HSwMS Mjölner (32)

HSwMS Mjölner
History
 Swedish Navy
Name: Mjölner
Namesake: Thor's hammer, Mjölner
Builder: Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad, Gothenburg
Laid down: September 1941
Launched: 9 April 1942
Commissioned: 12 November 1943
Decommissioned: 1 April 1966
Fate: Sold for scrap 1969
General characteristics
Class and type: Mode class destroyer (1942-1953) or frigate (1953-1970)
Displacement:
  • - 960 t (945 long tons; 1,058 short tons), full load
  • - 750 t (740 long tons; 830 short tons), standard displacement
Length: 256 ft (78 m)
Beam: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Draught: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion: 2 oil fired boilers, 2 de Laval steam turbines, 16,000 shp (12 MW), 2 screws
Speed: 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Range: 1,200 nmi (2,200 km) at 20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Complement: 100
Armament:
  • 3 × 105 mm Bofors K/50 M/42 DP guns (3×1)
  • 2 × 40 mm Bofors guns K/60 M/36 (2×1)
  • 2 × 20 mm Bofors K/66 M/40 (2×1)
  • 3 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (1×3)

HSwMS Mjölner was a coastal destroyer of the Royal Swedish Navy, built by Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad and launched on 9 April 1942 as the last of the four ship Mode class. Originally given the pennant number 32, the ship was reclassified a frigate in 1953 with the pennant number 76.

Design

Mjölner was based on the design the Spica class.[1] The vessel was small and designed for coastal operation, displacing 750 tonnes (740 long tons; 830 short tons) standard and 960 tonnes (940 long tons; 1,060 short tons) full load.[2] The machinery consisted of two Penhoët A oil-fired boilers, which supplied steam to two de Laval steam turbines, each driving its own propeller, providing a top speed of 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h).

Anti aircraft gun onboard Mjölner

Armament

The main armament consisted of three 10.5 cm (4.1 in) guns produced by Bofors.[3] These were placed in separate mounts, one on the fore deck, one on the aft deck and one on the aft superstructure. Air defence consisted of two 40 mm (1.6 in) and two 20 mm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns, also provided by Bofors. Three torpedo tubes for 53 cm (21 in) torpedoes were triple mounted aft of the superstructure and two depth charge throwers were mounted further towards the stern. 42 mines could also be carried for minelaying.

Service

Mjölner was launched on 9 April 1942 and commissioned on 12 November later that year, serving with the coastal fleet through World War II.[4]

In 1946, Mjölner accompanied Fylgia and Munin on a tour of Bergen and Fannefjord in Norway, Dublin in Ireland and Antwerp in Belgium.[5]

Modernisation

Mjölner was modernised in 1953 and re-rated as a frigate.[3] One of the 105 mm (4.1 in) main guns was removed, along with the triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tube. A single Squid depth charge launcher was fitted to improve anti-submarine capabilities and the 40 mm (1.6 in) guns were upgraded.

Disposal

Mjölner was decommissioned on 1 April 1966 and was sold for scrap on 3 November 1969.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Kaudern, Gösta (1989). Jagare : med svenska flottans jagare under 80 år (2:a) (in Swedish). Karlskrona: Västra Frölunda CB Marinlitteratur. p. 66. ISBN 9197070041.
  2. 1 2 Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Conway Maritime Press. p. 152. ISBN 0851771467.
  3. 1 2 Palmsteirna, C. (31 March 1972). "Swedish Torpedo Boats & Destroyers: Part II - Destroyers". Warship International. Vol. IX no. 1. pp. 59–77.
  4. ↑ Lagvall, Bertil (1991). Flottans Neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945 (in Swedish). Karlskrona: Marinlitteraturföreningen nr 71. ISBN 9185944041.
  5. ↑ "Långresor och utlandsbesök med svenska örlogsfartyg mellan 1837 och 2005". flottansman.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2010.


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