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

Royal Norwegian Navy The Royal Norwegian Navy () is the branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces responsible for navy, naval operations of Norway, including those of the Norwegian Coast Guard. , the Royal Norwegian Navy consists of approximately 3,700 personnel (9,450 i ...

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 or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the five vessels were rebuilt as

minelayer A minelayer is any warship, submarine, military aircraft or land vehicle 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 ins ...

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

Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service The Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service () 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 Force websiteThe first ...

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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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