Sverige-class coastal defence ship

A 1912 depiction of Sverige
Class overview
Name: Sverige class
Builders:
Operators:  Swedish Navy
Preceded by: Oscar II
Built: 1912–1922
In commission: 1917–1957
Completed: 3
Scrapped: 3
General characteristics
Type: Coastal defence ship
Displacement:
  • 7,239 tonnes standard, 7,755 tonnes full load
  • (Sverige: 6,961 tonnes tons standard, 7,758 tons deep load)
Length:
  • 121.6 m (399 ft)
  • (Sverige: 120 m (390 ft))
Beam: 18.6 m (61 ft)
Draught: 6.2 m (20 ft)
Propulsion:
  • original 12 Yarrow type coal-fired boilers, upgraded to oil-fired boilers in the 1930s
  • Sverige 4-shaft direct drive turbines
  • Drottning Victoria and Gustav V 2-shaft geared turbines
Speed:
  • Drottning Victoria and Gustav V 23.5 kn (43.5 km/h; 27.0 mph)
  • Sverige 22.5 kn (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Complement:
  • 427 (standard)
  • 443 (as flagship)
Armament:
  • 4 × 283 mm (11.1 in)/ 45 cal. guns in two twin turrets
  • 8 × 152 mm (6.0 in)/ 50 cal. guns in one twin turret and six single mounts
  • 6 × 75 mm (3.0 in)/ 50 cal. guns in single mounts
  • 2 × 57 mm (2.2 in) guns
  • 2 × machine guns
  • 2 × 18 in (457 mm) fixed torpedo tubes
Armour:
  • Main belt 200 mm (7.9 in)
  • Deck 45 mm (2 in)
  • Turrets 200 mm (8 in)
  • Control tower 175 mm (7 in)

The Sverige-class coastal defence ships were a class of coastal defence ships that, at the time of introduction, were the largest ships to serve in the Swedish Navy. Their design was completely new and was influenced by the ships of the time. Their armament consisted of four 283 mm (11.1 in)/45 cal. Bofors guns in two turrets and eight 152 mm (6.0 in) Bofors guns in one double and six single turrets. During the Second World War they were the backbone of the Swedish Navy.

Specification as built

Right elevation and deck plan as depicted in Brassey's Naval Annual, 1923

Displacement

Dimensions

Armour

Machinery

Armament

Sverige-class ship firing

After modernization (late 1930s to World War II)

Appearance

All three ships looked similar until reconstruction. Gustav V had funnels trunked into one and the upper works modified heavily. Sverige had the fore funnel trunked back away from the superstructure which was modified, and kept the second funnel, making the ships very different in appearance between the main turrets. Gustav V also har her forward superfiring 2 x 152 mm tower removed, and replaced with a platform for gyro-stabilized AA artillery ( 4 x 40 mm bofors) while Sverige and Drottning Victoria had their midship single 1 x 152 mm towers removed and replaced with gyro-stabilized AA platforms (Bofors 40 mm double mountings)

Ships

Three of these ships were built:

A fourth ship was considered but not built due to economic difficulties.

The ships were modernised in the 1930s with oil-fired boilers replacing the old coal-fired boilers, removal of underwater torpedo equipment, new anti-aircraft guns and fire control equipment.

Tactical doctrine and effectiveness

The Sverige-class ships differed in several ways from the classical coastal defence ship; at first by heavier armament as well as better speed and armour, but still small enough to operate and hide in the archipelagos and shallow waters . But the main difference was to be noted in their tactical doctrine and operations. Unlike other coastal defence ships, the Sverige class formed the core of a traditional open-sea battle group (Kustflottan), operating with cruisers, destroyers, torpedo boats and air reconnaissance like traditional battleship tactics of the time. This mini battle group had no intention to challenge the superpowers in blue sea battles but to operate as defensive shield to aggression challenging Swedish interests and territory. Based on the doctrine that you need a battle group to challenge a battle group, this force intended to form a problematic obstacle in the confined and shallow Baltic and Kattegat theatre, where traditional large warships would be limited to very predictable moving patterns exposing them to submarines, fast torpedo crafts and minefields. It has been suggested that the Sverige-class ships were one reason why Germany did not invade Sweden during World War II. This speculation appeared in Warship Magazine 1992 Edition, in the article "The Sverige Class Coastal Defence Ships", by Daniel G Harris. This could partly said to be confirmed in the postwar publication of German tactical orders, and when tactical scenarios regarding attacking Sweden was published. The problems of maintaining an army in Sweden without sea superiority was underlined and lack of available suitable units to face the Swedish navy was pointed out (“Stations for battle”, Insulander/Olsson, 2001)

References

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