HSwMS Hvalen explained
HSwMS Hvalen was a
submarine of the
Swedish Navy. Constructed in Italy, the submarine sailed the entire way to Sweden for her commissioning unaccompanied. In October 1915 she became involved in a diplomatic incident between neutral Sweden, and Germany, which was then engaged in fighting Britain in the
First World War. Following a series of sinkings of German cargo ships and naval vessels in the
Baltic Sea by British submarines entering the Baltic through the (Swedish-controlled)
Öresund straits, a German warship opened fire on
Hvalen killing a crew-member.
[1] According to the captain of the
Hvalen, she was flying the Swedish naval flag and in Swedish home waters at the time she was fired on.
[2] Compensation was later paid to the widow of the crew-member and an apology was issued.
[3] See also
References
- Book: Gardiner. Robert. Gray. Randal. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. 1986. Conway Maritime Press. London. 0-85177-245-5.
Notes and References
- https://flottansman.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/FM-nr-1-2022-14-febr-klar-LAG.pdf
- News: SWEDISH SUBMARINE SHELLED IN HOME WATERS; Hvalen Flying Own Flag and Weather Clear When Germans Fired, Says Captain.. 7 May 2014. The New York Times. 22 October 1915.
- Book: Aselius, Gunnar. The Danish Straits and German Naval Power, 1905-1918. 7 November 2019. Militargeschichtliches Forschungsampt. 134. 9783941571112.
