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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 - 2

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.

Destroyer (Swe: Jagare)

Destroyers are a type of warship developed in the early 20th century. A destroyer is fast, relatively large, and very heavily armed. Originally, the role of the destroyer was to protect battleships from torpedo boats. Soon enough, destroyers were also equipped with torpedoes. On modern destroyers, torpedoes have been supplemented or replaced by missiles. During and before World War II, destroyers were mainly used for patrol, escort, and anti-submarine duties. They were therefore often armed with anti- submarine equipment such as sonar and depth charges. The era of Swedish destroyers began in 1902, when HMS Mode entered service, and ended in 1985 when the last Swedish destroyer HMS Halland J18 was decommissioned. Fifteen of the Swedish destroyers were converted to frigates during their time in service, some changed their pennant numbers while others kept their numbers and only changed their prefix J to an F (J=Jagare and F = Frigate). The last destroyers delivered to the Swedish Navy were the 4 destroyers of the Östergötland class, J20 - J23, which were delivered in 1958 - 1959. Most of the Swedish destroyers have carried a city or province name, such as HMS Sundsvall J12 of the Visby class (Namesake: City of Sundsvall) or HMS Södermanland J21 of the Östergötland class (Namesake: Province of Södermanland).

Swedish Destroyers

Mode (officially HM Jagare Mode) and her sister ship Magne (HM Jagare Magne) were the first two destroyers in the Swedish Navy and were purchased from the UK. Mode was launched in 1902 at the Yarrow & Co. shipyard in London, delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1902, and was decommissioned in 1928. Magne was launched in 1905 at the Thornycroft shipyard in England, delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1905, and was decommissioned in 1936. Mode was 67.1 m long and the beam was 6.25 m. The displacement was 323/453 tons. Speed: 31 knots. Complement: 65 men. Magne was 66.0 m long and the beam was 6.3 m. The displacement was 309/422 tons. Speed: 31 knots. Complement: 67 men. A trial run in England with the Mode reached a speed of 32.5 knots, the then-highest speed in the world for this type of ship. The ships were armed with six 57 mm m/89B guns and two 45.7 cm m/1902 torpedo tubes. In 1911/1912 two 6.5 mm machine guns m/10 were added to each ship. In appearance, Mode and Magne are similar to each other. However, Mode had a relatively short, sharp bow with straight deck lines. Magne had a slightly longer forecastle with a concave deck line. The image shows the destroyer Mode, launched in 1902 and delivered in 1902. Length 67 m, beam 6.3 m. Sweden's first destroyer. Photo: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo28729A. The first four destroyers built in Sweden were based on the British-built destroyers Mode and Magne. It was Magne in particular that became the model. The four destroyers were Wale, Ragnar, Sigurd, and Vidar. However, with their 7.5 cm guns, these destroyers were more heavily armed than Mode and Magne. Wale was launched in 1907 and delivered to the Navy in 1908 and decommissioned in 1940. Wale's pennant number was 3. Ragnar and Sigurd were launched in 1908 and delivered to the Navy in 1909 and decommissioned in 1947. Ragnar’s pennant number was 5, later 22. Sigurd’s pennant number was 6, later 21. Vidar was launched in 1909 and delivered to the Navy in 1910 and decommissioned in 1947. Vidar’s pennant number was 4, later 23 (pennant number = ship's identification number). The vessels were 66.1 m long and the beam was 6.3 m. The displacement was 350/416 tons. Speed: 30 knots. Complement: 69 men. The armament was two 7.5 cm m/05 guns and four 57 mm m/89B. Furthermore, two 45.7 cm torpedo tubes m/02-04. In 1911 the armament was supplemented with two 6.5 mm machine guns. During the interwar period, the destroyers were modernized. The image shows the destroyer Ragnar, launched in 1908 and delivered in 1909. Length 66.1 m, beam 6.3 m. Here with pennant No. 22 and marked with white neutrality stripes. Photo outside Karlskrona in 1943. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo80584A. Two more destroyers were built in Sweden at this time, Hugin and Munin, and were more or less identical in appearance to the four previous Swedish- built destroyers. Hugin and Munin were the first ships in the Swedish Navy, along with Clas Fleming, to be equipped with steam turbines instead of steam piston engines. The steam turbines gave higher power but the maximum speed was only slightly higher, Hugin 31.2 knots and Mumin 33.5 knots. Hugin was launched in 1910 and delivered to the Navy in 1911 and was decommissioned in 1947. Hugin‘s pennant No. was 7, later 24. Munin was launched in 1911 and delivered to the Navy in 1913 and decommissioned in 1940. Munin’s pennant No. was 8. The ships were 66.3 m long and the beam was 6.5 m. The displacement was 350/420 tons. Speed: 30 knots. Complement: 73 men. The armament was four 7.5 cm m/05-10 guns and two 6.5 mm machine guns. Furthermore, two 45.7 cm torpedo tubes m/02-04. In the 1920s the Munin got a built-in higher wheelhouse instead of the earlier open wheelhouse. At the end of the 1930s, the armament was changed somewhat, including the replacement of the aft 7.5 cm gun with two 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic guns m/32s in twin gun carriages. The image shows the destroyer Hugin, launched in 1910 and delivered in 1911. Length 66.3 m, beam 6.5 m. Here with pennant no. 24 and marked with WWII white neutrality stripes. Photo on the Swedish west coast in October 1944. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo89092A. The Wrangel class was a class of destroyers consisting of the Wrangel (HM Jagare Wrangel) and the Wachtmeister (HM Jagare Wachtmeister). The ships were built in 1917 at the Lindholmen shipyard in Gothenburg. Wrangel and Wachtmeister were launched in 1917 and delivered to the navy in 1918 and decommissioned in 1947. Wrangel’s pennant no. was 9, later 25. Wachtmeister’s pennant no. was 10, later 26. The ships were built of riveted steel. They were slightly larger than their Munin class predecessors, and also had a raised foredeck. This gave them better state in rough seas. Like earlier destroyers, the ships had no real superstructure in the bow, but only a protective wall around the bridge. The propulsion machinery consisted of steam turbines and had an output of 11,500 hp. These gave a maximum speed of 34 knots. The ships were 72 m long and the beam was 6.9 m. The displacement was 404/498 tons. Speed: 34 knots. Complement: 85 men. The armament was four 7.5 cm m/12 guns and two x 6.5 mm machine guns m/14. Furthermore six 45.7 cm torpedo tubes m/14. Before the Second World War, the ships were rearmed, including a 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic gun m/32. In the mid-1920s, the destroyers, which originally had coal firing, were given oil firing. The image shows the destroyer Wrangel, launched in 1917 delivered in 1918. Length 72 m, beam 6.9 m. Here with pennant no. 9. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo229282C. The Ehrensköld class was a class of destroyers consisting of the two ships Ehrensköld (HM Jagare Ehrensköld) and Nordenskjöld (HM Jagare Nordenskjöld). Ehrensköld was built at the Kockums shipyard in Malmö and Nordenskjöld by Götaverken in Gothenburg. The ships were delivered as destroyers in 1927 but were converted to frigates between 1951 and 1952. Ehrensköld and Nordenskjöld were launched in 1926, delivered to the Navy in 1927, and decommissioned in 1963. Ehrensköld’s pennant No was 11, later 1, 21 and 71. Nordenskjöld’s pennant No was 12, later 2, 22 and 72. The ships were 91.4 m long and the beam was 8.8 m. The displacement was 947/1,000 tons. Speed: 35 knots. Complement: 119 men. At 1,000 tons, the Ehrensköld class was larger than previous Swedish destroyer classes. They represented a new, larger, faster, and more powerful destroyer type compared to previous destroyer classes. They were the first destroyers built from the start for oil firing (instead of coal firing) and the first with medium-caliber artillery. Just forward of amidships was a three-storey superstructure and at the stern was a one-storey superstructure. At the top of the forward superstructure was an open bridge with navigation equipment etc., and below this was a built-in bridge. The machinery consisted of three oil-fired steam boilers. The two steam turbines generated 24,000 hp and each drove a propeller, giving the ships a speed of 35 knots. The image shows the destroyer Nordenskjöld, launched in 1926 and delivered in 1927. Length 91.4 m, beam 8.8 m. Here with pennant No. 2. Photo outside Karlskrona in 1944, marked with white neutrality stripes. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo142611A. The ships' main armament consisted of three 12 cm guns m/24. The anti-aircraft defense consisted of two 40 mm anti-aircraft automatic guns m/22 placed in the stern. There were also two torpedo tube mounts, each with three torpedo tubes for 53.3 cm torpedoes. On the aft deck, there were two m/24 depth charge racks and two m/24 depth charge throwers. The ships could carry 20 naval mines each. In 1939 the two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns m/22 were replaced by two double 25 mm anti-aircraft guns m/32. In addition, two 8 mm anti-aircraft machine guns m/14-29 were added in single mounts. Around 1950, most destroyer classes were converted to frigates in connection with the modernization that most destroyers underwent at that time. The Ehrensköld class was converted to frigates in 1951- 1952. The aft and middle 12 cm guns and torpedo tubes were removed. Instead, the ships were equipped with four 40 mm anti-aircraft guns m/36s, one anti-aircraft gun m/48, and eight depth charge racks with 250 depth charges. The image shows the destroyer Ehrensköld, launched in 1926 and delivered in 1927. Length 91.4 m, beam 8.8 m. Here with pennant No. 1. Photo in 1934. Image: Marinmuseum, ID: IV279. Klas class was a class of destroyer ships consisting of the two ships Klas Horn (HM Jagare Klas Horn) and Klas Uggla (HM Jagare Klas Uggla). They were built at Kockums and Karlskrona Naval Shipyards respectively in 1932. Both ships were severely damaged in the Horsfjärden Disaster in 1941. Klas Uggla was so damaged that she was scrapped, while Klas Horn was repaired and returned to service. The Klas class destroyers were very similar to the Ehrensköld class destroyers. Based on experience with these, the Klas class destroyers were given a lower center of gravity to make them more rigid at sea. This was achieved with a lower freeboard and a slightly increased beam. Klas Horn and Klas Uggla were launched in 1931 and delivered to the Navy in 1932. Klas Horn was decommissioned in 1958 and Klas Uggla in 1942. Klas Horn’s pennant no. was 3 and Klas Uggla’s pennant no. 4. The ships were 92.4 m long and the beam was 8.9 m. The displacement was 992/1,020 tons. Speed: 36 knots. Complement: 119 men. The ships' main armament consisted of three 12 cm m/24B guns. The close-in anti-aircraft defense consisted of two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns m/22-m/30 and two 8 mm machine guns m/14-m/29. Furthermore, there were two torpedo tube mounts, each with three torpedo tubes for 53.3 cm torpedoes, as well as two depth charge throwers m/33 and two depth charge racks m/24, 40-46 naval mines. Before World War II, the ships were rearmed, among other things, the two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns m/22 were replaced by two double 25 mm anti-aircraft guns m/32. The image shows the destroyer Klas Uggla, launched in 1931 and delivered in 1932. Length 92.4 m, beam 8.9 m. Pennant no. 4. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo34966A. The Horsfjärden Disaster in 1941 The Horsfjärden disaster was an event that hit the Swedish Navy during World War II. A series of explosions caused by far the worst damage to Swedish Navy units during the war, in which Sweden was not a combatant. The disaster occurred at the Swedish naval base on the island of Märsgarn in Horsfjärden Bay in the southern archipelago of Stockholm on Wednesday, September 17, 1941, when three destroyers were destroyed, killing 33 people and injuring many more. It is not entirely clear whether sabotage was the cause of the explosions. Parts of the Coastal Fleet were in Horsfjärden where, among others, the coastal defense ships Sverige, Drottning Victoria, and Tapperheten were anchored. The three destroyers that were lost and the destroyer Stockholm were part of the 1st Destroyer Division and when they arrived at the base at Märsgarn, the ships had been out for three months on escort and convoy missions and as a neutrality watch. Provisioning and bunkering of oil and other supplies took place at sea underway while protecting the convoys. The destroyers arrived at Märsgarn for crew change and overhaul of the ships on the evening of September 16, 1941. They moored next to each other against the destroyer landing stage, Klas Uggla closest to the landing stage, Klas Horn in the middle, and Göteborg farthest out. The boilers on board were extinguished and connected with steam lines from a boiler room on land and electricity was connected from a transformer next to the boiler room. A group of three war aircraft from Roslagen Air Force Group F 2 in Hägernäs conducted attack exercises against the anchored coastal defense ships on the morning of 17 September. F 2 Hägernäs was a naval air wing (no runway) and the aircraft were seaplanes launched from the water. Reconnaissance aircraft, torpedo aircraft, and transport aircraft were stationed at Roslagen Air Group (F 2). The torpedo aircraft on F 2 at this time was the T 2 (Heinkel He 115) which was used for torpedo bombing. There was also the reconnaissance aircraft S 12 (Heinkel He 114) at F 2. It was indeed a reconnaissance aircraft but it was also used as a bomber (dive bomber) and could carry a load of two 50 kg bombs. There were three S 12s (no. 18, 23, and 24) that carried out attack exercises against the coastal defense ships on Horsfjärden on that fateful day (i.e. the exercise was not directed against the destroyers). The air attacks were made at low altitude from the east over the island of Märsgarn, where the three destroyers Klas Uggla, Klas Horn, and Göteborg were moored, and out towards the coastal defense ships on Horsfjärden. The fourth destroyer in the 1st Destroyer Division, Stockholm, was underway at Mysingen Bay and would soon moor outside Göteborg on the morning of September 17. Aboard Göteborg was training in torpedo technology being carried out at the aft torpedo tubes. At 09:58 in the morning, a powerful explosion occurred astern on the Göteborg, immediately followed by an explosion on the Klas Horn which was moored closest. It was almost certainly the battle- loaded torpedoes that exploded. The primed depth charges in the racks and throwers on board HMS Göteborg and HMS Klas Horn detonated not until the ships had sunk and blew up the sterns. The image shows the disaster at Horsfjärden where Swedish destroyers Klas Horn, Klas Uggla, and Göteborg were destroyed on September 17, 1941, at the naval base on the island of Märsgarn. Image: Marinmuseum, ID: IV899. A fierce fire broke out with burning oil spilling onto the water. This made it impossible to tow away the damaged ships to rescue the Klas Uggla, which was moored closest to the landing stage. At 10:10, twelve minutes after the explosion, the Göteborg sank, followed fifteen minutes later by the Klas Horn. The two damaged ships had been broken apart and sank to the bottom. The unsecured depth charges had torn apart the sterns. Klas Uggla was also affected; she sank at 11:15, i.e. after just over an hour, as a result of the burning oil. The fire also spread on land and much of the buildings on the northern part of the island burned down. The incident killed 33 men. The destroyers Göteborg and Klas Horn were salvaged and repaired and were back in service in the fall of 1943. The Klas Uggla was also salvaged but was scrapped due to excessive damage. The image shows the monument at Märsgarn in memory of those killed in the destroyer explosions on September 17, 1941, at the naval base where the three destroyers were blown up. Image: Wikipedia. On June 10, 1943, the Coastal Fleet Court Martial made a final statement on the fatal incident. Of all the possible causes of the explosions, 9 had been agreed upon and now reduced to two. It was considered strange that the time of the first explosion coincided with warplanes passing over the destroyers while torpedo training was taking place at one of the torpedo racks in the stern of HMS Göteborg. However, eight sworn witnesses claim to have seen a bomb-like object fall from one of the aircraft. However, the Court Martial considered that neither a possible dropped object from the aircraft nor a mistake during the torpedo training could have caused the accident, i.e. neither involuntary firing of the torpedo nor a dropped object from the aircraft. It was likely that sabotage had been carried out but that the perpetrator or perpetrators could not yet be traced. The case was closed and the court martial dismissed the case from further consideration. All investigative material was classified, initially for 50 years, which was extended to 75 years. On September 17, 2016, the confidentiality was to be lifted, but the Swedish Military Intelligence Service (MUST) extended the confidentiality of the names of all informants and their information for another 20 years. Obviously, there is something they know and want to protect long after everyone involved has passed away. It was probably sabotage, but who would have gained from it? There have been many speculations. The British probably had the greatest reason to want to prevent iron ore exports to Germany and the Soviets were looking to sink any German ships they could get their hands on. The sabotage could have taken place through Malcolm Munthe's English group or the Soviet/communist Wollweber organization.

Cruiser (2)

A cruiser is a large warship capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously. The cruiser is in the size range between a battleship and a destroyer. The main tasks of the cruiser included conducting reconnaissance and surveillance at sea, destroying the enemy's shipping, blocking, or otherwise disturbing his coast, and protecting his own shipping and coastline. In modern warfare, the cruiser has almost completely disappeared, and its tasks have been taken over by destroyers. The last Swedish cruiser was HMS Göta Lejon, which was decommissioned in 1970. The term “cruiser” is not a term for a single type of ship. There are several different types of warships that have been called “cruisers”. Start-page: Cruiser

Swedish Cruisers

Light cruiser: The warships classified as light cruisers usually had a displacement of between 2,000 and 10,000 tons. Artillery was usually 6-inch (152 mm) guns, torpedoes and anti-aircraft guns, and sometimes their own reconnaissance aircraft. HMS Tre Kronor (officially HM Kryssare Tre Kronor) and HMS Göta Lejon (officially HM Kryssare Göta Lejon) were the names of two Tre Kronor class cruisers of the Swedish Navy. Tre Kronor was launched in 1944 at Götaverken in Gothenburg and delivered to the Navy in 1947. She was decommissioned in 1964. Göta Lejon was launched in 1945 at Eriksberg and delivered to the Navy in 1947. She was decommissioned in 1970 and sold to Chile in 1971. There she was renamed Almirante Latorre and served until 1984. The image shows the Swedish cruiser Tre Kronor, launched in 1944 and delivered in 1947. Length: 180.2 m. Beam: 16.7 m. Image: Marinmuseum, ID: MM04879. The two cruisers were the longest and largest ships in the fleet and the only ones with triple turrets. Tre Kronor and Göta Lejon were 180.2 m long and their beam was 16.7 m. The displacement was 7,650 / 9,238 tons. Speed: 33 knots. Complement: 783 men (wartime crew). The image shows the Swedish cruiser Göta Lejon in the Stockholms harbor entrance in 1952, launched in 1945 and delivered in 1947. Length: 180.2 m. Beam: 16.7 m. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo133A. The machinery consisted of 4 water tube boilers, which supplied steam to 2 steam turbines. The propulsion machinery generated an output of 90,000 hp, allowing the vessels to exceed the contracted speed of 33 knots. In addition, there were steam- driven electric generators and 2 diesel engine-driven generators. The main armament consisted of seven 15.2 cm m/42 guns placed in a turret on the foredeck and two turrets on the quarterdeck. The guns were aimed from a central sight either optically or by means of artillery radars and the firing was calculated in three artillery centers. For anti-aircraft protection, the ships were equipped with twenty 40 mm m/36 anti-aircraft automatic guns in six gyro-stabilized water-cooled twin gun carriages and four hand-directed air-cooled twin gun carriages. In addition to these, there were also nine 20 mm m/40 anti-aircraft machine guns mounted in single gun carriages. On the aft deck were two triple tubes for 53 cm torpedoes which were aimed from two sights. Also on the aft deck were release tracks for mines and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare. In 1948, a modern battle management and radar system was installed. The image shows the cruiser Tre Kronor in Sundsvall harbor entrance 1957, launched in 1944 and delivered in 1947. Length: 180.2 m. Beam: 16.7 m. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo106818A. Both ships had their bridges rebuilt after a few years, Göta Lejon in the years 1949 - 1950 and Tre Kronor in the years 1951 - 1953. The three pictures above of Tre Kronor and Göta Lejon show the ships with the new bridges they got after the rebuilding. The image shows the cruiser Tre Kronor with the original bridge before rebuilding 1951-1953. Photo: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo128A. After the rebuilds, the ships' light artillery consisted of twenty 40 mm m/36 anti-aircraft automatic guns in double gun carriages (six of which were gyro- stabilized) and six 40 mm m/48. The radar, combat management and fire control systems were gradually renewed. In 1957 - 1958 the Göta Lejon's air defense system was again modernized and the six gyro-stabilized m/36 anti-aircraft automatic guns were replaced by four 57 mm m/50B anti-aircraft automatic guns. All other 40 mm m/36 anti-aircraft automatic guns were replaced by eleven single m/48s. In the fall of 1958, i.e. after only 11 years in service, HMS Tre Kronor was placed in material readiness and was never armed again. Göta Lejon made a final war exercise in 1964. In the same year, she was then placed in material readiness, decommissioned in 1970 and sold to Chile in 1971. Auxiliary cruiser: During World War II, auxiliary cruisers were civilian ships called into naval service and armed. They were typically fast freighters or ferries and the armament was generally always older artillery pieces. The purpose of these ships was to quickly bring the necessary warships into service to meet the needs of the fleet. Auxiliary cruisers were mainly used for mine laying and as convoy ships. The Drottning Victoria was a Swedish train ferry belonging to Swedish State Railways (SJ) that was called up at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. There was an urgent need to lay mines and as the mine cruiser Clas Fleming was in the shipyard to be modernized, it was urgent to find a replacement. Drottning Victoria was called in on September 5, 1939, and was converted into a mine-laying vessel at Finnboda Shipyard until September 14. She was armed with three 120 mm cannons m/94 and 450 naval mines m/14. Under her temporary name HM Hjälpkryssare Nr 3 (Hjkr 3 Drottning Victoria), she played the main role in laying 90 mines in the so- called Northern Minefield in Södra Kvarken, Gulf of Bothnia, in December 1939. The auxiliary cruiser Waria (Hjkr 4 Waria) and its sister ship Warun (Hjkr 5 Warun) were Swedish cargo ships belonging to the Svea Company that were called up during World War II as auxiliary cruisers in the Swedish Navy. They were rebuilt at Finnboda shipyard and were completed on April 5, 1940. Together with her sister ships Warun and Wiros (Hjkr 14 Wiros), Waria was part of the Stockholm Squadron and was mainly used for escort service between Gotland Island and the mainland. They were returned to Svea Company in 1945 and returned to operating in Baltic Sea ports. The image shows auxiliary cruiser Warun (Hjkr 5) in 1943. Length 67.3 m, beam 10.9 m. Shipping company: Stockholms Rederi AB Svea, year of construction: 1935. Image: Sjöhistoriska museet, ID: Fo80031A. Fidra (Hjkr 10 Fidra) was called up to replace the withdrawn Worno, which was in distant waters. Fidra was rebuilt at Götaverken and was completed on April 2, 1940. She replaced the auxiliary cruiser Drottning Victoria as a mine-laying vessel in the coastal fleet and, among other things, had to supplement the mine laying at Understen, Stockholm archipelago. Later she cooperated with the mining vessel Älvsnabben. She was returned to the Svea Company in 1945. Examples of auxiliary cruisers during the war: • Hjkr 3 (Drottning Victoria) • Hjkr 4 (Waria) • Hjkr 5 (Warun) • Hjkr 10 (Fidra) • Hjkr 14 (Wiros)