HNoMS Nor (1878)

Vale-class gunboat
History
Norway
NameNor
NamesakeNórmythological co-founder of Norway
BuilderKarljohansverns Verft Naval Yard in Horten
Launched23 October 1878
Commissioned1878
Decommissioned1945
Out of service14 April 1940
FateDecommissioned and sold to civilian interests in 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeVale-class Rendel gunboat
Displacement260 tons
Length28 m (91.86 ft)
Propulsion220 hp steam engine
Speed8.5 knots (15.74 km/h)
Complement41 (31 after rebuild)
Armament
  • As built:
  • 1 × 21 cm (10.5 inch) RML gun
  • 1 × 1pdr (cm / inch) QF gun
  • 1 × 1pdr (cm / inch) revolving gun
  • After rebuild:
  • 1 × 12 cm (4.72 inch) gun
  • 1 × 47 mm (1.85 inch)
  • 2 × 37 mm (1.46 inch) guns
  • 50 mines

HNoMS Nor was a Vale-class Rendel gunboat built for the Royal Norwegian Navy at Horten Naval Yard in 1878. She was one of a class of five gunboats - the other ships in the class were Vale, Brage, Uller and Vidar.

Nor 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 Nor and her sister ships was rebuilt as mine layers, and she served in this role when the Germans invaded in 1940. During the Norwegian Campaign she served mainly in Sognefjorden. She was captured by German forces on 14 April 1940, and returned to Norway after the war.

The vessel was built at the Naval Yard at Horten, and had yard number 57. After being decommissioned in 1945 the ship was sold to a civilian company in 1949, converted to a salvage ship/tug and renamed Flatholm.[1]

  1. ^ Abelsen, Frank: Norwegian naval ships 1939-1945, Sem & Stenersen AS, Oslo 1986, ISBN 82-7046-050-8 (in English and Norwegian)