#gunboat

HTMS Sukhothai was a gunboat of the Royal Siamese Navy, built in the United Kingdom by Vickers Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness. Laid down in December 1928 she was launched in 1929 and entered service in December 1930. The vessel formed part of Siam’s efforts to modernise its naval forces during the reign of King Vajiravudh and the early years of King Prajadhipok.

Designed primarily for coastal defence and patrol duties, HTMS Sukhothai displaced around 1,000 tonnes and was armed with a battery of medium-calibre naval guns suitable for protecting Siam’s coastline and maritime approaches. Although modest in size compared with contemporary cruisers and destroyers, she represented a significant enhancement of Siam’s naval capabilities and was among the most modern warships in the fleet at the time of her commissioning.

Throughout her career, Sukhothai undertook routine patrols, training exercises, and ceremonial duties. She served during a period of considerable political and military change in Siam, including the 1932 revolution that transformed the country from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy.

Gunboat

Gunboat Philadelphia

Wreck of HMS Vixen off Bermuda, 1896

Built in England in 1864, then launched to sea three years later, the HMS Vixen was a behemoth gunboat whose hull was completely covered in teakwood, which is popular on today’s boat decks. Supposedly, the boat was the slowest ironclad vessel in the Royal Navy.

Whether or not that’s true doesn’t matter, just the outcome—after sea trials, Vixen and her sister, Viper, were considered too slow and were deemed unseaworthy. They were each towed to Bermuda in 1888 to serve as defense ships. By 1896, the ship’s machinery and engines had all been removed, and Vixen was sunk to block a narrow channel off Daniel’s Bay at the west end of Bermuda to prevent torpedo attacks. In the process, friendly ships were also shooed off.