Mode-class destroyer

At the start of World War II, Swedish destroyer design had culminated in the {{sclass|Göteborg|destroyer|4}}, a powerful but expensive design. To meet the needs of the rapidly expanding navy, Sweden looked to foreign designs and procured four ships from Italy, two each of the {{sclass|Psilander|destroyer|5}} and {{sclass|Romulus|destroyer|4}}es.{{Sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|p=66}} Italy also provided the blueprints for a more modern version of Psilander, which was used by the designers at Götaverken in Gothenburg as the basis to develop a new light destroyer.{{Sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|p=76}} Götaverken also built the first two vessels of the class of four ships.{{Sfn|Whitley|2000|p=251}}

The destroyers have been described as, "more an expression of standardization, simplicity and simple building methods than carefully planned men of war."{{Sfn|Palmsteirna|1972|p=64}} They were small, only {{convert|78|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long, shorter than the British {{sclass2|Hunt|destroyer|4}} of escort destroyers then being produced in large numbers for the Royal Navy and its allies. Displacement was {{convert|750|LT|t}} normal and {{convert|960|LT|t}} full load, beam {{convert|26|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}} and draught {{convert|8|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}.{{Sfn|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|p=372}} The bridge was wider than the superstructure, giving the vessels a distinctive appearance from the prow compared to other Swedish destroyers.{{Sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|p=76}}

Machinery consisted of two Penhoët A oil-fired boilers, which supplied steam to two de Laval geared steam turbines, each driving its own propeller. The turbines were rated at {{convert|16000|shp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}} to give a design speed of {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}}. {{convert|190|LT|t}} of fuel was carried to give a range of {{convert|1260|nmi|km}} at {{convert|20|kn|mph km/h}}.{{Sfn|Prendegast|Parkes|1961|p=216}} A crew of 100 officers and ratings was carried.{{Sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|p=79}}

File:HMS Mjölner main gun.jpg

Weaponry was manufactured in Sweden. The main armament consisted of three {{convert|10.5|cm|in|abbr=on|0}} K/50 M42 guns produced by Bofors.{{Sfn|Gogin|2015}} These were placed in separate mounts, one on the fore deck, one on the aft deck and one on the aft superstructure.{{Sfn|Whitley|2000|p=251}} Air defence consisted two {{convert|40|mm|in|abbr=on|2}} K/60 M36 and two {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|2}} K/66 M40 individually mounted anti-aircraft autocannons, also provided by Bofors.{{Sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|p=79}}

Three torpedo tubes for {{convert|53|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedoes were triple mounted aft of the superstructure and two depth charge throwers were mounted further towards the stern. 42 mines could also be carried for minelaying.{{Sfn|Borgenstam|Insulander|Kaudern|1989|p=79}}

The class is known both as the Mode class, after the first vessel ordered, and the Mjölner class, after the first vessel launched.{{Sfn|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|p=372}}{{Sfn|Whitley|2000|p=251}} The vessels were named after characters and objects in Norse mythology, Mode and Magne, the sons of Thor, his hammer Mjölnir and Munin, one of the ravens that serve Odin.{{Sfn|Arbeitskreis für Wehrforschung|1977|p=660}}

File:Frigate HMS Mode.jpg

The four destroyers of the class were launched in 1942 and entered service in the Royal Swedish Navy.{{Sfn|Pettibone|2005|p=251}} They operated in the escort role.{{Sfn|Palmsteirna|1972|p=64}} During World War II, they served as part of the Swedish coastal fleet enforcing the country's neutrality but suffered no loss.{{Sfn|Lagvall|1991}} Following the war, they escorted major warships like the anti-aircraft cruiser {{ship|HSwMS|Gotland|1933|2}} on goodwill visits to countries like Belgium, Ireland and France.{{cite web|title=Långresor och utlandsbesök med svenska örlogsfartyg mellan 1837 - 2005|website=flottansman.se|url=http://www.flottansman.se/Alvsnabben/alla_langresor.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812072740/http://www.flottansman.se/Alvsnabben/alla_langresor.htm|archive-date=12 August 2010}}

The class were modernised between 1954 and 1955 and re-rated as frigates.{{Sfn|Palmsteirna|1972|p=64}} One of the {{convert|105|mm|in|abbr=on}} main guns was removed, along with the triple {{convert|533|mm|in|abbr=on}} torpedo tube mount. A single Squid depth charge launcher was fitted to improve anti-submarine capabilities and the {{convert|40|mm|in|abbr=on}} guns were upgraded.{{Sfn|Prendegast|Parkes|1961|p=216}} The class remained in service in this capacity until decommissioning.{{Sfn|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|p=372}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{citation |editor=Arbeitskreis für Wehrforschung |title=Marine-rundschau: Zeitschrift für Seewesen |volume=74 |year=1977 |language=German }}
• {{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 |year=1980 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |isbn=0-85177-146-7 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Borgenstam |first1=Curt |last2=Insulander |first2=Per |last3=Kaudern |first3=Gösta |title=Jagare : Med Svenska Flottans Jagare under 80 år (2:a) |publisher=Västra Frölunda CB Marinlitteratur |place=Karlskrona |date=1989 |isbn=91-97070-04-1 |language=Swedish }}
• {{cite web|last=Gogin|first=Ivan|title=MODE coastal destroyers (1942–1943)|year=2015|url=http://www.navypedia.org/ships/sweden/sw_dd_mode2.htm}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025}}
• {{cite book |last=Lagvall |first=Bertil |title=Flottans Neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945 |place=Karlskrona |publisher=Marinlitteraturföreningen |year=1991 |isbn=91-85944-04-1 }}
• {{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 book |last=Pettibone |first=Charles D. |title=The Organisation and Order of Battle of the Militaries in World War II |place=Victoria BC |publisher=Trafford |year=2005 |isbn=1-42510-659-5 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Prendegast |first1=Maurice |last2=Parkes |first2=Oscar |name-list-style=amp |title=Jane's Fighting Ships |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd |place=London |year=1961 }}
• {{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}}

{{Mode class destroyers}}

{{WWII Swedish ships}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mode-class destroyer)}}

Category:Destroyer classes

Category:Destroyers of the Swedish Navy

Category:World War II destroyers

Category:Swedish destroyer classes