HNoMS ''Harald Haarfagre'', known locally as ''Panserskipet Harald Haarfagre'', was a Norwegian

coastal defence ship Coastal defence ships (sometimes called coastal battleships or coast defence ships) were warships built for the purpose of coastal defence, mostly during the period from 1860 to 1920. They were small, often cruiser-sized warships that sacrifi ...

. She, her sister ship and the slightly newer were built as part of the general rearmament in the time leading up to the events in 1905. ''Harald Haarfagre'' remained an important vessel in the Royal Norwegian Navy until she was considered unfit for war in the mid-1930s.

Description

Built at Elswick and nearly identical to her sister ship , ''Harald Haarfagre'' was named after Harald I of Norway, known as "Harald Fairhair" in English, the semi-mythical first king of a united Norway. Built as a typical

pre-dreadnought Pre-dreadnought battleships were sea-going battleships built between the mid- to late- 1880s and 1905, before the launch of in 1906. The pre-dreadnought ships replaced the ironclad battleships of the 1870s and 1880s. Built from steel, protec ...

battleship on a smaller scale, she carried guns of a wide range of calibers: two 8.2-inch guns in

barbette Barbettes are several types of gun emplacement in terrestrial fortifications or on naval ships. In recent naval usage, a barbette is a protective circular armour support for a heavy gun turret. This evolved from earlier forms of gun protectio ...

s, six 4.7-inch, six 3-inch, and six smaller quick-firing guns. The ship could manage a speed of over seventeen knots. Protected by

belt armor Belt armor is a layer of heavy metal armor plated onto or within the outer hulls of warships, typically on battleships, battlecruisers and cruisers, and aircraft carriers. The belt armor is designed to prevent projectiles from penetrating to ...

of seven inches thickness, the ship also featured gun barbettes with nearly eight inches of steel armor and an armored deck.

Service history and fate

A vital part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, ''Harald Haarfagre'' performed ordinary duties until she was considered "unfit for war" in the mid-1930s and disarmed. After the

German invasion of Norway German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **G ...

, she was seized by the Germans and rebuilt as a floating flak battery under the name ''Thetis''. After the war ''Harald Haarfagre'' was used briefly as a floating barracks, and for transporting German POWs, before she was sold for scrapping in 1948. It was intended to augment the Norwegian Panserskip fleet with the two ships of the , ordered in 1912, but after these were compulsorily purchased by the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

at the outbreak of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, the ''Tordenskjold'' class and the slightly newer, two ship, remained in service the Norwegian navy long after they were obsolete due to a lack of suitable replacements. Today the name KNM ''Harald Haarfagre'' is used on the

Royal Norwegian Navy The Royal Norwegian Navy ( no, Sjøforsvaret, , Sea defence) is the branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces responsible for naval operations of Norway. , the Royal Norwegian Navy consists of approximately 3,700 personnel (9,450 in mobilized state, ...

and

Royal Norwegian Air Force The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) ( no, Luftforsvaret, , The Air Defence) is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peacetime establishment is approximatel ...

Basic Training Establishment, located in Madla, Stavanger.

Footnotes

Bibliography

* Tordenskjold-class coastal defence ships Ships built on the River Tyne 1897 ships World War II coastal defence ships of Norway Naval ships of Norway captured by Germany during World War II Auxiliary ships of the Kriegsmarine World War II coastal defense ships of Germany {{Norway-mil-ship-stub