Ehrensköld-class destroyer explained

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Ship Image:HMS Ehrenskiöld.jpg
Ship Caption:Ehrensköld
Ehrensköld class
Built Range:1924–1927
In Commission Range:1927–1963
Total Ships Completed:2
Total Ships Scrapped:2
Ship Type:Destroyer
Ship Displacement:974LT (standard)
Ship Length:300order=flipNaNorder=flip (o/a)
Ship Beam:8.88m (29.13feet)
Ship Draught:3.8m (12.5feet)
Ship Propulsion:2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines,
Ship Speed:36kn
Ship Range:1600nmi at
Ship Complement:120
Ship Power:
  • 3 Penhoët boilers
  • 34000shp
Ship Armament:
  • 3 × single Bofors M24 120mm guns
  • 2 × single AA guns
  • 2 × triple 533abbr=onNaNabbr=on torpedo tubes
The Ehrensköld class was the first "modern" class of destroyer built by the Swedish Navy after the First World War. It introduced several new features, mainly heavy armament in three 12 cm guns and the new 53 cm torpedo. The class included two vessels, and, which were both launched in 1926 and entered service in 1927. They patrolled the Baltic Sea until 1963, after which they became target vessels. Nordenskjöld was scrapped in 1964 and Ehrensköld in 1974.

Construction and design

In the early 1920s, the Royal Swedish Navy operated 10 destroyers and 29 first-class torpedo boats. The destroyers, which dated between 1902 and 1917, were of similar design, displacing 450LT500LT and armed with 75abbr=onNaNabbr=on guns and 45.7abbr=onNaNabbr=on torpedo tubes.[1] [2] [3]

In 1924, two destroyers of more modern design were laid down, and . The main gun armament was three 120mm guns built by Bofors in single mounts on the ships' centreline, with one gun forward, one aft and one between the ships' two funnels, from which it had a restricted arc of fire. Anti-aircraft armament consisted of two Vickers 40 mm automatic anti-aircraft guns. Torpedo armament consisted of two triple mounts for 53abbr=onNaNabbr=on torpedoes, while the ships were also fitted for minelaying, being able to carry 20 mines. Three Penhoët boilers fed two de Laval geared steam turbines, generating 34000shp which drove the ships to a speed of 36kn.[4]

The two ships were launched in 1926 and commissioned in 1927.

Operational history

The two destroyers patrolled in the Baltic Sea to defend Sweden's neutrality during the Second World War, when the ships' 40 mm Vickers anti-aircraft guns were replaced by four Bofors 25 mm cannons in two twin mountings.[4]

In 1950 - 51, the two destroyers were repurposed as anti-submarine frigates. The aft two 120mm guns and the torpedo tubes were removed to allow the fitting of an improved anti-aircraft and anti-submarine armament and sensors. As rebuilt, armament was one 120 mm gun, four 40 mm Bofors guns and a single 20 mm cannon. Displacement rose to 1080LT standard and 1250LT full load, and speed fell to .[4] [5]

They remained in use until 1963, after which they were used as target vessels. Nordenskjöld was scrapped in 1964 and Ehrensköld in 1974.[4]

Ships in the class

ShipBuilder[6] Laid downLaunchedCommissionedFate
Kockums, Malmö192425 September 1926December 1927Stricken 1 April 1963,
Scrapped 1974
Götaverken, Gothenburg19249 June 1926September 1927Stricken 1 April 1963,
Scrapped 1964

Notes and references

References

Notes and References

  1. Westerlund 1980, pp. 369–370
  2. Westerlund 1985, pp. 360–361
  3. Whitley 2000, p. 247
  4. Westerlund 1980 p. 371
  5. Blackman 1960, p. 273
  6. Whitley 2000, p. 249

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