Panther (1885)
SMS Panther was a torpedo cruiser of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. She and her sister ship, Leopard, were part of a program to build up Austria-Hungary's fleet of torpedo craft in the 1880s.-Design:...
, were part of a program to build up Austria-Hungary's fleet of torpedo craft
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
in the 1880s.
Design
The Austro-Hungarian Navy Commander (Marinekommandant), Vice AdmiralAdmiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Maximilian Daublebsky von Sterneck
Maximilian Daublebsky von Sterneck
Maximilian Daublebsky Freiherr von Sterneck zu Ehrenstein was an Austrian admiral who served as the chief administrator of the Austro-Hungarian Navy from 1883 until his death.-Biography:...
, outlined in a memorandum of 8 September 1884 the requirements for a torpedo ram cruiser. Such a vessel should have a reinforced bow
Bow (ship)
The bow is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow...
for ramming
Ramming
In warfare, ramming is a technique that was used in air, sea and land combat. The term originated from battering ram, a siege weapon used to bring down fortifications by hitting it with the force of the ram's momentum...
as well as torpedoes for attacks on larger warships. The cruisers
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
would also be small and fast enough to undertake patrol and reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
duties. They were originally classified as "torpedo ships" (Torpedoschiff) - equivalent of a torpedo cruiser
Torpedo gunboat
In late 19th-century naval terminology, torpedo gunboats or, in north European usage, torpedo cruisers, were a form of gunboat armed with torpedoes and designed for hunting and destroying smaller torpedo boats...
in other navies. In 1903 they were reclassified as 3rd Class Cruisers, then in 1909 as small cruisers (Kleine Kreuzer).
When funds for two vessels were approved by the Austro-Hungarian Reichsrat
Reichsrat (Austria)
The Imperial Council of Austria from 1867 to 1918 was the parliament of the Cisleithanian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Herrenhaus and the Abgeordnetenhaus...
, bids were solicited from British builders. The order went to the firm of W.G. Armstrong of Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, and its chief designer, William White
William Henry White
Sir William Henry White was a prolific British warship designer and Chief Constructor at the Admiralty....
(afterwards the British Director of Naval Construction from 1885 to 1902).
As designed by White, Leopard was a steel-hulled vessel of 1,557 tons displacement
Displacement (ship)
A ship's displacement is its weight at any given time, generally expressed in metric tons or long tons. The term is often used to mean the ship's weight when it is loaded to its maximum capacity. A number of synonymous terms exist for this maximum weight, such as loaded displacement, full load...
. She measured 240 feet nine inches in length with a beam of 34 feet 11 inches and a draft (as completed) of 14 feet five inches. Propulsion
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet...
was supplied by two compound steam engines with four cylindrical boilers, giving a maximum speed of 19.4 knots. The crew numbered 186 officers and men.
Original armament of Leopard comprised two 12cm Krupp guns, four 4.7cm quick-firing guns, six 4.7cm revolver cannon and four 14-inch torpedo tubes. The torpedo tubes were located singly, in the bow, stern
Stern
The stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section...
, and at either beam. Leopard was built with as pronounced a ram bow as the larger Austro-Hungarian warships of the time.
Service
Leopard was launched 10 September 1885. The Austro-Hungarian supervising naval architect, Siegfried PopperSiegfried Popper
Siegfried Popper was an eminent naval architect in late-nineteenth- and early twentieth-century middle Europe.-Biography:...
, found that the ship's draft
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
aft was four feet 11 inches deeper than intended.
After lengthy disagreement, White (by now DNC) and the shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
admitted the error, which was partly offset through a redistribution a weight, reducing the excessive draft to two feet five inches.
Upon completion, Leopard was leader of a torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
flotilla
Flotilla
A flotilla , or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers...
. She and Panther represented Austria-Hungary at the Barcelona World's Exposition in 1888. In 1891 Leopard's four 4.7cm quick-firing guns were replaced with ten 4.7cm guns. She was reclassified as a 3rd Class cruiser in 1903 and as a small cruiser (Kleiner Kreuzer) in 1909. Also in 1909, the aft torpedo tube was removed and four 6.6cm guns were added to her armament.
Leopard was taken out of service and placed in reserve in 1910. The Panther, however, was used for shore bombardment and as a seagoing training ship during the First World War, and
was decommissioned only weeks before Austria-Hungary's collapse. In the spring of 1915 Leopard briefly served as a training ship for the torpedo school. She was employed for subsidiary local defense at Pola
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
from May 1915 to November 1918. Both ships were then allocated to Britain as a war reparation in 1920, but subsequently sold and scrapped in Italy.