Ragnar-class destroyer

Ragnar at sea
Class overview
BuildersKockums Shipyard
Operators Swedish Navy
Preceded byWale
Succeeded byHugin class
In commission1908–1947
Completed3
Retired3
General characteristics (as built)
TypeDestroyer
Displacement
Length66.1 m (216 ft 10 in)
Beam6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
Draft1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 triple-expansion engines
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range1,400 nmi (2,600 km; 1,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement69
Armament

The Ragnar class consisted of three destroyers built for the Royal Swedish Navy before World War I, Ragnar, Sigurd, and Vidar.

Design and description

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The Ragnar-class destroyer was an improved version of the preceding Wale.[1] The ships normally displaced 350 long tons (360 t) and 416 long tons (423 t) at full load. They measured 66.1 meters (216 ft 10 in) long overall with a beam of 6.3 meters (20 ft 8 in), and a draft of 1.8 meters (5 ft 11 in). The Ragnars were propelled by two 4-cylinder vertical triple-expansion steam enginess, each driving one three-bladed propeller using steam from four Yarrow boilers. The engines were designed to produce a total of 7,200 indicated horsepower (5,400 kW) for an intended maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). On Vidar's sea trials, she reached 31.3 knots (58.0 km/h; 36.0 mph). The ships carried enough coal to give them a range of 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km; 1,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The ships' crew numbered 69.[2][3]

The Ragnar's dispensed with Wale's 57-millimeter (2.2 in) M89/B guns in exchange for two additional 75-millimeter (3 in) M/05 guns. One gun each was located at the forecastle and stern; the other two guns were positioned on the main deck amidships, one gun on each broadside. The ships were equipped with two 457-millimeter (18 in) torpedo tubes in rotating mounts located between the rear funnel and the stern gun. Two 6.5-millimeter (0.26 in) M/10 machine guns were added to the ships in 1911–1912 and the single torpedo tubes were replaced by twin-tube mounts in 1916–1917.[2]

Citations

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  1. ^ Harris, p. 123
  2. ^ a b Hofsten, Waernberg & Ohlsson, p. 152
  3. ^ Westerlund, p. 360

References

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  • Borgenstam, Curt; Insulander, Per & Kaudern, Gösta (1989). Jagare: med Svenska flottans jagare under 80 år [Destroyers: Swedish Navy Destroyers under 80 Years] (in Swedish). Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-970700-4-1. SELIBR 7792227.
  • Harris, Daniel (2000). "Swedish Steam Torpedo Boats". In Preston, Antony (ed.). Warship 2000–2001. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 97–124. ISBN 0-85177-791-0.
  • Hofsten, Gustaf von; Waernberg, Jan & Ohlsson, Curt S. (2003). Örlogsfartyg: svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg [Ships of War: Swedish Machine-powered Ships under the Triple-tailed Flag]. [Forum navales skriftserie, 1650-1837; 6] (in Swedish). Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibl. i samarbete med Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-974384-3-X. SELIBR 8873330.
  • Westerlund, Karl-Erik (1985). "Sweden". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 355–363. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • Whitley, M. J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.