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Source References

1. Örlogsfartyg, Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg. G von Hofsten, J Waernberg. 2004. 2. Försvarsmakten (Swedish Armed Forces) 3. Wikipedia 4. Digitaltmuseum 5. Sjöhistoriska museet = The National Maritime Museum, Stockholm 6. Marinmuseum = The Naval Museum, Karlskrona Top of page

Swedish Warships - Surface

Combatants - 5

List of various types of Swedish Motorized

Surface Combatants

• Battleship • Coastal defense ship • Cruiser, part-1, part-2 • Destroyer, part-1, part-2, part-3 • Frigate • Corvette • Motor torpedo boat • Torpedo boat / Missile boat • Patrol boat • Picket boat • Surveillance boat • Minelayer / Minehunter / Minesweeper

Definitions

In the description of the ships, there are some concepts and terms that may be worth describing. • Pennant No., the recognition number that Swedish warships normally, in peacetime, have painted on the side of certain types of ships. For submarines, it is an abbreviation of the submarine's name. [Hull No. in the US]. • Delivered refers to the time when the ship was formally delivered to the Navy from the shipyard. • Launched, refers to the time when the ship was christened and launched. • Decommissioned normally refers to the time when the ship is permanently removed from the Navy organization. • Displacement, expressed in tons, is given with two values, standard displacement, and displacement when the ship is fully equipped. If only one value is given, it refers to standard displacement. For submarines, displacement is given in surface mode and submerged mode. • Speed is given in knots and refers to the contracted speed. For submarines, the speed is given in surface mode and submerged mode. • Dimensions, given in meters for length, beam, and draft. The length may be given in two dimensions: the waterline and the maximum overall length. If only one length is given, the maximum length is referred to. Beam means the maximum width. • Complement, the crew size. It normally refers to the peacetime crew size. • Submarine diving depths indicate the maximum permitted diving depth in peacetime. • ihp = Indicated horsepower (the theoretical power of a reciprocating engine if it is completely frictionless) The abbreviation "HMS" means “Hans Majestäts Skepp / Hennes Majestäts Skepp” and is used in the Swedish Navy as a prefix before the ship's name, such as HMS Visby. However, HMS was not used by the Swedish Navy until after 1950. For older ships, i.e. built before 1950, "HM" (His Majesty's) was used followed by the ship type and name, e.g. HM Kryssare Tre Kronor. HSwMS is a sometimes used designation for military ships from Sweden when traveling outside Sweden's territorial waters, instead of HMS. In the UK, the same abbreviation stands for Her Majesty's Ship or His Majesty's Ship and has been used in the Royal Navy since the 1660s. The USA uses the designation USS, United States Ship. During WW II, from June 23, 1940, Swedish warships were marked with white transverse lines on their decks and sides so that they could be clearly identified as neutral ships and thus avoid accidental fire from the belligerents.

Motor Torpedo Boat

A motor torpedo boat is a fast surface attack vessel that differs from early torpedo boats in that its hull is planing, as opposed to displacing. The boats' main armament consisted, as the name suggests, of torpedoes. As a complement, machine guns or light automatic cannons were also used. The first Swedish motor torpedo boats were of the so- called Italian MAS type and were delivered from the Italian Navy's shipyard in La Spezia shortly after the First World War. They were named Mtb 1 and Mtb 2. Two more motor torpedo boats Mtb 3 and Mtb 4 were added to the Swedish Navy in 1925. However, these ships were built in England. The Italian boats were scrapped early, while Mtb 3 and Mtb 4 were armed and used for the last time in 1933. The main weaknesses of motor torpedo boats were their limited range of action and poor seaworthiness. They were expensive to maintain and the gasoline engines were not very reliable. Towards the end of the 1930s, the navies of the major powers began to take a renewed interest in motor torpedo boats and the size of the boats grew. After the outbreak of the Second World War, it was urgent to quickly reinforce the Swedish torpedo boat weaponry. A domestic production of motor torpedo boats was established as it was now difficult to buy from abroad. The task was entrusted to Kockums Mekaniska Verkstads AB in Malmö, a Swedish shipbuilding company. The development of motor torpedo boats was strongly linked to that of large gasoline engines. The Swedish motor torpedo boats mainly used Italian Isotta Fraschini engines. They were compressor-fed and could reach speeds of up to 50 knots. The engines were not reversible or had reverse thrust, so they could not be reversed. Instead, the motor torpedo boats had a pair of smaller, car-sized engines, known as marching engines, which were used for maneuvering in port. The task of the motor torpedo boats was to attack ships at sea with torpedoes. However, as the torpedoes were not guided, they had to get quite close to the target in order to achieve a reasonable probability of success. This was difficult in daylight, so the use of motor torpedo boats was limited to darkness or the archipelago, where they could appear by surprise. In the spring of 1940, four used destroyers and four used motor torpedo boats were purchased in a package from Italy. The motor torpedo boats were of MAS class, which in Sweden became T11 - T14. Sweden also managed to buy motor torpedo boats from England, two of which (T3 - T4) were delivered in December 1939 before the arms embargo stopped the export of war material. These six boats were then used as prototypes to adapt to Swedish conditions and form the basis for Swedish production. The first Swedish-built boats were T15 - T18, built at Kockums in 1941. During World War II, 15 motor torpedo boats were built in two series, all built to Italian designs and with Italian engines. Unlike the Italian ones, the Swedish boats were built in steel and not in wood. The first series consisted of four boats (T15 - T18) that made 45 knots and were equipped with 45 cm torpedoes. The second series consisted of 11 boats (T21 - T31) that made 50 knots and were equipped with 53 cm torpedoes. The Swedish motor torpedo boats were of a very high class and always had very strong speed capabilities by international standards. Motor torpedo boats were then in service in Sweden until 1981. With the first Spica series, from the late 1960s, came a whole new generation of motor torpedo boats. They differed so much from the earlier motor torpedo boats that the Spica boats were simply called torpedo boats.

Swedish Motor Torpedo Boats

Designations With the exception of the very first motor torpedo boats acquired in the 1920s, the ship type was initially referred to simply as torpedo boats. With the arrival of the larger Plejad-class torpedo boats in the early 1950s, the formerly smaller torpedo boats became known as “Motor Torpedo Boat Minor” (MtbM) and the Plejad-class boats as “Motor Torpedo Boat Major” (MtbS). From 1965, when the gas turbine-powered Spica class was constructed, the smaller boats were referred to simply as "Motor torpedo boats" (Mtb) and the larger boats as "Torpedo boats" (Tb). In the description below of these boats, i.e. MtbM, I only use the term "Motor torpedo boats". Mtb No 1 and Mtb No 2 Two wooden motor torpedo boats of MAS class were purchased from Italy after the First World War and delivered in 1921. They were launched in 1918. They were 16.3 m long and the beam was 3 m. The displacement was 14 tons. Speed: 27 knots. Complement: 6 men. They were armed with two 45 cm torpedoes and a machine gun. The machinery consisted of two six- cylinder 500 hp Isotta-Fraschini gasoline engines. Two propellers. However, the engines had a lot of problems and both boats were decommissioned in 1927. The image shows the motor torpedo boats Mtb No 1 and Mtb No 2 of MAS class, purchased in Italy. Launched in 1918, delivered to Sweden in 1921. Length 16.3 m, Beam 3 m. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo89744A. Mtb No 3 and Mtb No 4 During the 1920s, two British-built wooden motor torpedo boats were also acquired. They were launched and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1925. They were 16.2 m long and the beam was 3.4 m. The displacement was 13 tons. Speed: 35 knots. Complement: 6 men. They were armed with two 45 cm torpedoes and two 8 mm machine guns. The machinery consisted of two twelve-cylinder Thornycroft gasoline engines of 700 hp. Two propellers. However, the engines had technical problems, among other things with the fuel supply. The lowest speed with one engine running was 12 knots, which created a lot of problems during moorings in harbors. Both boats were decommissioned in 1940. T3 and T4 In 1938, Sweden ordered 4 motor torpedo boats from the UK. Two of these were delivered in the fall of 1939 before the British embargo on the export of war materials took effect. The motor torpedo boats were of the Vosper class and were delivered to Gothenburg on cargo ships. The boats were both larger and faster than the motor torpedo boats purchased in the 1920s. They were built in wood and v-bottomed. They were 18.3 m long and the beam was 4.7 m. The displacement was 20 tons. Speed: 35 knots (maximum speed 40 knots). Complement: 8 men. The boats were launched and delivered to Sweden in 1939 and decommissioned in 1949. The machinery consisted of two Isotta-Fraschini F 183 gasoline engines of 2,200 hp. There were also two Ford V8 engines of 170 hp for low speeds. 2 propellers. The armament consisted of two 45,7 cm torpedo tubes, two 8 mm machine guns m/36 and six depth charges. Both ships were fully equipped in the spring of 1940 and went on to serve in the coastal fleet throughout the Second World War. It is interesting to note that Prince Bertil became commander of T4. The image shows the motor torpedo boat T4, launched in 1939 in England, delivered to Sweden in 1939. Length 18.3 m, beam 4.7 m. Photo in 1942. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo88589A. T11 - T14 In the spring of 1940, four used destroyers and four used motor torpedo boats were purchased in a package from Italy. The motor torpedo boats were of the MAS class, which in Sweden became T11 - T14. The boats were launched in Italy in 1936 and arrived in Sweden in the spring of 1940. They were built in mahogany with double diagonal planking. They were 17.0 m long and the beam was 4.5 m. The displacement was 17 tons. Speed: 45 knots. Complement: 6 - 8 men. The machinery consisted of two 18-cylinder Isotta- Fraschini IF 181 gasoline engines of 2,200 hp. There were also two 4-cylinder Carraro engines totaling 100 hp for low speeds. 2 propellers. The armament consisted of two 45.7 cm torpedo tubes, a 13.2 mm machine gun m/31 and six depth charges. The boats were decommissioned in 1946 except T12 which was decommissioned in 1949. The image shows the motor torpedo boat T14, launched in 1936 in Italy, delivered to Sweden in 1939. Length 17.0 m, beam 4.5 m. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo29651A. T15 - T18 The first Swedish-built boats were the T15 - T18, built at Kockums shipyard. They were launched and delivered in 1941. During World War II, 15 motor torpedo boats were built in Sweden in two series, all built to Italian blueprints and with Italian engines. Unlike the Italian ones, the Swedish boats were built in steel rather than wood and the torpedoes were placed in tubes. The first series consisted of four boats (T15 - T18). The boats were manufactured under license from the Italian Bagliotto shipyard. They were 18.7 m long and the beam was 4.6 m. The displacement was 22.5 tons. Speed: 45 knots. Complement: 8 men. The machinery consisted of two compressor-fed Isotta-Fraschini IF 183 gasoline engines of 2,300 hp. There were also two Penta EC6 engines totaling 150 hp for low speeds. 2 propellers. The armament consisted of two 45.7 cm torpedo tubes, two 8 mm machine guns m/36 and six depth charges. The machine guns were soon replaced by a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun placed in a weatherproof tower behind the bridge. In 1949 - 1950 the engines were replaced by the more modern Isotta-Fraschini IF 184. All boats were decommissioned in 1956. The image shows the Swedish-manufactured motor torpedo boat T15, launched in 1941, delivered to the navy in 1941. Length 18.7 m, beam 4.6 m. Photo in 1941. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo196164. T21 - T31 The first Swedish-built boats were the T15 - T18 (see above) and the T21 - T31, built at Kockums shipyard in 1941. During World War II, 15 motor torpedo boats were built in Sweden in two series, all built to Italian blueprints and with Italian engines. Unlike the Italian ones, the Swedish boats were built in steel and not in wood. The second series consisted of eleven boats (T21 - T31). The T21 - T26 were launched and delivered in 1942, T27 - T31 were launched and delivered in 1943. They were 20.0 m long and the beam was 5 m. The displacement was 27 tons. Speed: 49 knots (maximum speed 53 knots). Complement: 9 men. The machinery consisted of two Isotta-Fraschini IF 184 gasoline engines of 3.000 hp. There were also two V8 Ford Marine engines totaling 170 hp for low speeds. 2 propellers. The armament consisted of two 53,3 cm torpedo tubes m/41, one 20 mm automatic cannon m/40, and six depth charges. Compared to the T15 series, the anti-aircraft turret in this series was placed further aft. The boats were eventually fitted with balancing twin rudders. Radar was installed on the T24, T26, and T30 in 1949/1950. A 57 mm illumination shell launcher was also fitted to all boats in the series. The boats were decommissioned between 1957 and 1959. The image shows the motor torpedo boat T30, launched in 1943, delivered to the navy in 1943. Length 20 m, beam 5 m. Photo in 1943. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo88651AB. The T26 is today renovated to its original condition and is owned by a foundation and operated and cared for by members of the Veteran Flotilla - Motor Torpedo Boats Veterans Association. The home port is the Gålö base. T32 – T41 In the fall of 1950, construction began on another long series of motor torpedo boats, the T32 - T41. These boats were both larger and heavier than the earlier motor torpedo boats. The installation of radar and power-operated 40 mm anti-aircraft guns naturally contributed to the increased weight. The displacement was 40 tons. To maintain the same speed capabilities of the previous motor torpedo boats, three Isotta-Fraschini IF 184C gasoline engines were installed, giving a speed of 50 knots. In order to obtain better high speed capability in bad weather and smoother running in the sea, the two-stage hull was provided with a deeper V-shape and convex rib shape at the bottom. The image shows the motor torpedo boat T35, launched in 1952, delivered to the Navy in 1952. Length 23 m, beam 5.2 m. Photo Axel Axvik in 1952. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo16631A. 10 boats were built in the series: 1. T32, launched in 1950 and delivered to the Navy in 1951. Decommissioned in 1972. 2. T33, launched in 1951 and delivered to the Navy in 1951. Decommissioned in 1972. 3. T34, launched in 1951 and delivered to the Navy in 1951. Decommissioned in 1972. 4. T35, launched in 1952 and delivered to the Navy in 1952. Decommissioned in 1972. 5. T36, launched in 1952 and delivered to the Navy in 1952. Decommissioned in 1972. 6. T37, launched in 1952 and delivered to the Navy in1953. Decommissioned in 1972. 7. T38, launched in 1951 and delivered to the Navy in 1951. Decommissioned in 1975. 8. T39, launched in 1952 and delivered to the Navy in 1952. Decommissioned in 1975. 9. T40, launched in 1952 and delivered to the Navy in1952. Decommissioned in 1975. 10. T41, launched in 1952 and delivered to the Navy in 1952. Decommissioned in 1977/1990. They were 23.0 m long and the beam was 5.2 m. The displacement was 40 tons. Speed: 50 knots. Complement: 16 men. The machinery consisted of three Isotta-Fraschini IF 184C gasoline engines with a total of 4.500 hp. There were also two V8 Ford Marin engines totaling 170 hp for low speeds. 3 propellers. The armament consisted of two 53.3 cm torpedo tubes m/47, one 40 mm automatic cannon m/36, two 8 mm machine guns m/36 and six depth charges. The last boat in the series, the T41, was fitted with a v- bottom hull without steps. This made her slightly slower than the other boats in the series, except in high seas. In 1977, she was converted to a picket boat with the name HMS Viken V04. She was decommissioned in 1990. The image shows the motor torpedo boat T41, launched in 1952, delivered to the Navy in 1952. Length 23 m, beam 5.2 m. Here equipped with a 40 mm anti-aircraft automatic gun m/48. Photo in 1954. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo88658AB. Today, the T38 is owned by the Naval Museum in Karlskrona and is operated and cared for by members of Veteran Flotilla - Föreningen Mtb-veteraner. T38 is a museum ship in Karlskrona. T201 The T201 was built as a prototype for a wartime construction program where a simple boat could be quickly built in large series if necessary. The hull was made of plywood and v-bottomed. The boat was designed to carry 53.3 cm torpedoes. The price to produce the boat was only one tenth of the shipyard price of a 20 m steel motor torpedo boat. She was launched in 1952, delivered in 1953 and decommissioned in 1964. T201 was tested during the years 1954 - 1955 in the 4. motor torpedo division. T201 was then used in various experimental activities. Since no wartime construction ever had to begin, only one copy of the boat exists. The boat was 16.3 m long and the beam was 3.8 m. The displacement was 17 tons. Speed: 44 knots. Complement: 7 men. The machinery consisted of an Isotta-Fraschini IF 184C gasoline engine of 1,500 hp. 1 propeller. The armament consisted of two 45.7 cm torpedo tubes m/47, four 8 mm machine guns m/36. A simple navigation radar was also installed. T201 was transferred in 1964 to RFK (The Air Force Missile test Station in Karlsborg) as a radio-controlled target tug and was still in operation in 1985. The image shows the prototype motor torpedo boat T201, launched in 1952, delivered to the Navy in 1953. Length 16.3 m, beam 3.8 m. The navigation radar is located in a lattice mast in the stern. Photo: KÖMS.

T42 – T56 The T42 series consisted of 15 boats built between 1956 and 1957. They were built with the same stepless hull as the T41. The boats had a slightly more angular wheelhouse than the earlier motor torpedo boats and were equipped with a combined torpedo and anti-aircraft radar. A radar torpedo sight replaced the previous optical sights. 1. T42, launched in 1956 and delivered to the Navy in 1956. Decommissioned in 1988. 2. T43, launched in 1956 and delivered to the Navy in 1956. Decommissioned in 1988. 3. T44, launched in 1956 and delivered to the Navy in 1956. Decommissioned in 1990. 4. T45, launched in 1957 and delivered to the Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1984. 5. T46, launched in 1957 and delivered to the Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1984. 6. T47, launched in 1958 and delivered to the Navy in 1958. Decommissioned in 1995 (sold). 7. T48, launched in 1958 and delivered to the Navy in 1958. Decommissioned in 1981. 8. T49, launched in 1958 and delivered to the Navy in 1958. Decommissioned in 1981. 9. T50, launched in 1959 and delivered to the Navy in 1959. Decommissioned in 1981. 10. T51, launched in 1959 and delivered to the Navy in 1959. Decommissioned in 1995. 11. T52, launched in 1959 and delivered to the Navy in 1959. Decommissioned in 1981 (sold). 12. T53, launched in 1956 and delivered to the Navy in 1956. Decommissioned in 1984. 13. T54, launched in 1957 and delivered to the Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1984. 14. T55, launched in 1957 and delivered to the Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1984. 15. T56, launched in 1957 and delivered to the Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1984. T42 - T52 were built by Kockums shipyard while T53 - T56 were built by Marinverkstäderna in Stockholm as a subcontractor to Kockums. The boats were 23.0 m long and the beam was 5.9 m wide. The displacement was 43 tons. Speed: 45 knots. Complement: 16 men. The machinery consisted of three Isotta-Fraschini IF 184C gasoline engines with a total of 4.500 hp. There were also two V8 Ford Marin engines totaling 170 hp for low speeds. 3 propellers. The T48 was modified in 1958 and got new engines, three CRM 185 with direct fuel injection in the compressors with a total power of 5,400 hp and hydraulic backstroke on the main engines so that no special marching engines were needed. The top speed was increased to 50 knots. The armament consisted of two 53.3 cm torpedo tubes m/47, one 40 mm automatic cannon m/36, two 8 mm machine guns m/36, one 57 mm illumination shell launcher and six depth charges. The boats were part of the peace armed units until 1976 and left the war organization in 1981. 1975 was actually the last year for the Navy's motor torpedo boats. The image shows the motor torpedo boat T49, launched in 1958, delivered to the Navy in 1958. Length 23 m, beam 5.9 m. Photo in 1958. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo28904A. A new future as picket boats: 1. T41, converted to the picket boat HMS Viken (V04) in 1977. 2. T42, converted to the picket boat HMS Skanör (V01) in 1976. 3. T43, converted to the picket boat HMS Smyge (V02) in 1977. 4. T44, converted to the picket boat HMS Arild (V03) in 1977. 5. T47, converted to the picket boat HMS Öregrund (V05) between 1982-1983. 6. T48, converted to the picket boat HMS Slite (V06) between 1982-1983. 7. T50, converted to the picket boat HMS Marstrand (V07) between 1982-1983. 8. T51, converted to the picket boat HMS Lysekil (V08) between 1982-1983. The T46 was purchased in 1986 by King Carl XVI Gustaf and had her restored to her original condition to be preserved as a museum ship with her home port of Gålö. She was listed as a historic ship in 2008. The boat has been part of the Veteran Flotilla since 1987. The ship was donated to the Maritime Museum by the King in 2020. The image shows the motor torpedo boat T45, launched in 1957, delivered to the Navy in 1957. Length 23 m, beam 5.9 m. Photo in 1957. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo79035A.

Torpedo Boats and Missile Boats

The limited range and endurance of the small but fast motor torpedo boats, as well as their dependence on the weather, meant that already in the 1940s the Swedish Naval Administration began planning a larger torpedo boat with more powerful armament and better seaworthiness. A large 145-ton torpedo boat, the T101, was designed and tested from 1948 to 1952. She became the prototype for the Plejad series of 11 boats. This led to the development of ever larger torpedo boats and later also missile boats. The Plejad torpedo boats were initially referred to as "Large motor torpedo boats" (MtbS), but from 1965 the term torpedo boat (Tb) was used. Endurance was greatly improved and as the crew could now live and eat on board the boats, which was not the case with the much smaller motor torpedo boats; they were no longer dependent on fixed bases. The torpedo boats were intended to be a powerful and fast-moving component of the cruiser squadrons and later the destroyer flotillas. A destroyer flotilla usually consisted of three destroyers and six torpedo boats. The late 1960s saw the introduction of a new, larger, gas turbine-powered type of torpedo boat, the Spica class of 6 boats. The Spica boats became a powerful heir to the Plejad boats. The Spica concept was so successful that it formed the basis for a subsequent series of 12 ships, the Norrköping class, also known as Spica II. When the last destroyers fell by the wayside in the early 1980s, the torpedo boats took over as the core of the surface attack. The torpedo boats in the Norrköping class were then equipped with Swedish long-range RBS15 missiles and were then called missile boats (Rb). They were then given almost the striking power of a destroyer.

Swedish Torpedo Boats and Missile Boats

T101 - HMS Perseus The T101 was built as a prototype for a new, larger torpedo boat that was more heavily armed, and had better endurance and better seaworthiness than the motor torpedo boats. A 145-ton torpedo boat, named T101, was designed and tested between 1948 and 1952. She became the prototype for the 11 boats of the Pleiades series. In 1953, T101 was named HMS Perseus. The T101 was launched in 1950 and delivered to the Navy in 1951. The ship was decommissioned in 1967. She was 48.0 m long and the beam was 5.8 m. The displacement was 145 tons. Speed: 38 knots. Complement: 33 men. The machinery consisted of three Mercedes-Benz diesel engines of the type MB 511 with a total of 7,500 hp. 3 propellers. She was originally intended to have three Götaverken 10-cyl counter-piston engines of about 3,000 hp each. As the delivery of these was delayed, the used Mercedes diesels were chosen instead. The armament consisted of four 53.3 cm torpedo tubes m/50, two 40 mm automatic canons m/36, depth charges, and naval mines. The ship had good seaworthiness but tended to take on a lot of water in heavy weather. Perseus was later used as an experimental vessel for various engine tests. Among other things, a gas turbine with angular gear and KaMeWa propellers was tested in 1961, which later facilitated the design work for the future Spica class. The image shows the torpedo boat T101, launched in 1950 and delivered to the Navy in 1951. Length 48 m, beam 5.8 m. Moored directly to the mountainside for the landing of a coast artillery patrol at a wartime mooring site east of Kastö in the Stockholm archipelago, October 1953. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo88664AB. Torpedo Boat type Plejad / T102 – T112 The Plejad torpedo boats were built based on the experience gained from the prototype ship T101 (see above). A total of 11 Plejad class boats were built between 1954 and 1957 and were a displacement type of vessel. The exhaust gases are discharged at the side and bottom. The 11 ships of the Plejad class inherited their names from the steam-powered 1st class torpedo boats that the navy had in the first part of the 20th century. The names are derived from famous stars. The ships were built at the Lürssen shipyard in Germany from blueprints based on the T101. The image shows the torpedo boat HMS Pollux T104, launched in 1954, delivered to the Navy in 1954. Length 48 m, beam 5.8 m. Photo in 1956. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo88668A. 1. T102 Plejad, launched in 1953 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1954. Decommissioned in 1977. 2. T103 Polaris, launched in 1954 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1954. Decommissioned in 1977. 3. T104 Pollux, launched in 1954 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1954. Decommissioned in 1977. 4. T105 Relugus, launched in 1954 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1954. Decommissioned in 1977. 5. T106 Rigel, launched in 1954 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1954. Decommissioned in 1977. 6. T107 Aldebaran, launched in 1954 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1954. Decommissioned in 1981. 7. T108 Altair, launched in 1956 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1977. 8. T109 Antares, launched in 1956 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1956. Decommissioned in 1977. 9. T110 Arcturus, launched in 1956 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1957 Decommissioned in 1981. 10. T111 Argo, launched in 1957 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1977. 11. T112 Astrea, launched in 1957 in Germany and delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1957. Decommissioned in 1981. The boats were 48.0 m long and the beam was 5.8 m. The displacement was 175 tons. Speed: 37.5 knots. Complement: 33 men. The machinery consisted of three Mercedes-Benz diesel engines MB 518 with a total of 7,500 hp. 3 propellers. The engines had a lot of technical problems that took time to fix. It was intended that the ships in the Plejad class would be equipped with three Swedish-built diesel engines from Götaverken of 3,000 hp, but the development of these was delayed. In order for the ships to receive engines in time, engines for the first six ships were therefore ordered from Daimler Benz in Germany. These were of type MB 518, which had previously been tested as a center engine on HMS Perseus with a power of 2,500 hp. The German MB engines were lighter than the originally planned Swedish engines. This was used, among other things, to equip the control room on the bridge with an armored calotte and the armament was supplemented with two additional torpedo tubes. The T101's hand-directed 40 mm anti-aircraft automatic guns were replaced by heavier machine-directed anti- aircraft automatic guns m/48. They were later fitted with protected plastic hoods. The armament consisted of six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes m/50, two 40 mm automatic guns m/48, two 10.3 cm illumination shell launchers m/55, one 57 mm illumination shell launcher M/55 (not all boats), depth charges, and naval mines. From the fall of 1954, generally, four to six boats were kept fit out and armed annually, forming the 11th Torpedo Boat Division of the Coastal Fleet. The image shows the torpedo boat HMS Plejad T102, launched in 1953, delivered to the Navy in 1954. Length 48 m, beam 5.8 m. Photo in 1955. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo97992A. Torpedo Boat type Spica / T121 – T126 The Spica class was a series of six torpedo boats (T121 - T126) built on the basis of experience with the Plejad class and modernized in relation to that type. This was done mainly in the areas of weapons, telecommunications, protection, and machinery. The series was completed in 1966 - 1967. The T121 - T123 were built at the Götaverken shipyard in Gothenburg and the T124 - T126 at the Karlskrona shipyard. The ships' names are derived from famous stars. They inherited their names from the steam- powered torpedo boats the navy had in the first part of the 20th century. The Spica-class ships, when they entered service, were an epoch-making design and were an important factor in the development of a modern surface attack system. They were equipped with advanced electronics and NBC protection and each boat was powered by three gas turbines. The series was an important part of Sweden's defense during the Cold War. The image shows the torpedo boat HMS Castor T124, launched in 1965, delivered to the Navy in 1967. Length 42.5 m, beam 7.1 m. Photo in 1967. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo36524. The design was later developed into the Norrköping class torpedo boats ("Spica II") and the Stockholm class corvettes ("Spica III"). Ships in the class: 1. HMS Spica (T121), launched in 1966 and delivered to the Navy in 1966. Decommissioned in 1989. 2. HMS Sirius (T122), launched in 1966 and delivered to the Navy in 1966. Decommissioned in 1985. 3. HMS Capella (T123), launched in 1966 and delivered to the Navy in 1967. Decommissioned in 1989. 4. HMS Castor (T124), launched in 1965 and delivered to the Navy in 1967. Decommissioned in 1985. 5. HMS Vega (T125), launched in 1966 and delivered to the Navy in 1967. Decommissioned in 1989. 6. HMS Virgo (T126), launched in 1966 and delivered to the Navy in 1968. Decommissioned in 1989. They were 42.5 m long and the beam was 7.1 m. The displacement was 210 tons. Speed: 40 knots. Complement: 30 men. The steering system was electro-hydraulic. The ships were the first in Sweden with a covered bridge. The machinery consisted of three Rolls-Royce Proteus 1282 gas turbines, each with 4,500 hp (i.e. a total of 13,500 hp), each driving a KaMeWa propeller. The gas turbines are also known as Bristol Siddeley Proteus. The ship was equipped with two rudders. The armament consisted of six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes m/65 and m/66 for torpedo type 613, one 57 mm anti-aircraft automatic gun m/50C (plastic dome equipped), and later 57 mm 7101B. Two machine guns m/58, two 10.3 cm rocket racks m/55, one 57 mm illumination shell launcher m/60, and naval mines. The 57 mm dual-purpose gun had an advanced radar fire control system, Arte 62. The globe above the bridge provides protection for the radar antennas. The image shows the torpedo boat HMS Spica T121, launched in 1966, delivered to the Navy in 1966. Length 42.5 m, beam 7.1 m. Photo in 1966. Image: Maritime History Museum, ID: Fo36502A. The HMS Spica, T121, served her last tour of duty during a mobilization exercise in 1987 and was then taken over by the Navy Museum in Karlskrona, where she had her home port until 2002. T121 is now owned by the Foundation T121 Spica - a living museum ship.