Göteborg-class destroyer

Göteborg class was a Swedish World War II destroyer class. Built 1936-1941 the class was designed as escort and neutral guard destroyers. In total six ships were constructed, HMS Göteborg (J5), HMS Stockholm (J6), HMS Malmö (J7), HMS Karlskrona (J8), HMS Gävle (J9) and HMS Norrköping (J10). After World War II the destroyers, later rebuilt as frigates, continued to serve in the Swedish navy. The last ship was decommissioned in 1968.

History
In 1933 the Swedish government granted the construction of two new destroyers. The destroyers were given names after Swedish coast towns and was because of this called Stadsjagare (City destroyers). The first ship was delivered in 1936 and the second in 1937. In 1936 two additional destroyers were ordered and after the war broke out a third pair was ordered as well. After the war all destroyers except gothenburg which was in a poor shape from the Hårsfjärden disaster received a refit where the center gun where moved to the X position on the aft deckhouse and the anti aircraft armament where concentrated to a platform around the rear funnel and consistign of four modern Bofors 40mm L/70 guns. In 1958-1963 three of the destroyers were rebuilt as frigates that included a change of armament. The first ship to be decommissioned was Göteborg in 1958. In the decade that followed all ships were decommissioned with the last in 1968.

The famous Swedish marine engineer Curt Borgenstam called the Göteborg class the most beautiful and well working destroyer class to have served in the Swedish navy.