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Swedish Navy

Era: WW2 · Source: Naval Wargames Society

Neutral Swedish naval forces data, covering coastal defence ships and destroyers.

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The Royal Swedish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 1 of 26 Three Crowns in the Baltic - The Royal Swedish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Sweden emerged from the Great War with her neutrality and her navy intact. In fact her navy was by far the strongest permanent force in the Baltic. A misplaced trust in the peace settlements of Versailles and the League of Nations led to a gradual decline, with the Swedish Navy (known in Sweden as the Kungliga flottan), sleepwalking its way into mediocrity. A rude awakening was doled out with the outbreak of the Winter War and a realisation that Germany was, once more, a potent threat to the South. A rush building programme was initiated, buying in overseas designs from, of all places, Italy (designs that were adequate in the Mediterranean but found wanting in terms of structural strength and seakeeping in the particularly aggressive waters of the Baltic. Despite her neutrality (or perhaps because of it) Sweden developed and maintained an excellent arms industry, with the world renowned company of Bofors producing all the navy’s guns. The 40mm Bofors was perhaps the most famous gun of its type and was used by many countries during WW2, including the UK, USA and Germany. Through deft diplomacy (and managing to project just the right level of military effectiveness and aggressiveness) Sweden managed to avoid being drawn into the war, despite every other neighbouring country joining the fight. Nevertehless, there are some interesting “what if” scenarios that could involve Swedish units. A German invasion is one obvious scenario, but others include a clash in the Aaland Islands with British forces engaged in Operation Catherine (Churchill’s cancelled operation to send RN surface ships into the Baltic – it was intended to establish a base in the Aaland Islands, regardless of whether Sweden agreed or not), and a three –way scenario involving Swedish, German and Russian units based around the planned escape of the Russian fleet at St Petersburg to Sweden. The Kungliga flottan Fleet List The following forms the fleet list for the Royal Swedish Navy. Priority Level: Patrol Ehrenskold class destroyer Psilander class destroyer Klas Horn class destroyer Romulus class destroyer Goteborg class destroyer Mode class destroyer Visby class destroyer Oland class destroyer Valen class submersible Draken class submersible Delfinen class submersible Sjolejonet class submersible Neptun class submersible U1 class submersible Älvsnabben class minelayer Fiat CR.42 (5 flights) Gloster Gladiator (5 flights) Re.2001 (4 flights) Saab 17 (3 flights) Saab 18 (3 flights) Northrop 8-A-1 (3 flights) FFVS J22 (3 flights) Heinkel He.115 (3 flights) Priority Level: Skirmish Sverige class coastal defence ship Oscar II class coastal defence ship Aran class coastal defence ship Gotland class cruiser Tre Kronor class cruiser Fylgia class cruiser

The Royal Swedish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 2 of 26 Sverige class Coastal defence Ship The Sveriges were the last in a long line of coastal defence ships built for the Swedish Navy. They were often referred to as “battleships”, although at less than 10,000 tonnes they were hardly worthy of that name. They did, however,pack a heavy punch and were well protected both against enemy gunfire, and also against air attack with a heavy AA armament that was continually augmented through the ships’ lives. Ships of this class: Sverige, Gustav V, Drottning Victoria Speed: 5” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 4+ Damage: 8/3 Crew: 18/6 Special Traits: In Service: 1917 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (2x 11”) 28” 2 1 X Turret (2x 11”) 28” 2 1 Secondary Armament 12” 3 1 Weak AAA 5” 4 - Length: 396 ft. Displacement: 7,900 tons Speed: 22.5 kts. Crew: 427

The Royal Swedish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 3 of 26 Oscar II Class Coastal Defence Ship Oscar II was a single ship class and the last Swedish coastal defence ship to carry 8.3” guns. Protection and armament was good for a ship of its size, and a relatively shallow draft and good manoeuvrability allowed the ship and her near- sisters to operate effectively in the congested waters of the Swedish littoral. Ships of this class: Oscar II Speed: 3” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 4+ Damage: 5/2 Crew: 14/5 Special Traits: In Service: 1901 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (1x 8.3”) 28” 1 1 X Turret (1x 8.3”) 28” 1 1 Secondary Armament 12” 2 1 Weak AAA 5” 2 - Length: 313 ft. Displacement: 4,273 tons Speed: 22.5 kts. Crew: 330

The Royal Swedish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 4 of 26 Aran class Coastal defence ship The predecessors to the Sverige and Oscar II class, the Arans were less heavily armed and armoured but were still capable vessels. In common with all major operational Swedish ships they were continuously updated, in particular their AA armament which was replaced and upgraded several times with additional 40mm guns. Ships of this class: Aran, Tapperhetten, Manligheten, Wasa Speed: 3” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 3+ Damage: 4/2 Crew: 18/6 Special Traits: In Service: 1901 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (1x 8.3”) 28” 1 1 X Turret (1x 8.3”) 28” 1 1 Secondary Armament 12” 2 1 Weak AAA 5” 4 - Length: 350 ft. Displacement: 3,700 tons Speed: 22.5 kts. Crew: 427

The Royal Swedish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 5 of 26 Gotland Class Cruiser Gotland was designed as an aircraft carrying cruiser, with space aft for 12 seaplanes. Operationally this was a non- starter and only six aircraft were embarked. Eventually eve this was found to be beyond the ship’s capabilities and in 1944 the aviation facilities were removed and the space aft was turned over to a heavy AAA fit (increase AAA AD to 6) Ships of this class: Gotland Speed: 6” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 6/2 Crew: 19/7 Special Traits: Aircraft 6 (1 flight, Hawker Ospreys) In Service: 1933 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (2x 6”) 24” 1 1 Weak X Turret (2x 6”) 24” 1 1 Weak Secondaries 24” 1 1 Weak AAA 5” 4 - Port Torpedoes 10” 2 4 Starboard Torpedoes 10” 2 4 Length: 426 ft. Displacement: 5,550 tons Speed: 28 kts. Crew: 467

The Royal Swedish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 6 of 26 Tre Kronor Class Cruiser The Tre Kronors (Three Crowns) were handsome modern cruisers, comparable with those of many first rank naval nations. Their excellent guns were backed up with an effective fire control system. Excellent AA provision was granted through the use of dual purpose armament and 40mm Bofors guns. Tre Kronor was scrapped in 1964 but Gota Lejon was sold to Chile and continued to serve into the 1980s. Ships of this class: Tre Kronor, Gota Lejon Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 5+ Armour: 4+ Damage: 10/4 Crew: 25/9 Special Traits: Aircraft 2, Improved Fire Control In Service: 1945 Weapon Range AD DD Special A Turret (3x 6”) 24” 1 1 Weak, twin-linked X Turret (2x 6”) 24” 1 1 Weak Y Turret (2x 6”) 24” 1 1 Weak Secondary Armament 20” 3 1 Weak Port Torpedoes 10” 2 4 Single Shot, AP Starboard Torpedoes 10” 2 4 Single Shot, AP AAA 5” 4 - Length: 570 ft. Displacement: 9,200 tons Speed: 33 kts. Crew: 610

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