The ''Vale'' class was a class of five Rendel (or "flat-iron") gunboats built for 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, ...

between 1874 and 1878. Small, nimble vessels, they were armed with a single large calibre muzzle-loading gun for offensive purposes and several small, quick firing guns for self-defence.

Service history

Shortly before 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 five vessels were rebuilt as

minelayer A minelayer is any warship, submarine or military aircraft deploying explosive mines. Since World War I the term "minelayer" refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines. "Mine planting" was the term for installing control ...

s. During this rebuild, the heavy muzzle-loading gun was replaced with a more modern 12 cm breech-loader, and on ''Nor'' and ''Vidar'' one of the 37 mm guns was replaced with a more potent 47 mm gun. Since the heavy gun and ammunition was removed, these diminutive vessels could carry a useful number of mines. All vessels were kept in service until the

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in 1940 and with the exception of ''Uller'', which was sunk by the

Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service The Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service ( no, Marinens flyvevesen) was alongside the Norwegian Army Air Service the forerunner to the modern-day Royal Norwegian Air Force. History The RNNAS was established on 1 June 1912,Official Norwegian Defence ...

after capture by the Germans, they all spent the remainder of the war in German hands. After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

the vessels were returned to the Royal Norwegian Navy, and scrapped over the course of the next few years.

Ships

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References

Naval history via Flix: KNM Vale
retrieved 27 February 2006
Byggenummer ved Horten verft
retrieved 27 February 2006

, retrieved 27 February 2006 {{Norwegian gunships Gunboat classes Mine warfare vessel classes