Romulus-class destroyer
 Romulus
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Romulus class |
| Operators |  Swedish Navy |
| Succeeded by | Mode class |
| Built | 1934 |
| In service | 1940–1958 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Scrapped | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement | 630 long tons (640 t) (standard) |
| Length | 81.4 m (267 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in) |
| Draft | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range | 1,700 nmi (3,100 km; 2,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 99 |
| Sensors & processing systems | Sonar and hydrophones |
| Armament |
|
The Romulus class was a class of two destroyers operated by the Royal Swedish Navy during the Second World War and into the first decades of the Cold War.
Design and description
The Romulus-class ships consisted of two Spica class purchased from the Royal Italian Navy in March 1940 that had been built in Italy as Spica and Astore.[1] The ships displaced 630 long tons (640 t) at standard load and 900 tonnes (890 long tons) at deep load. They measured 81.4 meters (267 ft 1 in) long overall with a beam of 8.2 meters (26 ft 11 in), and a draft of 2.3 meters (7 ft 7 in). The Romulus's were propelled by two Tosi geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam from a pair of Yarrow boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 19,000 shaft horsepower (14,000 kW) for an intended maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,700 nautical miles (3,100 km; 2,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). The ships' crew numbered 99.[2]
The main armament of the Romulus class consisted of three 100-millimeter (3.9 in) dual-purpose guns in single mounts. One gun was located at the forecastle and the others were in superfiring mounts at the stern. After modifications by the Royal Swedish Navy, their anti-aircraft defense was provided by three 20-millimeter (0.8 in) Breda AA guns in single mounts and a pair of 13.2-millimeter (0.5 in) M/31 heavy machine guns. The ships were equipped with four 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two rotating, twin-tube mounts located between the rear funnel and the stern gun. Two depth charge throwers were fitted and the ships could carry 28 mines.[2]
Ships
| Name | Pennant numbers | Builder | Launched[3] | Acquired[3] | Decommissioned[3] | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romulus | 27 | BSN, Naples | 30 May 1935 | 1940 from Italy | 1958 | Scrapped, 1961 |
| Remus | 28 | BSN, Naples | 30 May 1935 | 1940 from Italy | 1958 | Scrapped, 1961 |
Notes
References
- Borgenstam, Curt; Insulander, Per & Kaudern, Gösta (1989). Jagare: med Svenska flottans jagare under 80 år [Destroyers: Swedish Navy Destroyers under 80 Years] (in Swedish). Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-970700-4-1. SELIBR 7792227.
- Hofsten, Gustaf von; Waernberg, Jan & Ohlsson, Curt S. (2003). Örlogsfartyg: svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg [Ships of War: Swedish Machine-powered Ships under the Triple-tailed Flag]. [Forum navales skriftserie, 1650-1837; 6] (in Swedish). Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibl. i samarbete med Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-974384-3-X. SELIBR 8873330.
- Westerlund, Karl-Erik (1985). "Sweden". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 355–363. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
- Whitley, M. J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.