Szybki patrolowiec pomocniczy

Kolejna jednostka wcielona do floty polskiej to pomocniczy patrolowiec, „w cywilu” będący szybkim jachtem parowym. Okręt został uzbrojony w 2 szybkostrzelne działka 6-funtowe i rozwija przyzwoitą jak na zaadaptowaną jednostkę cywilną prędkość 18,5 w.

Wybuch wojny zastał jednostkę w rejsie dalekomorskim, na środkowym Atlantyku. Z końcem  lipca 1914 r. jacht zawinął do Monrowii w Nowej Kurlandii, gdzie został przejęty przez władze i pospiesznie przystosowany do pełnienia roli pomocniczego patrolowca.   

Orfeusz, polish auxiliary patrol boat laid down 1900, mobilized 1914

Displacement:

499 t light; 514 t standard; 642 t normal; 745 t full load

Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught

160,68 ft / 143,70 ft x 26,35 ft x 12,50 ft (normal load)

48,97 m / 43,80 m x 8,03 m  x 3,81 m

Armament:

      2 - 2,24" / 57,0 mm guns in single mounts, 5,65lbs / 2,56kg shells, 1885 Model

 Quick firing guns in deck mounts 

 on centreline ends, evenly spread, 1 raised mount

Weight of broadside 11 lbs / 5 kg

Shells per gun, main battery: 300

Machinery:

Coal fired boilers, complex reciprocating steam engines, 

Direct drive, 1 shaft, 3 421 ihp / 2 552 Kw = 18,50 kts

Range 4 680nm at 10,00 kts

Bunker at max displacement = 231 tons (100% coal)

Complement:

82

Cost:

£0,066 million / $0,263 million

Distribution of weights at normal displacement:

Armament: 1 tons, 0,2%

Machinery: 336 tons, 52,3%

Hull, fittings & equipment: 147 tons, 22,9%

Fuel, ammunition & stores: 143 tons, 22,3%

Miscellaneous weights: 15 tons, 2,3%

Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:

Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):

 241 lbs / 109 Kg = 42,6 x 2,2 " / 57 mm shells or 0,2 torpedoes

Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1,61

Metacentric height 1,5 ft / 0,5 m

Roll period: 9,0 seconds

Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 35 %

- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0,01

Seaboat quality  (Average = 1.00): 0,50

Hull form characteristics:

Hull has a flush deck

Block coefficient: 0,475

Length to Beam Ratio: 5,45 : 1

'Natural speed' for length: 11,99 kts

Power going to wave formation at top speed: 70 %

Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 50

Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 21,00 degrees

Stern overhang: 12,96 ft / 3,95 m

Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):

  - Stem: 10,47 ft / 3,19 m

  - Forecastle (14%): 8,46 ft / 2,58 m

  - Mid (50%): 6,99 ft / 2,13 m

  - Quarterdeck (22%): 6,99 ft / 2,13 m

  - Stern: 9,97 ft / 3,04 m

  - Average freeboard: 7,91 ft / 2,41 m

Ship tends to be wet forward

Ship space, strength and comments:

Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 173,2%

- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 52,8%

Waterplane Area: 2 360 Square feet or 219 Square metres

Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 59%

Structure weight / hull surface area: 35 lbs/sq ft or 169 Kg/sq metre

Hull strength (Relative):

- Cross-sectional: 0,85

- Longitudinal: 3,92

- Overall: 1,00

Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped

Room for accommodation and workspaces is cramped

Caution: Lacks seaworthiness - very limited seakeeping ability