Visby-class destroyer

For other ships of the same name, see Visby-class corvette.
HMS Visby
Class overview
Operators:  Swedish Navy
Preceded by: Göteborg-class destroyer
Succeeded by: Öland class destroyer
Built: 1942–1944
In commission: 1943–1982
Planned: 4
Completed: 4
Active: 0
Retired: 4
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer/Frigate
Displacement: 1,135–1,320 tons
Length: 98 m (322 ft)
Beam: 9 m (30 ft)
Draught: 38 m (125 ft)
Speed: 39 knots
Complement: 155
Armament:
  • 3 × 120 mm canons, 4 x 40 mm canons, 4 x 20 mm canons, 6 x 530 mm torpedo tubes (as destroyer)
  • 2 × 57 mm lvakan m/50 B
  • 1 × 375mm submarine-rocket launcher, depth charges, mines (as frigate)
Aircraft carried: 1 helicopter as frigate

Visby class was a Swedish World War II destroyer class. During the years 1942–1944 four ships, HMS Visby (J11), HMS Sundsvall (J12), HMS Hälsingborg (J13) and HMS Kalmar (J14), were built and delivered to the Swedish navy. The ships were a part of Sweden's military buildup during the war. Under this period the ships were used as neutral guards and escort ships. In 1965 the ships were modified and rebuilt as frigates. Two of the ships were decommissioned in 1978 and the last two followed in 1982.

Orders

During the first years of the War Sweden's armed forces went through a massive reinforcement. In 1941, as part of this build-up, the Swedish government ordered four new destroyers for the Swedish navy, of which two were replacements for three destroyers sunk in an explosion on 17 September that year.[lower-alpha 1] The new class would be based on the older Göteborg-class destroyer that were classified as a "Town-class destroyer" and because of this classified as "Modified Town-class destroyers", (modifierad Stadsjagare). In total four ships were built, two at the Götaverken-shipyard and two at the Eriksbergs-shipyard.[3][4]

Design

The design was largely based on the Göteborg-class destroyer, with a similar main armament of three 120 mm M/24 Bofors guns in three single mounts, but in an improved arrangement, with the second gun mounted aft, firing over the third gun rather than between the funnels as in the earlier destroyers, thus improving fields of fire. Anti-aircraft armament was also improved, consisting of four Bofors 40 mm guns in a twin mount on the ship's centreline between the banks of torpedo tubes, and two single mounts mounted port and starboard further forward. These were supplemented by several 20 mm cannon,[lower-alpha 2] also by Bofors. The ships' torpedo armament remained six 53 cm (21 inch) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts.[7][4] The ships were fitted for minelaying, with up to 20 mines being carried, while anti-submarine armament consisted of four depth charge throwers.[6]

The hull was lengthened compared with the Göteborg class, giving a length between perpendiculars of 95.0 metres (311 ft 8 in) and an overall length of 98 metres (321 ft 6 in) with a beam of 9.0 metres (29 ft 6 in) and a draught of 3.8 metres (12 ft 6 in). Displacement was 1,135 long tons (1,153 t) standard and 1,320 long tons (1,340 t) full load.[1] A square stern was fitted. Like the Göteborg class, the superstructure was built using light alloys to save weight.[4] Three 3-drum boilers fed superheated steam to two de Laval geared steam turbines, driving two shafts and giving 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW), allowing a speed of 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph) to be reached.[1][6]

Rebuilds

From 1957 to 1959, Hälsingborg and Kalmar were modified, removing the aft set of torpedo tubes and replacing the forward triple mount with a quintuple set of tubes.[8] From 1964, Visby and Sundvall underwent a much more expensive reconstruction, being completely rearmed. As recommissioned on 14 October 1966, the two destroyers were armed with two Bofors 57 mm anti-aircraft guns, one forward and one aft, with a quadruple 375 mm Bofors anti-submarine rocket launcher replacing the torpedo tubes. The ships' bridges were enlarged and a platform for a helicopter fitted. The ships' radar fit was also updated.[9]

All four ships were redesignated as frigates on 1 January 1965.[10]

HMS Sundsvall (J12) with a Piasecki HkP1 helicopter during the mid 1960s

Decommissioning

In the 1970s the Swedish government decided that the navy would give up its Blue-water navy capacity and become a more coast-based navy. All frigates and destroyers were decommissioned. The first two Visby class frigates left the navy in 1978 and in 1982 the remaining two followed. HMS Visby and HMS Sundsvall were used as target ships before being sold to Spain for scrapping.

Ships

Name Pennant number Builder Laid Down Launched[1] Commissioned[1] Fate
VisbyJ11Götaverken29 April 1942[10]16 October 194210 August 1943Stricken 1 July 1982, scrapped Spain.[7]
SundsvallJ12Eriksberg1942[1]20 October 194217 September 1943Stricken 1 July 1982, scrapped Spain 1985[7]
HälsingborgJ13Götaverken1942[1]23 March 194330 November 1943Stricken 1 July 1978, scrapped 1979[6]
KalmarJ14Eriksberg16 November 1942[10]20 July 19432 February 1944Stricken 1 July 1978, used as target[6]

References

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  1. ↑ The three destroyers sunk at the Naval base at Hårsfjärden near Stockholm on 17 September were Göteborg, Klas Horn and Klas Ugla. Göteborg and Klas Horn were later salvaged and returned to service, while Klas Ugla was scrapped.[1][2]
  2. ↑ Sources differ as to the number of 20 mm cannon carried. Palmsteirna states two,[5] while Gardiner and Chesneau states three[6] and Whitley states four.[1]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Whitley 2000, p. 249.
  2. ↑ Gardiner and Chesneau 1980, p. 372.
  3. ↑ Whitley 2000, p. 250.
  4. 1 2 3 Palmstierna 1972, p. 60.
  5. ↑ Palmsteirna 1972, pp. 60, 73.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Gardiner and Chesneau 1980, p. 373.
  7. 1 2 3 Whitley 2000, pp. 249–250.
  8. ↑ Palmstierna 1972, p. 73.
  9. ↑ Palmsteirna 1972, p. 69.
  10. 1 2 3 Blackman 1971, p. 304.
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