Yugoslav torpedo boat T3

The Yugoslav torpedo boat T3 was a torpedo boat built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy as Tb 78 T in 1914. She saw active service during World War I, and after the defeat of Austria-Hungary in 1918, she was allocated to the Royal Yugoslav Navy (Kraljevska Jugoslovenska Ratna Mornarica; Кpaљeвcкa Југословенска Pатна Морнарица) and was renamed T3. During the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, it was captured by the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) and saw active service under its Yugoslav designation. Following the Italian capitulation in September 1943, she was captured by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) and redesignated TA48. In German service her crew consisted entirely of Croatian officers and enlisted men. She was sunk by the Royal Air Force in February 1945 while in the port of Trieste.

Background
In 1910, the Austria-Hungary Naval Technical Committee initiated the design and development of a 275 LT coastal torpedo boat, specifying that it should be capable of sustaining 30 kn for 10 hours. This specification was based an expectation that the Strait of Otranto, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea, would be blockaded by hostile forces during a future conflict. In such circumstances, there would be a need for a torpedo boat that could sail from the Austro-Hungarian Navy base at Cattaro to the Strait during darkness, locate and attack blockading ships and return to port before morning. Turbine power was selected for propulsion. Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino of Trieste was selected for the contract to build eight vessels, ahead of one other tenderer.

Description and construction
The boats had an overall length of 57.8 m, a beam of 5.8 m, and a normal draught of 1.5 m. While their designed displacement was 262 LT, they displaced 267.3 LT fully loaded. The crew consisted of 41 officers and enlisted men. The boats were powered by a Parsons steam turbine driving two propellors, using steam generated by a pair of Yarrow water-tube boilers, using a mixture of coal and fuel oil. The turbine was rated at 5000 shp and designed to reach a top speed of 28 kn. They carried enough coal and fuel oil to give them a range of 220 nmi at 20 kn.

The boats were originally to be armed with three 30-calibre 66 mm guns, but this was reduced to two before the first boat was completed. They were also equipped with two 450 mm torpedo tubes. Tb 78 T was the fifth of its class, and was launched on 4 March 1914. In 1914, one 8 mm machine gun was added.

Career
The Tb 74 T-class were the first small Austro-Hungarian Navy boats to use turbines, and this contributed to ongoing problems with the class. During World War I, Tb 78 T was used for convoy, escort and minesweeping tasks, and anti-submarine operations, and in 1917, the 66 mm guns were placed on anti-aircraft mounts. She survived the war intact, and in 1920 she was allocated to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and re-named T3.

In April 1941, Yugoslavia was invaded by the Axis powers, and T3 was captured by the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) and was operated by them under her Yugoslav designation. When the Italians capitulated in September 1943, the Germans seized T3 in the port of Rijeka and renamed her TA48. During her time in German service she was crewed exclusively by Croatian officers and sailors, and her complement was increased to 52. The German Navy fitted her with two single 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. She was sunk in the port of Trieste by the Royal Air Force on 20 February 1945.