HSwMS Gävle (J9)

{{Main|Göteborg-class destroyer}}

The {{sclass|Göteborg|destroyer|5}} or city class were a development of the {{sclass|Ehrensköld|destroyer}} with a higher speed achieved by introducing superheating and lightening the structure through using welding rather than rivets. After the success of the first two members of the class, {{HSwMS|Göteborg|J5|2}} and {{HSwMS|Stockholm|J6|2}}, both laid down in 1933, and two successors, the Swedish Riksdag authorised an additional two ships of the same design at the start of the Second World War.{{sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|page=48}} Gävle was the first of this final batch to be ordered.{{sfn|Blackman|1960|page=272}}

Displacing {{convert|1040|t|LT|abbr=on}} standard and {{convert|1200|t|LT}} full load, Gävle had an overall length of {{convert|94.6|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|93|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} between perpendiculars. Beam was {{convert|9|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} and maximum draught {{convert|3.8|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|page=372}} Power was provided by three Penhoët oil-fired boilers feeding two de Laval geared steam turbines driving two shafts. The ship had two funnels. New materials allowed the boilers to be superheated to {{convert|125|C|F|abbr=on}}, which raised the rated power to {{convert|32000|shp|kW|lk=on}} to give a design speed of {{convert|39|kn}}. In trials, the destroyer exceeded {{convert|40|kn}}.{{sfn|Palmsteirna|1972|page=60}} A total of {{convert|150|LT|t|order=flip}} of fuel oil was carried to give a range of {{convert|1200|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|20|kn}}.{{sfn|Blackman|1960|page=272}}

The main armament consisted of three {{convert|12|cm|in|abbr=on|1}} K/45 M24C dual-purpose guns produced by Bofors. These were placed in separate mounts on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft and one between the funnels.{{sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|page=49}} The guns were of a loose-barrel type, weighed {{convert|3|t|LT|abbr=on}} and fired a {{convert|24|kg|lb|abbr=on}} projectile at {{convert|800|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}}.{{sfn|Campbell|2002|page=392}} Air defence consisted six {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on|2}} M/40 autocannons in three twin mounts, also provided by Bofors.Two triple rotating torpedo tube mounts for {{convert|53|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedoes were aft of the superstructure and two depth charge throwers were carried further towards the stern. Approximately forty mines could also be carried for minelaying.{{sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|page=49}} The ship had a complement of 135 officers and ratings.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|page=372}}

Gävle was laid down by Götaverken in Gothenburg, launched on 25 September 1940 and commissioned on 3 June the following year.{{sfn|von Hofsten|Waernberg|2003|page=158}} The ship was named for the city and allocated the pennant number J9.{{sfn|Holmqvist|1972|page=198}} On 29 June, the destroyer joined the Coastal Fleet, serving on patrols to protect Swedish neutrality and as an escort for convoys travelling through Swedish waters.{{sfn|Wangel|1982|page=556}}{{sfn|Lagvall|1991|page=70}} During 1944, the destroyer was involved in the evacuation of Estonia before the advancing Soviet Army. Gävle rescued 196 refugees during September and October.{{sfn|Andræ|2004|page=91}}

Between 1950 and 1951, the destroyer was given a substantial modernisation. The hull was rebuilt with a beam extended by {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=on}} and displacement increased to {{convert|1140|t|LT|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|page=372}} The bridge was enlarged and better fire control was fitted, along with a tripod with radar to replace the pole mast.{{sfn|Palmsteirna|1972|page=66}} The armament was updated. The central gun was moved aft to a superfiring position, which greatly enhanced the operational capability as the funnels had restricted fire. The anti-aircraft guns were replaced with four single Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70 guns.{{sfn|von Hofsten|Waernberg|2003|page=158}}

Gävle was rerated a fast frigate on 1 January 1961 along with the rest of the class and the torpedo tubes were replaced by two Squid anti-submarine mortars.{{sfn|Palmsteirna|1972|page=73}} The destroyer reentered service in the anti-submarine role with the pennant number F80.{{sfn|Blackman|1967|page=253}} During the 1960s, the Swedish Navy decided to retire the larger destroyers and frigates in the fleet as newer missile-equipped fast attack craft became the mainstay of the surface fleet.{{sfn|Chant|1984|page=33}} Gävle was consequently decommissioned on 6 December 1968.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|page=249}} The ship was subsequently sold to ASEA and used to provide steam power for the testing phase of the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant, connected to the turbines in the plant and powered them to up 17% overspeed.{{sfn|Pind|1972|page=98}} The frigate was finally broken up in 1972.{{sfn|von Hofsten|Waernberg|2003|page=158}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book | last=Andræ | first=Carl Göran | title=Sverige och den stora flykten från Estland 1943-1944 | trans-title=Sweden and the Great Flight from Estonia 1943–1944 | location=Uppsala | publisher=Kungl. Gustav Adolfs Akademien för Svensk Folkkultur | year=2004 | isbn= 978-9-18535-252-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l_BoAAAAMAAJ | language=SV}}
• {{cite book | last1=Blackman | first1=Raymond B.V. | title=Jane's Fighting Ships | location=London | publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd | year=1960 | oclc=946722815 | url=https://archive.org/details/janesfightingships196061_20190}}
• {{cite book | last1=Blackman | first1=Raymond B.V. | title=Jane's Fighting Ships | location=London | publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd | year=1967 | oclc= 28197955}}
• {{cite book | last1=Borgenstam | first1=Curt | last2=Insulander | first2=Per | last3=Kaudern | first3=Gösta | title=Jagare: med Svenska flottans jagare under 80 år | trans-title=Destroyer: 80 years of Destroyers in the Swedish Navy | location=Västra Frölunda | publisher=Marinlitteratur | year=1989 | isbn= 978-9-19707-004-1 |id={{LIBRIS|7792227}} | language=SV}}
• {{cite book | last=Campbell | first=John | title=Naval Weapons of World War Two | location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press | year=2002 | isbn= 978-0-87021-459-2}}
• {{cite book | last=Chant | first=Christopher | title=Naval Forces of the World | location=Secaucus, NJ | publisher=Chartwell Books | year=1984 | isbn=978-0-89009-626-0}}
• {{cite book | editor-last1=Gardiner | editor-first1=Robert | editor-last2=Chesneau | editor-first2=Roger | name-list-style=amp | title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 | location=London | publisher=Conway Maritime Press | year=1980 | isbn=978-0-85177-146-5}}
• {{cite book | last=Holmqvist | first=Åke | title=Flottans Beredskap 1938-1940 | trans-title=Navy Readiness 1938-1940 | location=Gävle | publisher=Allmänna Förlaget | year=1972 | oclc= 462115352}}
• {{cite book | last=Lagvall | first=Bertil | title=Flottans Neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945 | trans-title=Fleet Neutrality Guard 1939-1945 | location=Karlskrona | publisher=Marinlitteraturföreningen | year=1991 | isbn= 978-9-18594-404-0 |language=SV |id={{LIBRIS|7753511}} }}
• {{cite magazine | last=Palmsteirna | first=C. | title=Swedish Torpedo Boats & Destroyers: Part II – Destroyers | magazine=Warship International | date=31 March 1972 | volume=IX | issue=1 | pages=59–77}}
• {{cite journal | last=Pind | first=Christen | title=Oskarshamn I-a Swedish 440-MW (e) BWR nuclear plant. | journal=Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference, Jointly Sponsored by the UN and the IAEA and Held in Geneva, 6-16 September 1971 | volume=2 | year=1972 | pages=93–100}}
• {{cite book | last1=von Hofsten | first1=Gustav | last2=Waernberg | first2=Jan | name-list-style=amp | title=Örlogsfartyg: Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg | trans-title=Warships: Swedish Steam Ships under the Flag of Three Crowns | location=Karlskrona | publisher=Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek | year=2003 | isbn=978-9-19740-154-8 | language=SV}}
• {{cite book | last=Wangel | first=Carl-Axel | title=Sveriges Militära Beredskap 1939–1945 | trans-title=Sweden's Military Preparedness 1939–1945 | location=Stockholm | publisher=Militärhistor. Förl | year=1982 | isbn=978-9-18526-620-3 | language=SV}}
• {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |year=2000| publisher=Cassell & Co.|location=London|isbn=1-85409-521-8|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}

{{Göteborg class destroyer}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gävle (J8)}}

Category:1940 ships

Category:Destroyers of the Swedish Navy

Category:Ships built in Gothenburg

Category:World War II naval ships of Sweden