Engineering:Swedish Delfinen-class submarine
 HSwMS Springaren in 1935
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Delfinen class |
| Builders: | Kockums |
| Operators: |
 Swedish Navy |
| Preceded by: | Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist. |
| Succeeded by: | Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. |
| In service: | 1936–1953 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Scrapped: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Mine-laying submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 63.09 m (207 ft 0 in) |
| Beam: | 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in) |
| Draft: | 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Complement: | 34 |
| Armament: |
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The Delfinen-class was a trio of minelaying submarines operated by the Swedish Navy between 1936 and 1953. The boats were the first class of minelaying submarines in the Navy and were later used as the basis for further submarines developed immediately before and during World War II. They had an uneventful service history, and were all retired in 1953.
Development and design
Following World War I, Swedish naval authorities were impressed by the performance of German minelaying submarines. As a result, they ordered the construction of Script error: The function "ship_prefix_templates" does not exist., the first Swedish minelaying submarine. The design of Valen was followed up a decade later by the three Delfinen-class boats. Like their predecessors, the submarines were fitted with vertical tubes in the outer ballast tanks to launch naval mines.[1]: 177 Design work was undertaken by NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw, a clandestine Dutch front company intended to maintain German submarine experience to circumvent limitations placed by the Treaty of Versailles.[2]: 24,197
The design featured a length overall of 63.09 metres (207 ft 0 in), a beam of 6.40 metres (21 ft 0 in), and a draught of 3.40 metres (11 ft 2 in), with a complement of 34. Armament consisted of four 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes, three in the bow and one aft, along with a 57 mm (2.2 in) deck gun, one 25 mm (0.98 in) anti-aircraft gun, and up to 20 mines. They were powered by two MAN diesel engines and two electric motors, which developed 1,200 brake horsepower (890 kW) and 800 shaft horsepower (600 kW), respectively, which turned two propeller shafts. While surfaced, the class reached a top speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and displaced 540 tons, and when submerged, they could make 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph), and displaced 720 tons.[3]: 373
Service history
The three submarines were built by Kockums, and were all laid down in 1933. Each boat was commissioned by 1935,[3]: 373 and were later used as the basis for further Swedish submarine designs. In 1936, the minelaying tubes were removed to produce the Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. coastal submarines, and an additional stern torpedo tube was added to produce the Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist. minelaying submarine in 1942.[2]: 200, 219
Ships in class
| Name | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Commissioned | Stricken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delfinen | 1933 | 20 December 1934 | 20 December 1934 | 22 April 1936 | 24 February 1953 |
| Nordkaparen | 9 February 1935 | 9 February 1935 | 16 October 1936 | ||
| Springaren | 27 April 1935 | 27 April 1935 | 3 August 1937 |
References
- ↑ Miller, David (1991). Submarines Of The World. Salamander Books. ISBN 978-0517586662. http://archive.org/details/submarines-of-the-world_202309.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fontenoy, Paul E. (2007). Submarines: an Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-563-6. http://archive.org/details/submarinesillust0000font.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. 1980. ISBN 978-0-85177-146-5. http://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds1922unse.
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