Song Me Kong class, Indochinese Patrol Boat laid down 1935
These ex-German patrol boats were donated by Germany to the Patrouille Navale in 1943. They were refitted for Indochinese service prior to their activation.
Displacement:
287 t light; 299 t standard; 337 t normal; 366 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
180.45 ft / 180.45 ft x 18.04 ft x 6.89 ft (normal load)
55.00 m / 55.00 m x 5.50 m x 2.10 m
Armament:
1 - 2.95" / 75.0 mm guns in single mounts, 12.87lbs / 5.84kg shells, 1943 Model
Dual purpose gun in deck mount
on centreline forward
2 - 1.57" / 40.0 mm guns (1x2 guns), 1.95lbs / 0.88kg shells, 1943 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mount
on centreline aft, all raised guns - superfiring
8 - 0.79" / 20.0 mm guns in single mounts, 0.24lbs / 0.11kg shells, 1935 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 19 lbs / 8 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 380
Armour:
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0.79" / 20 mm - -
2nd: 0.79" / 20 mm - -
3rd: 0.39" / 10 mm - -
- Conning tower: 1.18" / 30 mm
Machinery:
Diesel Internal combustion motors,
Geared drive, 2 shafts, 5,598 shp / 4,176 Kw = 25.00 kts
Range 4,000nm at 12.00 kts
Bunker at max displacement = 67 tons
Complement:
39 - 51
Cost:
£0.168 million / $0.672 million
Distribution of weights at normal displacement:
Armament: 2 tons, 0.7 %
Armour: 3 tons, 1.0 %
- Belts: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Torpedo bulkhead: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Armament: 2 tons, 0.6 %
- Armour Deck: 0 tons, 0.0 %
- Conning Tower: 1 tons, 0.4 %
Machinery: 150 tons, 44.5 %
Hull, fittings & equipment: 112 tons, 33.3 %
Fuel, ammunition & stores: 49 tons, 14.6 %
Miscellaneous weights: 20 tons, 5.9 %
Overall survivability and seakeeping ability:
Survivability (Non-critical penetrating hits needed to sink ship):
128 lbs / 58 Kg = 9.9 x 3.0 " / 75 mm shells or 0.2 torpedoes
Stability (Unstable if below 1.00): 1.16
Metacentric height 0.5 ft / 0.2 m
Roll period: 10.6 seconds
Steadiness - As gun platform (Average = 50 %): 61 %
- Recoil effect (Restricted arc if above 1.00): 0.12
Seaboat quality (Average = 1.00): 1.52
Hull form characteristics:
Hull has raised forecastle
and transom stern
Block coefficient: 0.525
Length to Beam Ratio: 10.00 : 1
'Natural speed' for length: 15.29 kts
Power going to wave formation at top speed: 72 %
Trim (Max stability = 0, Max steadiness = 100): 40
Bow angle (Positive = bow angles forward): 0.00 degrees
Stern overhang: 0.00 ft / 0.00 m
Freeboard (% = measuring location as a percentage of overall length):
- Stem: 20.51 ft / 6.25 m
- Forecastle (35 %): 19.69 ft / 6.00 m (8.20 ft / 2.50 m aft of break)
- Mid (50 %): 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Quarterdeck (15 %): 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Stern: 8.20 ft / 2.50 m
- Average freeboard: 12.34 ft / 3.76 m
Ship space, strength and comments:
Space - Hull below water (magazines/engines, low = better): 156.9 %
- Above water (accommodation/working, high = better): 92.5 %
Waterplane Area: 2,310 Square feet or 215 Square metres
Displacement factor (Displacement / loading): 93 %
Structure weight / hull surface area: 16 lbs/sq ft or 80 Kg/sq metre
Hull strength (Relative):
- Cross-sectional: 0.50
- Longitudinal: 8.98
- Overall: 0.66
Hull space for machinery, storage, compartmentation is cramped
Room for accommodation and workspaces is adequate
Excellent seaboat, comfortable, can fire her guns in the heaviest weather
Breakdown of Miscellaneous Weights:
- 2 tons for DRBN-1 navigational surface and air search radar
- 2 tons for hydrophones
- 10 tons for depth charges (36x573-lb bombs)
- 6 tons for tropicalization
Ships in Class:
- Song Me Kong
- Song Hau
- Song Huong
- Song Hong
- Song Lo
- Song Da
List of Refit Changes:
- 2x88mm guns replaced with one 75mm gun.
- Radar added and hydrophones updated.
- Modernization of living spaces.
- 43 tons each to refit.