Sverige-class coastal defence ship

A 1912 depiction of Sverige
Class overview
NameSverige class
Builders
Operators Swedish Navy
Preceded byOscar II
Built1912–1922
In commission1917–1957
Completed3
Scrapped3
General characteristics
TypeCoastal defence ship
Displacement
  • 7,239 tonnes standard, 7,755 tonnes full load
  • (Sverige: 6,961 tonnes tons standard, 7,758 tons deep load)
Length
  • 121.6 m (399 ft)
  • (Sverige: 120 m (390 ft))
Beam18.6 m (61 ft)
Draught6.2 m (20 ft)
Propulsion
  • original 12 Yarrow type coal-fired boilers, upgraded to oil-fired boilers in the 1930s
  • Sverige 4-shaft direct drive turbines
  • Drottning Victoria and Gustav V 2-shaft geared turbines
Speed
  • Drottning Victoria and Gustav V 23.5 kn (43.5 km/h; 27.0 mph)
  • Sverige 22.5 kn (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Complement
  • 427 (standard)
  • 443 (as flagship)
Armament
  • 4 × 283 mm (11 in)/ 45 cal. guns in two twin turrets
  • 8 × 152 mm (6 in)/ 50 cal. guns in one twin turret and six single mounts
  • 6 × 75 mm (3 in)/ 50 cal. guns in single mounts
  • 2 × 57 mm (2.2 in) guns
  • 2 × machine guns
  • 2 × 460 mm (18 in) fixed torpedo tubes
Armour
  • Main belt 200 mm (7.9 in)
  • Deck 45 mm (2 in)
  • Turrets 200 mm (8 in)
  • Control tower 175 mm (7 in)

The Sverige-class coastal defence ships were a class of coastal defence ships that, at the time of introduction, were the largest ships to serve in the Swedish Navy. Their design was completely new and was influenced by the ships of the time. Their armament consisted of four 283 mm (11 in)/45 cal. Bofors guns in two turrets and eight 152 mm (6 in) Bofors guns in one double and six single turrets. During the Second World War they were the backbone of the Swedish Navy.