HNoMS Tyr (1887)

History
Norway
Name	Tyr
Namesake	Týr – god of single combat and heroic glory in Norse mythology
Builder	Karljohansvern Naval Yard in Horten
Yard number	67
Laid down	1884
Launched	16 March 1887
Commissioned	1887
Captured	by the Germans 20 April 1940
Service record
Commanders:	Captain F. Ulstrup (?-16 April 1940) Sub-Lieutenant K. Sandnæs (16–20 April 1940)
Operations:	Norwegian Campaign
Victories:	Sunk: 3 supply ships, 2 naval trawlers 1 launch Damaged: 1 e-boat 1 naval trawler 1 supply ship
Nazi Germany
Name	Tyr
Acquired	20 April 1940
Fate	Handed back to Norway after VE Day
Service record
Operations:	Norwegian Campaign Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Norway
Name	Tyr
Decommissioned	1945
Renamed	Bjørn West (1949)
Fate	Sold to civilian owners in 1946, converted into car ferry
Status	Under restoration as of 2014[update]
General characteristics as built
Class and type	Gor-class Rendel gunboat
Displacement	290 tons[1]
Length	31.8 m (104.33 ft)
Beam	8.5 m (27.89 ft)
Draft	2.2 m (7.22 ft)
Propulsion	Two 420 hp Compound steam engines
Speed	10 knots (18.52 km/h)
Complement	44 men
Armament	1 × 26cm/30 (10.2 inch) Krupp breech-loading gun 1 × 1pdr (37 mm / 1.46 inch) automatic gun[2] 2 × 1pdr (37 mm / 1.46 inch) revolving gun[3] 2 × Madsen machine gun
General characteristics after rebuild to minelayer
Displacement	290 tons[1]
Length	31.8 m (104.33 ft)
Beam	8.5 m (27.89 ft)
Draft	2.2 m (7.22 ft)
Propulsion	Two 420 hp Compound steam engines
Speed	10 knots (18.52 km/h)
Complement	38 men
Armament	1 × 12 cm (4.72 inch) gun 1 × 76 mm (2.99 inch) QF gun 2 × 37mm (1.46 inch) guns 55 mines[1]

HNoMS Tyr was a Gor-class Rendel gunboat built for the Royal Norwegian Navy at Karljohansverns Verft Naval Yard in Horten. She was laid down in 1884 and launched in 1887 with build number 67.^[4] Tyr was one of a class of two gunboats - the other ship in her class being HNoMS Gor. Gor and Tyr can be seen as improved Vale-class gunboats, of 290 tons instead of the 250 tons standard for that class.

Captured during the German invasion of Norway, she was pressed into service in an attempt to mine Sognefjord. After attacks by Norwegian aircraft and ships she took no further part in the conflict. After the war she was returned briefly to the Royal Norwegian Navy then entered civilian service in a number of roles over the years.