Mode-class destroyer

The Mode class was class of the destroyers commissioned by the Royal Swedish Navy during World War II. The design was based on the preceding Psilander class purchased from Italy but with Swedish equipment and armament.

Background
At the start of World War II, Swedish destroyer design had culminated in the Göteborg class, a powerful but expensive design. To meet the needs of the rapidly expanding navy, Sweden looked to foreign designs, especially Italy, who provided four ships, two each of the Psilander and Romulus class. Italy also provided the blueprints for a more modern version of Psilander, which was used by the designers at Götaverken in Gothenburg as the basis to develop a new light destroyer. Götaverken also built the first two vessels of the class.

Design
The Mode class were small, only 78 m long, shorter than the Hunt class of escort destroyers then being produced in large numbers for the Royal Navy and its allies. The bridge was wider than the superstructure, giving the vessels a distinctive appearance from the prow compared to other Swedish destroyers. The machinery consisted of two Penhoët A oil-fired boilers, which supplied steam to two de Laval steam turbines, each driving its own propeller.

Armament
The main armament consisted of three 10.5 cm guns produced by Bofors. These were placed in separate mounts, one on the fore deck, one on the aft deck and one on the aft superstructure. Air defence consisted of two 40 mm and two 20 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, also provided by Bofors. Three torpedo tubes for 53 cm torpedoes were triple mounted aft of the superstructure and two depth charge throwers were mounted further towards the stern. 42 mines could also be carried for minelaying.



Modernisation
The class were modernised between 1954 and 1955 and re-rated as frigates. One of the 105 mm main guns was removed, along with the triple 533 mm torpedo tube. A single Squid depth charge launcher was fitted to improve anti-submarine capabilities and the 40 mm guns were upgraded.