Using a Time Machine,lets travel back in time and stop to year 1880.In that year, the first indigenous developed armoured cruiser was appeared in paper, designed by naval arcitecture Nikolaos Tompazis.
Curiously, she was classified as a battleship,perhaps for politics. Anyway, the design was given the ok from Navy Commander, funding was ready and in 1882 first piece of her keel manufactured in Vasiliades Shipyard, the only shipyard in that time of Hellenic Kingdom capable of building iron structures. These cruisers were 100% home built and featured some old characteristics, such as the round-shaped, steam driven gun turrets (Aris Vasiliades himshelf was nicknamed "master of steam") and its steam engines, which could be traced back in 1850's. But this design was a proven, very succesful design of Vasiliades team, built now in larger scale. The name of the first ship was Hydra (Ύδρα) from the island, as all four ships of the class. The ships were known, however, as "Battleship Type Tompazis I".
Hydra was ready for trials in late 1886, she exceed actually her theoritical speed of 17.5kn with full load of coal, achieving 18.2kn at Saronikos Bay. Last ship,named Samos (Σάμος) was ready in 1894. In mid 1900's the turrets converted to electric power, together with a small modernisation. Tombazis I class was finally decommisioned in 1920 and scrapped, except for one ship which was preserved but unfortunately destroyed completely during WW2 by German bombers.
Some specifications:
Dimensions : 107.5m X 16.8m X 7m
Displacement: ~5600tn
Armour : 30-80mm
Armament : Two double 270mm turrets, four double 152mm side turrets, four fixed underwater torpedo tubes (2 facing aft and two foward),smaller guns (not decided yet).
Propulsion: 8 Vasiliades boilers, 2 reciprocating steam engines,7200hp total
Speed: Max 17.5kn (18.2kn trials)
The design is inspired from Haram No.1, but only turrets are coming directly from her. Small boats were added by Navarchos,as also anchors and masts.
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