Delfinen-class submarine

The Delfinen-class submarines were the first class of submarines constructed for the Royal Danish Navy following World War II. They were designed and built within Denmark, with first three boats of the class financed by Denmark. The fourth was financed by the United States (where it was known as SS-554) under the Cost Share program. Constructed between 1956 and 1963, the class comprising four submarines (Delfinen, Spækhuggeren, Tumleren and Springeren) entered service in 1961 and the last taken out of service in 1990. Replaced by the Norwegian Kobben class, three of them were scrapped while a fourth was converted into a museum ship and remains on display at the Aalborg Maritime Museum.

Springeren at the Aalborg Maritime Museum, Denmark, 2006
Class overview
Name: Delfinen class
Builders: Naval Dockyard, Copenhagen, Denmark
Operators:  Royal Danish Navy
Preceded by: U class
Succeeded by: Kobben class
Built: 1954–1964
In commission: 1961–1990
Completed: 4
Retired: 4
Preserved: 1
General characteristics
Type: Submarine
Displacement:
  • 605 t (595 long tons) surfaced
  • 653 t (643 long tons) submerged
Length: 54.5 m (178 ft 10 in)
Beam: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Draught: 4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) submerged and surfaced
Range: 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Complement: 33
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Active and passive sonar
Armament: 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes

Description

The Delfinen class had a standard displacement of 605 tonnes (595 long tons) and 643 long tons (653 t) when submerged. They measured 54.5 metres (178 ft 10 in) long with a beam of 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) and a draught of 4 m (13 ft 1 in). The submarines were propelled by two shafts powered by two B&W 1,200-brake-horsepower (895 kW) diesel engines and two BBC 1,200-shaft-horsepower (895 kW) electric motors.[1][2] The submarines had a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) both surfaced and submerged and a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[1][lower-alpha 1] The submarines were equipped with passive and active sonar and a schnorkel.[1][4] The Delfinen class were armed with four 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes located in the bow.[1][lower-alpha 2] They had a complement of 33.[1]

Ships
Delfinen class[1]
Number Name Builder Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate
S 326 Delfinen Naval Dockyard, Copenhagen, Denmark 4 May 1956 1 August 1961 2 August 1983 Sold for scrapping 11 September 1984.[5]
S 327 Spækhuggeren 20 February 1957 1 August 1961 31 July 1989 Sold for scrapping, 3 December 1991.[6]
S 328 Tumleren 22 May 1958 1 August 1961 6 August 1981 Sold for scrapping 7 September 1982.[7]
S 329 Springeren 22 April 1963 22 October 1964 31 March 1990 Handed over to the Naval Museum in Aalborg as museum ship.[8]

Construction and service

Following World War II, the Royal Danish Navy which had lost the majority of its fleet during the German invasion, was restocked with ex-British Royal Navy submarines on loan and salvaged Danish submarines that had been scuttled during the war. Denmark joined NATO and was assigned the defence of the Baltic Sea which led to an emphasis on submarines.[9] The Delfinen class marked the Royal Danish Navy's first new submarines in the post war era. Designed by the Danish and constructed at the Naval Shipyard in Copenhagen, the first three vessels in the class were paid for the Danish and were constructed between 1956 and 1961.[1] The fourth submarine of the class, Springeren, was financed by the United States and known as SS-554.[2]

The class remained in service until the beginning of the 1980s, when the Royal Danish Navy intended to replace them with former Norwegian Kobben-class submarines in 1986. Only three Kobben-class units were acquired due to a lack of funds and Springeren remained in service until 1990.[10] Springeren is preserved as a museum ship at the Naval Museum in Aalborg.[8]

Notes
  1. The website navalhistory.dk states that the vessels had a standard displacement of 582 t (573 long tons) and 659 t (649 long tons) submerged. They measured 53.9 m (176 ft 10 in) long, that their electric motors were capable of 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) and were only capable of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) surfaced whiled maintaining the same range at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph).[3] Couhat also has the range at 8.5 knots with a maximum speed of 13 knots surfaced and 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) submerged.[2]
  2. According to the website navalhistory.dk, the vessels shipped with eight torpedoes.[3]

Citations
  1. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 77.
  2. Couhat 1986, p. 86.
  3. "Delfinen class (1961–1990)". navalhistory.dk. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  4. Blackman 1960, p. 129.
  5. "Delfinen (1961–1983)". navalhistory.dk. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  6. "Spækhuggeren (1959–1989)". navalhistory.dk. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  7. "Tumleren (1961–1981)". navalhistory.dk. Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  8. "Springeren (1964–1990)". navalhistory.dk. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  9. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 73.
  10. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, pp. 77–78.
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References
  • Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. OCLC 946722815.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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