HNoMS Brage (1878)

Vale-class gunboat
History
Norway
NameBrage
NamesakeNorse skaldic god Bragi
BuilderThe Royal Norwegian Navy's shipyard at Horten
Launched1 November 1878
Commissioned1878
Capturedby the Germans on 9 April 1940
Germany
Acquired9 April 1940
FateHanded back to Norway after VE Day
Service record
Operations: Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Norway
NameBrage
AcquiredMay 1945
Decommissioned1945
FateScrapped in 1945
General characteristics as built
Class and typeVale-class Rendel gunboat
Displacement260 tons standard
Length28 m (91.86 ft)
Propulsion220 hp steam engine
Speed8.5 knots (15.74 km/h)
Complement41 men
Armament
  • 1 × 21 cm (10.5 inch) RML gun
  • 1 × 1pdr (cm / inch) QF gun
  • 1 × 1pdr (cm / inch) revolving gun
General characteristics after rebuild
Displacement260 tons standard
Length28 m (91.86 ft)
Propulsion220 hp steam engine
Speed8.5 knots (15.74 km/h)
Complement31 men
Armament
  • 1 × 12 cm (4.72 inch) gun
  • 3 × 37 mm (1.46 inch) guns
  • 50 mines

HNoMS Brage was a Vale-class Rendel gunboat built for the Royal Norwegian Navy at Horten Naval Yard in 1874, with build number 58. She was one of a class of five gunboats - the other ships in the class were Vale, Nor, Uller and Vidar.

Brage was, in addition to the heavy, muzzle-loading main gun, armed with a small 'Quick Fire' gun and a 37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon (broadly similar to the Gatling gun).

Later Brage, like her sister ships, was rebuilt as a minelayer, and she served in this role when the Germans invaded in 1940. She was captured by German forces after the surrender of Norwegian forces in Southern Norway, and returned to Norway after the war.