HSwMS Mode (29)

HSwMS Mode was a coastal destroyer of the Royal Swedish Navy, built by Götaverken and launched on 11 April 1942 as the lead of the four ship Mode class. Developed from an Italian design, the ship was capable of a wide range of roles, with depth charges to defeat submarines, torpedo tubes to attack ships and anti-aircraft guns for aerial defence, as well as mine laying capability. After serving during World War II, the ship was updated with greater anti-submarine capability and reclassified a frigate in 1953. Decommissioned on 1 July 1970, Mode subsequently operated in a training role until being scrapped in 1978.

HSwMS Mode
History
Swedish Navy
Name:	Mode
Namesake:	Mode
Builder:	Götaverken, Gothenburg
Laid down:	September 1941
Launched:	11 April 1942
Commissioned:	12 November 1942
Decommissioned:	1 July 1970
Fate:	Scrapped 1978
General characteristics
Class and type:	Mode class destroyer (1942-1953) or frigate (1953-1970)
Displacement:	- 960 t (945 long tons; 1,058 short tons), full load - 750 t (740 long tons; 830 short tons), standard displacement
Length:	256 ft (78 m)
Beam:	26 ft 3 in (8.00 m)
Draught:	8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
Propulsion:	2 oil fired boilers, 2 de Laval steam turbines, 16,000 shp (12 MW), 2 screws
Speed:	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Range:	1,260 nmi (2,330 km) at 20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Complement:	100
Armament:	3 × 105 mm Bofors K/50 M/42 DP guns (3×1) 2 × 40 mm Bofors guns K/60 M/36 (2×1) 2 × 20 mm Bofors K/66 M/40 (2×1) 3 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (1×3)

Design and development

Main article: Mode-class destroyer

Mode was the first ordered of a class of four Swedish destroyers based on the design the Spica class designed in Italy. Small and ideal for coastal operation, the design was a cheaper alternative to traditional designs to meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding Swedish Navy.[1] The vessel was named after the son of Thor.[2]

Displacememt was 750 tonnes (740 long tons; 830 short tons) standard and 960 tonnes (940 long tons; 1,060 short tons) full load. Overall length was 256 feet (78.03 m), beam 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m) and draught 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m).[3] A crew of 100 officers and ratings was carried.[4]

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 16,000 shp (12,000 kW) to give a design speed of 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h). 190 long tons (190 t) of fuel was carried to give a range of 1,260 nautical miles (2,330 km) at 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h).[5]

The main armament consisted of three 10.5 cm (4 in) K/50 M42 guns produced by Bofors.[3] These were placed in separate mounts, one on the fore deck, one on the aft deck and one on the aft superstructure.[4] Air defence consisted two 40 mm (1.57 in) K/60 M36 and two 20 mm (0.79 in) K/66 M40 individually mounted anti-aircraft autocannons, also provided by Bofors.[6] Three torpedo tubes for 53 cm (21 in) 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.[6]

Construction and service

Mode was laid down by Götaverken in Gothenburg in September 1941.[3] The vessel was launched on 11 April 1942, delivered to the Navy on 8 October the same year and commissioned on 12 November, serving with the Coastal Fleet through World War II.[7] The ship was allocated the pennant number 29.[8] In 1947 Mode accompanied Gotland and Munin on a trip to France and Britain. The fleet visited Le Havre, Lyme Bay, Torquay, Glasgow and Oban.[9]

Mode in 1959 after conversion

Modernisation

Mode was modernised in 1953 and re-rated as a frigate. One of the 105 mm (4.1 in) main guns was removed, along with the triple 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes. Instead a single Squid depth charge launcher was fitted to improve anti-submarine capabilities and the 40 mm (1.6 in) guns were upgraded to provide greater anti-aircraft protection.[10] After the conversion, Mode retained minelaying capability.[5] The upgraded ship was allocated the pennant number 73.[8]

Disposal

Mode was decommissioned on 1 July 1970 and was used as training vessel until being scrapped at Ystad in 1978.[11]

References

Citations

1. Borgenstam, Insulander & Kaudern 1989, p. 76.
2. Arbeitskreis für Wehrforschung 1977, p. 660.
3. Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, p. 152.
4. Whitley 2002, p. 251.
5. Prendegast & Parkes 1962, p. 222.
6. Borgenstam, Insulander & Kaudern 1989, p. 79.
7. Lagvall 1991, p. 71.
8. Gogin, Ivan (2015). "MODE coastal destroyers (1942–1943)". Retrieved 4 January 2016.
9. "Långresor och utlandsbesök med svenska örlogsfartyg mellan 1837 och 2005". www.flottansman.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
10. Palmsteirna 1972, p. 64.
11. Borgenstam, Insulander & Kaudern 1989, p. 80.

Bibliography

• Arbeitskreis für Wehrforschung, ed. (1977). "Marine-rundschau: Zeitschrift für Seewesen" (in German). 74. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Borgenstam, Curt; Insulander, Per; Kaudern, Gösta (1989). Jagare : Med Svenska Flottans Jagare under 80 år (2:a) (in Swedish). Karlskrona: Västra Frölunda CB Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-97070-04-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Lagvall, Bertil (1991). Flottans Neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945 (in Swedish). Karlskrona: Marinlitteraturföreningen. ISBN 91-85944-04-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Palmsteirna, C. (31 March 1972). "Swedish Torpedo Boats & Destroyers: Part II - Destroyers". Warship International. Vol. IX no. 1. pp. 59–77.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Prendegast, Maurice & Parkes, Oscar (1962). Jane's Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Whitley, M. J. (2002). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-30435-675-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)