Najaden-class torpedo boat

The Najaden class,[2][3][4] also known as the Huitfeldt class,[1][5] was a class of two torpedo boats built for and operated by the Royal Danish Navy. Construction started in 1942, with the ships being completed in 1947, and continuing in service until 1966.

HDMS Huitfeldt in 1947
Class overview
Builders: Copenhagen Naval Dockyard
Operators:  Royal Danish Navy
Built: 1942–1947
In commission: 1947–1966
Completed: 2
Retired: 2
Scrapped: 2
General characteristics [1]
Type: Torpedo boat
Displacement:
  • 782 long tons (795 t) standard,
  • 890 long tons (900 t) full load
Length:
  • 86.3 m (283 ft) oa,
  • 85.0 m (279 ft) pp
Beam: 8.33 m (27 ft 4 in)
Draught: 3.51 m (11 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Complement: 92
Armament:

Construction and design

In 1939, Denmark ordered two torpedo boats (originally to be named Aarhus and Aalborg[5]) for the Royal Danish Navy. The new class were much larger and more capable than existing torpedo craft of the Danish Navy, where the most modern examples, the Dragen and Glenten classes, displaced 335 long tons (340 t) with a speed of 27.5 knots (51 km/h; 32 mph), compared with 890 long tons (900 t) and 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) for the new ships.[2][3]

Construction was delayed by the German invasion of Denmark in 1940, with the ships not being laid down until 3 July 1942.[2][lower-alpha 1] They were launched in 1943, but when Germany dissolved the Danish government on 29 August 1943, it did not attempt to complete the half-built ships.[5][7] Work restarted following the liberation of Denmark, and the two ships were completed in 1947.

Huitfeldt at Kiel in 1963

As completed, they had an armament of two 105 mm M/40 guns,[lower-alpha 2] with three Bofors 40 mm and six Madsen 20 mm anti-aircraft guns.[2] Torpedo armament was six 450 mm torpedo tubes, which had been originally fitted to the Dragen- and Glenten-class torpedo boats, which were disarmed in 1941 when taken over by Germany.[3][5] They were powered by geared steam turbines, giving 16,000 kilowatts (21,000 shp) and driving two shafts.[2]

Service

When they entered service, they were designated torpedo boats, but were re-designated Coastal Destroyers (Kystjager) in 1951 and Patrol Boats in 1958.[1][5][8] The 450 mm torpedo tubes were replaced by 530 mm tubes in 1951, and the 20 mm cannon removed in 1961.[9] Both ships were sold for scrap on 27 May 1966.[2]

Ships
Ship's badge 1942 name 1945 name Laid down[2] Launched[2] Completed[2] Fate
Najaden Willemoes 3 July 1942 17 March 1943 30 June 1947 Sold for scrap 27 May 1966
Nymfen Huitfeldt 3 July 1942 22 June 1943 31 July 1947 Sold for scrap 27 May 1966

Footnotes
  1. Although Denmark was occupied by Germany following the 1940 invasion, its government remained independent, retaining control of its partially disarmed armed forces and was nominally neutral.[6]
  2. They may have originally been planned to be fitted with 120 mm guns.[5]

References
  1. Blackman 1960, p. 128.
  2. Whitley 2000, p. 34.
  3. Gardiner and Chesneau 1980, p. 383.
  4. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 75.
  5. "HUITFELDT Class (1947-1966)". Danish Naval History. Danish Naval History. 12 April 2005. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  6. Bjørn 1995, pp. 293–295.
  7. Bjørn 1995, p. 294.
  8. Blackman 1953, p. 170.
  9. Blackman 1962, p. 61.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B. (1962). Jane's Fighting Ships 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.
  • Bjørn, Claus (1995). "Denmark". In Dear, I.C.B.; Foot, M.R.D. (eds.). The Oxford Companion to World War II. Oxford University Press. pp. 293–295. ISBN 0-19-866225-4.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, US: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Whitley, M.J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
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