HSwMS Näcken (1978)

For other ships with the same name, see HSwMS Näcken.

HSwMS Näcken
History
Sweden
Name	HSwMS Näcken
Ordered	1972
Awarded	22 March 1973
Builder	Kockums, Malmö
Laid down	November 1972
Launched	17 April 1978
Commissioned	25 April 1980
Decommissioned	17 August 2001
Recommissioned	2005
Fate	Scrapped 2016
Denmark
Name	HDMS Kronborg
Acquired	2001
Commissioned	17 August 2001
Decommissioned	27 October 2004
Identification	S325
Fate	Returned to Sweden 2005
General characteristics
Class and type	Näcken-class submarine
Displacement	980 tonnes (960 long tons) surfaced 1,150 tonnes (1,130 long tons) submerged
Length	57.5 m (188 ft 8 in)
Beam	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Draught	5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Depth	300 m (980 ft)
Propulsion	2 × MTU diesel engines 1 × Jeumont-Schneider electric motor 1 shaft
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) surfaced 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) submerged
Test depth	150 m (490 ft)
Complement	19 (5 officers)
Sensors and processing systems	FAS
Armament	6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes 2 × 400 mm (16 in) torpedo tubes Mines

HSwMS Näcken is the lead ship of her class of submarine for the Swedish Navy. She was launched at the Kockums shipyard in Malmö, Sweden, on 17 April 1978, and completed and commissioned into the Swedish Navy in April 1980. From 2001 to 2005, the submarine was leased to the Royal Danish Navy and operated as HDMS Kronborg (S325). She was restored to her original name of Näcken upon her return to Swedish control. She was scrapped in Karlskrona during 2015–2016.

History

Refit

In November 1987, Näcken began a major refit at Kockums. This involved installing two closed circuit Tilsa Stirling diesel engines. This new diesel, the Stirling V4-275R, provides air-independent propulsion which allows the submarine to operate continuously underwater. However, in order to incorporate the new engine, the ship was lengthened by 8 metres (26 ft). The refit took until 6 September 1988. The endurance of the vessel, following refit, increased to 14 days. Näcken became the test bed for the technology which was used in the later Gotland class.

The ship had further modifications between 1993 and 1996. This comprised improved weapon control systems, automated torpedo tube loading and new sonar.

Transfer to Denmark

Näcken was transferred to Denmark in 2001 as part of a deal for the design and construction of the Viking-class project. The boat was leased by Denmark with an option to buy in 2005. Before the transfer, Denmark had the communications systems aboard upgraded. The submarine was recommissioned as Kronborg on 17 August 2001 at Aalborg. Denmark had acquired Kronborg partly to keep a submarine service and partly to train crews on air-independent propulsion in preparation for the Viking class. However, in June 2004, the Danish parliament voted to end the submarine service. On 27 October 2004, Kronborg was decommissioned at Karlskrona and returned to Sweden.

References

• 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.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (July 2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0710626231.
• Miramar ship index (subscription required)