HSwMS Sjölejonet (1936)
HSwMS Sjölejonet was the lead ship of a class of nine naval submarines in the service of the Swedish Navy from just before World War II into the early Cold War. The submarines were ordered in response to the rising German threat to the south in the interwar period. Sjölejonet remained in service until 1959 and was sold for scrap in 1962.
Background and description
[ಸಂಪೊಲಿಪುಲೆ]After 1930 the rise of the German threat to the south produced more investment in Sweden's military. The Swedish Navy was given more funds and new submarine designs were ordered.[೧] Sjölejonet was the lead ship of her class of submariness. The vessel measured 64.2 metres (210 ft 8 in) long with a beam of 6.4 m (21 ft 0 in) and a draught of 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in). Sjölejonet had a standard displacement of 590 tonnes (580 long tons) and 770 t (760 long tons) submerged. The vessel was propelled by two propellers powered by two MAN diesel engines when surfaced creating ಟೆಂಪ್ಲೇಟ್:Cvt and two electric motors when submerged rated at ಟೆಂಪ್ಲೇಟ್:Cvt. This gave the submarine a maximum speed of 16.2 knots (30.0 km/h; 18.6 mph) surfaced and 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) submerged. The submarine had a crew of 38. Sjölejonet was armed with six 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, three of which were situated in the bow, one in the stern and the remaining two in a single traversing deck mounting. For anti-aircraft defence, the submarines had two [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|ಟೆಂಪ್ಲೇಟ್:Cvt guns]] in disappearing mounts.[೨]
In the 1950s, Sjölejonet underwent a major refit where the guns and deck torpedo tubes were removed and the conning tower was streamlined.[೨] The submarine's displacements remained the same, now 660 tonnes (650 long tons) surfaced and the diesels capable of ಟೆಂಪ್ಲೇಟ್:Cvt and electric motors ಟೆಂಪ್ಲೇಟ್:Cvt, but only a maximum speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) surfaced. The number of crew was reduced to 32.[೩][lower-alpha ೧]
Construction and career
[ಸಂಪೊಲಿಪುಲೆ]Constructed by Kockums MV A/Bat their shipyard in Malmö, Sweden, Sjölejonet's keel was laid down in 1935. The submarine was launched on 25 July 1936 and was commissioned on 21 August 1938. The submarine remained in service until stricken on 15 May 1959.[೨] The vessel was sold for scrap in 1962.[೪]
Notes
[ಸಂಪೊಲಿಪುಲೆ]Citations
[ಸಂಪೊಲಿಪುಲೆ]- ↑ Westerlund 1980, p. 368.
- ↑ ೨.೦ ೨.೧ ೨.೨ Westerlund 1980, p. 374.
- ↑ ೩.೦ ೩.೧ Blackman 1953, p. 347.
- ↑ Westerlund & Chumbley 1995, p. 443.
References
[ಸಂಪೊಲಿಪುಲೆ]- Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. London: Sampson, Low and Marston. OCLC 913556389.
- Westerlund, Karl-Erik (1980). "Sweden". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 368–377. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Westerlund, Karl-Erik & Chumbley, Stephen C. (1995). "Sweden". In Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 443–453. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.