HMS Gotland (cruiser)
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Flag | |
Type | Initially seaplane cruiser, converted to anti-aircraft cruiser |
Class | Gotland class cruiser (the only of her class) |
Laid down | 1930 |
Launched | 14 September 1933 |
Commissioned | 14 December 1934 |
Decommissioned | 1956 |
Stricken | 1960 |
Sold | 1962 |
Status | Scrapped in 1963 |
Displacement | 4,600 t |
Length | 134.8 m |
Beam | 15.4 m |
Draft | 4.5 m |
Crew | 467 (ship) + 60 (aircraft) |
Armament |
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Propulsion and power | Two shafts, steam turbines, four boilers |
Speed | 27.5 knots |
Aircraft (before conversion) | Six Hawker Osprey (had capacity for eight) |
HMS Gotland was a seaplane cruiser of the Swedish Navy built by Götaverken.
During World War II Gotland sighted the German Battleship Bismarck in the Baltic sea, which led to its detection.
It was originally planned to be a conventional aircraft carrier with a flight deck, but the plans changed and it became a seaplane cruiser with one catapult.
Its aircraft complement consisted of six Hawker Osprey seaplanes. It had capacity for eight and attempts were made to purchase two more, unsuccessfully since they weren't manufactured anymore.
HMS Gotland was converted in 1944 to an anti-aircraft cruiser due to a lack of modern seaplanes.
After World War II it served as a training ship until it was decommissioned in 1956, stricken in 1960, sold in 1962 and finally scrapped in 1963.