Brēcæn Class Steam Screw Tug

Brēcæn Class Steam Screw Tug, 1866

2px = 1ft
Class overview
Builders:	Brecanburg Shipwright Company
Operators:	Hatathurg Timber Co.
Subclasses:	3+
Built:	1866-1878
In service:	1866-1932
Completed:	96
Lost:	3
Retired:	82
Scrapped:	82
Preserved:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Steam Screw Tugboat
Displacement:	~120 t
Length:	86 ft
Beam:	25.2 ft
Height:	41 ft (WL-Mast)
Draft:	8.5 ft
Installed power:	400 ihp
Propulsion:	Twin-Cylinder Double-Acting Reciprocating Steam Engine
Speed:	9 knots
Capacity:	3 t bollard pull
Crew:	5-12

Starting in 1864, the Brēcænburg Scipwyrhta Intinga (Hereafter: BSI), started a design for a new class of steam screw driven harbour and river tugs for the local market. The final design called for a full iron riveted hull, to contain a Fæstēah Īsen-Weorces Anlepe-Þȳrel Wiellanere, which would drive Fasteah Iron-Works latest two-cylinder double acting reciprocating steam engine; The Twa-Þȳrel Twīges Dōnung Ymelung Stēam Engin Bisen 1865.

The first of its class, Brēcæn, was launched on the 9th of March 1866, which was purchased mid-way through construction by the Hatathurg Timber Co., for their inland river operations. In total, 96 of the class and its sub-classes would be produced, by a myriad of companies both domestic and foreign, between 1866 and 1878.

Tāddepol Subclass

The Tāddepol Subclass traces its roots to a custom requirement from the Hātaþurg Holt Int. (Hereafter: HHI), for increased visibility for navigation on the tight rivers, which the company was required to operate on. However, the alteration would prove popular among BSI's other customers, specifically the foreign market on the continent of Abyaala, and would see numerous examples sold there.

Later examples sold would see upgrades to the powerplant, in the form of a more efficient steam engine and boiler, with the last of the class being sold as an upgraded Tāddepol in 1878.

Other schemes
Black iron oxide anti-foul, for harbour and river use. A later variant of the Brēcæn class, last purchase by HHI.

Exports

Themiclesian examples

Themiclesia was experiencing a surge in coastal economic activity during the 1870s, propelled by Themiclesian migration away from the interior, which led to falling labour costs associated with coastal work; The resulting explosion in coastal industry lead to the need for support vessels for use in the harbours, specifically tugboats, and was urgent in nature. Local yards could not fulfil requirements quickly enough, and thus Themiclesia looked abroad for options.

Themiclesian industrialists hailing from Tonning, concerned with the lack of harbour tugs, were keenly watching the success of the Brēcæn tugboats in the western hemisphere, as they had proven themselves robust and effective in the years prior to 1870; So it was eventually decided to approach BSI with an order, where a deal would be struck on the 19th of January 1870, for 3 Brēcæn class vessels. The vessels, 001, 002, and 003, were completed on the 27th of September, 15th of October, and the 2nd of November respectively; They were delivered together via floating drydock in the spring of 1871, on March 25th.

During the initial orders delivery, the Themiclesian city of Gopple caught the attention of BSI, which was also experiencing similar economic growth; BSI sent representatives to Gopple whom had travelled to make the delivery to Tonning, and would eventually strike a deal which saw the further order of 2 Tāddepol Brēcæn class for use in the harbour. These vessels, 014, and 015, were ordered on March 30th 1871, and completed on the 21st and 27th of November respectively; They too would be delivered via floating drydock on February 28th 1871.

Themiclesian Brēcæns
Batch 1	Batch 2
001 002 003	014 015

001 through 003 featured a copper sheathed anti-foul, which was traditional in Themiclesia, though this did add approximately 2 tons to the displacement of the vessels. 014 and 015 featured a lead sheathing due to cost and corrosion concerns, although this further increased displacement it was deemed preferable by the customer. To overcome the galvanic corrosion issues of dissimilar metals, the hull was insulated from the sheathing via non-conductive painting of the hull; The usual black iron-oxide pigment was replaced with an organic substitute, which prevented the hull from being in electrical contact with the sheathing. The lead sheathed vessels were less prone to the corrosion due to the lesser galvanic potential between iron and lead.

Export numbers

Orders by nation and class
Nation	Brēcæn class	Tāddepol class
Abricomônt	3
Bēniran	6	10
Federiko	2	1
Menghe	3
Serenese Leo Terra		6
Themiclesia	3	2

Etymology

The name of the class, Brēcæn, originates from the city of Brēcænburg, which itself was founded in 850AD by Æþelric I of Æþeldōm, whose father was Fȳrfolc, and whose mother was Fēþfolc; Brēcænburg was founded in memory of his beloved hound, Brēcæn, who passed away at 13 years of age, after leading Æþelric across Erecg-Wīnya to the fertile river lands upon which Brēcænburg was founded.

Artists Rendition of Brēcæn