HSwMS Fylgia

HSwMS Fylgia was an armored cruiser of the Swedish Navy. Launched in 1905, the ship was in service until 1953. The cruiser was primarily used as a training ship for naval cadets.

History
Sweden
Name: Fylgia
Builder:
  • Bergsunds Mekaniska Verkstad,
  • Finnboda slip
Laid down: October 1902
Launched: 20 December 1905
Commissioned: 21 June 1907
Out of service: 1 January 1953
Fate: Sold for scrap in 1957
General characteristics
Type: Cruiser
Displacement: 4,310 / 4,980 tons
Length: 117 m (383 ft 10 in)
Beam: 14.8 m (48 ft 7 in)
Draft: 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
Installed power: 12,000 ihp (8,900 kW)
Propulsion: Steam triple expansion, 2 screws
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h)
Range: 8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement: 322
Armament:
  • Design
  • 8 × 152 mm/50cal. Bofors M/1903
  • 14 × 57 mm/48cal. QF M/1889
  • (10 in casemates)
  • 2 × 37 mm/39cal. cannons M/1898B
  • 2 × 45 cm torpedo tubes M/1904
  • Mine rails (max 100 mines)
  • WWI
  • 8 × 152 mm/50cal. Bofors M/1903
  • 10 × 57 mm/48cal. QF M/1889
  • (6 in casemates)
  • 2 × 57 mm/55cal. AA M/1889B
  • 2 × 37 mm/39cal. cannons M/1898B
  • 2 × 45 cm torpedo tubes M/1904
  • WWII
  • 8 × 152 mm/50cal. Bofors M/1903
  • 4 × 57 mm/55cal. AA M/89B-38B
  • 4 × 40 mm/56cal. Bofors AA M/1936
  • 2 × 25 mm/58cal. Bofors AA M/1932
  • 1 × 20 mm/66cal. Bofors AA M/1940
  • 2 × 53 cm torpedo tubes
  • 2 depth charge throwers
Armour:

Construction and career
Fylgia being launched

Fylgia's keel was laid by Bergsunds Mekaniska Verkstad in October 1902. She was launched on 20 December 1905 at Finnboda slip at Nacka. The ship was commissioned on 21 June 1907. Upon her commissioning, she was the smallest true armored cruiser in the world. She was commonly used as a cadet training ship following World War I.

On 12 December 1927, Fylgia collided with the Brazilian cargo ship SS Itapura at Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Itapura sank, but all 40 members of her crew were rescued.[1][2]

Extensive Modernisation
Fylgia after the 1939-40 modernisation

Fylgia was modernized in 1939–1940. Her 12 coal fired Yarrow-type boilers were replaced with four oil fueled Phenoët-type boilers. The three high stacks were replaced by two lower ones. The main battery's range was extended and a new fire control with central gun control was added. The air defense was completely revamped: the old 57 mm guns were removed and replaced with four 57 mm M/89B-38B anti-aircraft guns. Two dual 40 mm m/36 gyro-stabilized mounts were added and one dual 25 mm m/32 and one 20 mm m/40 guns were also installed.[3]

After the refit she was assigned to the neutrality watch. Fylgia served into the 1950s as a cadet training ship, until 1953 when she was decommissioned. Fylgia was sold for scrap in 1957.

Captains
  • 1915–1916: Fredrik Riben
  • 1919–1920: Gunnar Unger
  • 1922–1923: Claës Lindsström
  • 1925–1925: Nils Åkerblom
  • 1925–1926: Arvid Hägg
  • 1927–1928: Nils Åkerblom
  • 1931–1932: Lave Beck-Friis
  • 1933–1934: Magnus von Arbin
  • 1948–1948: Gunnar Fogelberg

Notes
  1. "Casualty reports". The Times (44763). London. 13 December 1927. col E, p. 27.
  2. "Telegrams in Brief". The Times (44764). London. 14 December 1927. col G, p. 13.
  3. Hofsten, Waernberg & Ohlsson, pp. 133-134

References
  • Borgenstam, Curt; Insulander, Per; Åhlund, Bertil (1993). Kryssare: med Svenska flottans kryssare under 75 år (in Swedish). Västra Frölunda: Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-970700-6-8. SELIBR 7792229.
  • Hofsten, Gustaf von; Waernberg, Jan; Ohlsson, Curt S. (2003). Örlogsfartyg: svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg. [Forum navales skriftserie, 1650-1837 ; 6] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibl. i samarbete med Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-974384-3-X. SELIBR 8873330.
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