Gotland-class submarine
{{Short description|Swedish Navy attack submarine class}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Swedish attack submarine HMS Gotland.jpg | Ship caption = HSwMS Gotland }}{{Infobox ship class overview |Builders=Kockums |Operators={{navy|SWE}} |Class before={{sclass|Västergötland|submarine|4}} |Class after={{sclass|Blekinge|submarine|4}} |Subclasses= |Built range=1992–1996 |In commission range=1996–present |Total ships building= |Total ships planned=3 |Total ships completed=3 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active=3 |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Submarine | Ship displacement = *Surfaced: {{convert|1494|t|LT}}
| Ship length = {{convert|60.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|6.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = | Ship draft = {{convert|5.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship propulsion = *2 × Diesel-electric MTU engines
| Ship speed = *Surfaced: {{convert|11|kn|km/h|lk=in}}
| Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship complement = *18–22 officers
| Ship sensors = CSU 90-2 integrated sonar sensor suite | Ship EW = | Ship armament = *4 × {{convert|533|mm|abbr=on|1}} torpedo tubes
| Ship notes = }} |
The Gotland-class submarines of the Swedish Navy are modern diesel-electric submarines, which were designed and built by the Kockums shipyard in Sweden. They are the first submarines in the world to feature a Stirling engine air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, which extends their underwater endurance from a few days to weeks.{{cite web | title=The Gotland class submarine - submerged several weeks | website=Kockums | url=http://www.kockums.se/en/products-services/submarines/gotland-class/ | access-date=2008-04-06 | archive-date=2011-04-25 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425220545/http://www.kockums.se/en/products-services/submarines/gotland-class/ | url-status=dead }} This capability had previously only been available with nuclear-powered submarines.
Features
As of 2008, the Gotland-class attack submarine is one of the most modern submarines of the Swedish Navy in service, mainly designed for submarine missions such as antiship/antisubmarine warfare, collecting of intelligence (communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic signals intelligence (ELINT)), forward surveillance, special operations, and mine-laying tasks.
On the water surface, the submarine is powered by two sets of MTU engines. While submerged, the Kockums-built Stirling engine AIP system is used to drive a {{convert|75|kW|adj=on|shp|lk=on}} generator for either propulsion or charging the batteries. A Stirling engine is particularly well suited for a submarine because the engine is nearly silent and can use the surrounding seawater as a heat sink to increase efficiency. Submerged endurance is dependent on the amount of liquid oxygen stored onboard and is described as "weeks". The class is characterized by its low acoustic signatures, extreme shock resistance, and a competent combat system.
Kockums touts extreme manoeuvrability for this class due to the hull design and a well-placed X rudder. The X rudder provides four control surfaces, along with two mounted on the sail, which enables sharp turns and the ability to operate very close to the seabed. Ship automation and computerized steering allow a single operator to steer the submarine in depth and course, which also results in a smaller crew complement, leading to good accommodation standards and low operating costs.{{cite web | title=Kockums Promotional | website=Naval Technology | url=http://www.sesusa.org/submarine.pdf | access-date=2011-11-21}}
The class has many features that enhance stealth, helping it to remain undetected. All shipboard machinery is isolated and mounted on rubber dampeners to reduce vibrations and noises; a hydrodynamic hull design reduces noise, infrared signature, and active sonar response. Its magnetic signature is counteracted by 27 independent electromagnets, short-circuiting extremely low frequency (ELF) electrical fields. Various hull coatings reduce active sonar response, and the mast is coated with radar-absorbent material. Combined with the near-silent operation of the Stirling generator and slow-turning propeller to prevent cavitation, the boats are very difficult to detect underwater, especially in their normal area of operations, the Baltic Sea.
File:Gotland class submarine.png
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Units
| class="wikitable" |
| Ship name
!Laid down !Launched !Commissioned !Service !Status !Badge |
|---|
| |HSwMS Gotland (Gtd)
|10 October 1992 |2 February 1995 |1996 |Active |
| |{{HSwMS|Uppland|Upd}}
|14 January 1994 |8 February 1995 |1996 |Active |
| |{{HSwMS|Halland|Hnd}}
|21 October 1994 |27 September 1996 |1996 |Active |
Deployments
After being refitted and upgraded to sustain the higher temperatures of tropical water,Kockums.se: [http://www.kockums.se/news/2000.html News 2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154845/http://www.kockums.se/news/2000.html |date=2011-06-06 }} HSwMS Halland took part in a multi-national exercise in the Mediterranean from September 16, 2000. Allegedly, there she remained undetected while still recording many of her friendly adversaries, attracting interest from the participating countries. In early November of the same year, she participated in a NATO "blue-water" exercise in the Atlantic. There, she reportedly won a victory in a mock "duel" with Spanish naval units, and then the same in a similar duel against a French SSN, a nuclear-powered attack submarine. She also defeated an American SSN, the USS Houston.
=Secondment to United States Navy=
{{multiple image
|align= right
|width= 150
|image1= Gotland DN-SD-06-07476.JPEG
|width1=
|caption1= HSwMS Gotland onboard MV Eide Transporter in San Diego
|image2= HMS Gotland with USS Ronald Reagan.jpg
|width2=
|caption2= HSwMS Gotland transits through San Diego Harbor with the {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|1}} {{USS|Ronald Reagan}} following close behind during the "Sea and Air Parade" held as part of Fleet Week San Diego 2005.
}}
File:HMS Gotland - Ystad-2015.jpg 2015]]
In 2004, the Swedish government received a request from the United States to lease HSwMS Gotland – Swedish-flagged, commanded and manned, for one year for use in antisubmarine warfare exercises. The Swedish government granted this request in October 2004, with both navies signing a memorandum of understanding on 21 March 2005.{{cite web | title=US Navy Leasing Swedish Gotland-Class Submarine | website=Deagel | url=http://www.deagel.com/news/US-Navy-Leasing-Swedish-Gotland-Class-Submarine_n000000395.aspx | access-date=2004-11-05}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=17621 |title=U.S., Swedish Navies Sign Agreement to Bilaterally Train on State-of-the-Art Sub |publisher=United States Navy |date=2005-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819041151/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=17621 |archive-date=2007-08-19 }} The lease was extended for another 12 months in 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3574 |publisher=The Local |title=US Navy to continue hunt for Swedish sub |date=2006-04-18 |access-date=2006-07-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329115136/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3574 |archive-date=2009-03-29 }}{{cite press release|url=http://www.kockums.se/news/060613gotland.html |title=Gotland extends US stay for another year |publisher=Kockums AB |date=2006-06-13 |access-date=2006-07-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001063127/http://www.kockums.se/News/060613gotland.html |archive-date=2006-10-01 }}{{cite press release|url=http://www.kockums.se/news/070509gotland.html|title=HMS Gotland's Stirling propulsion system basis of success in the USA|publisher=Kockums AB|date=2007-05-09|access-date=2009-06-16|archive-date=2010-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924182055/http://www.kockums.se/news/070509gotland.html|url-status=dead}} In July 2007, HSwMS Gotland departed San Diego for Sweden.{{cite web | title=SSK Gotland Class (Type A19) Attack Submarine, Sweden | website=Naval Technology | url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/gotland/ | access-date=2008-04-06}}
In 2005, HSwMS Gotland managed to snap several pictures of {{USS|Ronald Reagan}} during a wargaming exercise in the Pacific Ocean, demonstrating that it was in a position to sink the aircraft carrier.{{cite news | url=http://www.knbc.com/news/10116514/detail.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116120858/http://www.knbc.com/news/10116514/detail.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=2007-11-16 | publisher=KNBC | title=Pentagon: New Class Of Silent Submarines Poses Threat | date=2006-10-19 | access-date=2006-07-21}} The exercise was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the US fleet against diesel-electric submarines, which some have noted as severely lacking.{{cite journal | last=Polmar | first=Norman |date=March 2006 | title=Back to the Future | journal=U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings | volume=132 | issue=3 | pages=22–23 | id=0041-798X}}{{cite web | title=US Navy Struggles to Recapture, Keep ASW Proficiency | website=The Nav Log | url=http://navlog.org/asw_feb06.html | access-date=2008-04-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202192615/http://navlog.org/asw_feb06.html | archive-date=2009-02-02 | url-status=dead }} In 2001, during the exercise JTFEX 01-2 in the Caribbean Sea, the German U24 of the conventional 206 diesel-electric class "sank" the carrier Enterprise by firing flares and taking a photograph through its periscope.{{cite news | url=https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/militaer-special/id_61572852/militaer-deutsches-u-boot-fordert-us-marine-heraus-.html | publisher=t-online | title=Deutsches U-Boot fordert US-Marine heraus | date=2013-01-06 | access-date=2020-12-18 | language=de}}
Overhaul
= Initial discussions =
In March 2013, Kockums received an initial order for an overhaul for two of the Gotland-class submarines. The overhaul was expected to be completed by 2017. With these upgrades, the submarines would be able to remain in active duty until after 2025.{{cite web |first=Monica |last=Kleja |title=Kockums får stor ubåtsorder |language=sv |trans-title=Kockums gets big submarine orders |url=http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/fordon_motor/fartyg/article3553829.ece |website=Ny Teknik |date=2012-10-05 |access-date=2017-09-20 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031537/http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/fordon_motor/fartyg/article3553829.ece |url-status=dead }}
On 2 April 2014, the Swedish defence minister, insisting on the importance of submarines to the security of Sweden, announced the Government's intent to upgrade two of the Gotland-class vessels, as well as purchase two new "stealth" submarines of another type.{{cite news |first1=Mats |last1=Knutson |first2=Love |last2=Benigh |title=Regeringen stoppar planerad ubåtsaffär |language=sv |trans-title=The government stops the planned submarine business |url=http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/regeringen-stoppar-planerade-ubatsaffaren-med-kockums |website=svt |date=2014-04-02 |access-date=2017-09-20}}
= Mid-life upgrade contract=
Negotiations concluded on 30 June 2015 with the signature of a contract between Sweden's Defense Material Administration (FMV) and Saab Kockums. In addition to the construction of two new Type 26 A SSKs, the contract provides for a mid-life upgrade of HSwMS Gotland and her sister ship HSwMS Uppland, for SEK 2.1 billion. Gotland is expected to return to the FMV in late 2018 and Uppland in late 2019, following a series of platform and combat systems upgrades. Gotland returned to active duty in June 2018 after receiving modification for over 20 systems. Same systems will also be included on the new A26 submarines.{{cite web|url=http://www.fmv.se/sv/Nyheter-och-press/Nyheter-fran-FMV/Sjosattning-av-modifierad-ubat/|title=Sjösättning av modifierad ubåt|first=Hans|last=Ivansson|website=www.fmv.se|access-date=2018-06-20|archive-date=2018-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621015902/http://www.fmv.se/sv/Nyheter-och-press/Nyheter-fran-FMV/Sjosattning-av-modifierad-ubat/|url-status=dead}} {{HSwMS|Uppland|Upd|6}} relaunched in June 2019{{cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/06/second-gotland-class-submarine-hms-uppland-relaunched-following-mlu-by-saab/|title=Second Gotland-class Submarine HMS Uppland Relaunched following MLU by Saab|website=www.navalnews.com|date=21 June 2019}} and was delivered to the Navy in December 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://seawaves.com/?p=7860|title = Saab Delivers Modernized Gotland-class Submarine – SeaWaves Magazine}} In March 2022 FMV and SAAB signed a contract for MLU of HMS Halland.{{cite press release |url=https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2022/saab-signs-contract-for-mid-life-upgrade-of-the-third-gotland-class-submarine |title=Saab Signs Contract for Mid-Life Upgrade of the Third Gotland-class Submarine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318223321/https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2022/saab-signs-contract-for-mid-life-upgrade-of-the-third-gotland-class-submarine |archive-date=2022-03-18 |url-status=bot: unknown |access-date=2022-03-19 }} The HMS Halland was relaunched in February 2025.{{Cite web |date=14 February 2025 |title=Saab launches HMS Halland submarine after mid-life upgrade |url=https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2025/saab-launches-hms-halland-submarine-after-mid-life-upgrade}}
== Mid-life upgrades modifications ==
The elements that were modified on the ships include:{{Cite web |last=Manaranche |first=Martin |date=2020-05-15 |title=A19 Submarine HSwMS Gotland back in Swedish Navy Service Following Upgrade |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/05/a19-submarine-hswms-gotland-back-in-swedish-navy-service-following-upgrade/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}
- Hull extended by 2 meters
- Upgrade of the Stirling engine from the Kockums v4-275R Mk2 to the Kockums v4-275R Mk3 variant.
- A new mast suite supplied by Safran
- A new sonar, the Kongsberg’s SA9510S
- Systems changed / improved:
- New electronic warfare systems, the Exelis’ ES-3701
- Management systems
- Sensors systems
- Communications
- Cyber-security
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |editor-last=Darman |editor-first=Peter |date=2004 |title=Twenty-first Century Submarines and Warships |series=Military Handbooks|location=Rochester |publisher=Grange Books |isbn=1-84013-678-2}}
- {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephen |date= 2015 |title=IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016 |location=Coulsdon, Surrey |publisher= Janes Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-3143-5}}
External links
{{Commons category|Gotland class submarines}}
- [http://www.kockums.se/en/products-services/submarines/gotland-class/ Official Kockums website on Gotland class submarines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425220545/http://www.kockums.se/en/products-services/submarines/gotland-class/ |date=2011-04-25 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110425220601/http://www.kockums.se/en/products-services/submarines/stirling-aip-system/ Kockum's AIP Stirling system]
- {{youtube|Khaa3y0i87s|NBC news report on the Gotland class}}
{{Gotland class submarine}}
{{ActiveSwedishNavyClasses}}
{{Kockums Naval Solutions}}
{{Authority control}}