HSwMS Mjölner (32)

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. After serving during World War II, the ship was updated and reclassified a frigate in 1953. Decommissioned in 1966, Mjölner was sold for scrap in 1969.

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 3 in (8.00 m)
Draught: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 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: 1,260 nmi (2,330 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)

Design and development
Main article: Mode-class destroyer

Mjölner was based on the design the Spica class designed in Italy.[1] Small and designed for coastal operation, the vessel was named after Thor's hammer, Mjölner.[2]

Displacement was 750 tonnes (740 long tons; 830 short tons) standard and 960 tonnes (940 long tons; 1,060 short tons) full load. Overall length was 256 feet (78.03 m), beam 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m) and draught 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m).[3] A crew of 100 officers and ratings was carried.[4]

Machinery consisted of two Penhoët A oil-fired boilers, which supplied steam to two de Laval geared steam turbines, each driving its own propeller. The turbines were rated at 16,000 shp (12,000 kW) to give a design speed of 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h). 190 long tons (190 t) of fuel was carried to give a range of 1,260 nautical miles (2,330 km) at 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h).[5]

Anti aircraft gun onboard Mjölner

The main armament consisted of three 10.5 cm (4 in) K/50 M42 guns produced by Bofors.[6] These were placed in separate mounts, one on the fore deck, one on the aft deck and one on the aft superstructure.[4] Air defence consisted two 40 mm (1.57 in) K/60 M36 and two 20 mm (0.79 in) K/66 M40 individually mounted anti-aircraft autocannons, also provided by Bofors.[7] 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.[7]

Construction and service

Mjölner was laid down by Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad in Gothenburg in September 1941.[3] The vessel was launched on 9 April 1942 and commissioned on 12 November 1943, serving with the Coastal Fleet through World War II.[8] The ship was allocated the tenant number 32.[9]

In 1946, Mjölner accompanied Fylgia and Munin on a tour of Bergen and Fannefjord in Norway, Dublin in Ireland and Antwerp in Belgium.[10]

Modernisation

Mjölner was modernised in 1953 and re-rated as a frigate. One of the 105 mm (4.1 in) main guns was removed, along with the triple 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes. A single Squid depth charge launcher was fitted to improve anti-submarine capabilities and the 40 mm (1.6 in) guns were upgraded.[6]

After the conversion, Mode retained minelaying capability.[5] The upgraded ship was allocated the tenant number 73.[9]

Disposal

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

References

Citations
  1. Borgenstam, Insulander & Kaudern 1989, p. 76.
  2. Arbeitskreis für Wehrforschung 1977, p. 660.
  3. Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, p. 152.
  4. Whitley 2002, p. 251.
  5. Prendegast & Parkes 1962, p. 222.
  6. Palmsteirna 1972, p. 64.
  7. Borgenstam, Insulander & Kaudern 1989, p. 79.
  8. Lagvall 1991, p. 71.
  9. Gogin, Ivan (2015). "MODE coastal destroyers (1942–1943)". Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  10. "Långresor och utlandsbesök med svenska örlogsfartyg mellan 1837 och 2005". www.flottansman.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2010.

Bibliography
  • Arbeitskreis für Wehrforschung, ed. (1977). "Marine-rundschau: Zeitschrift für Seewesen" (in German). 74. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Borgenstam, Curt; Insulander, Per; Kaudern, Gösta (1989). Jagare: med Svenska flottans jagare under 80 år (in Swedish). Västra Frölunda: Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-970700-4-1. SELIBR 7792227.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lagvall, Bertil (1991). Flottans Neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945 (in Swedish). Karlskrona: Marinlitteraturföreningen. ISBN 91-85944-04-1. SELIBR 7753511.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Palmsteirna, C. (31 March 1972). "Swedish Torpedo Boats & Destroyers: Part II - Destroyers". Warship International. Vol. IX no. 1. pp. 59–77.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Prendegast, Maurice & Parkes, Oscar (1962). Jane's Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Whitley, M. J. (2002). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-30435-675-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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