Äran-class coastal defence ship

	HSwMS Äran
Class overview
Name	Äran class
Builders	Bergsund, Finnboda; Kockums, Malmö (2); Lindholmens, Gothenborg;
Operators	Swedish Navy
Preceded by	Dristigheten
Succeeded by	Oscar II
Completed	4
General characteristics
Type	Coastal defense ship
Displacement	3,592 tons
Length	87.48 m (287 ft 0 in)
Beam	15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught	5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	6,500 hp (4,800 kW), two shafts
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h)
Complement	285
Armament	2 × 8.2 in (21 cm) (2 × 1); 6 × 6 in (15 cm) (6 × 1); 10 × 5.7 cm (2.2 in) (10 × 1); 2 torpedo tubes;
Armour	7 in (18 cm) belt; 7.5 in (19 cm) turret;

The Äran class was a class of coastal defence ships of the Swedish Navy. The class comprised Äran, Wasa, Tapperheten and Manligheten.

Design

Dimensions and machinery

The ships of the class were 87.48 metres (287 ft 0 in) long, had a beam of 15 metres (49 ft 3 in), a draught of 5 metres (16 ft 5 in), and had a displacement of 3,592 tons. The ships were equipped with 2 shaft reciprocating engines, which were rated at 6,500 indicated horsepower (4,800 kW) and produced a top speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph).

Armour

The ships had belt armour of 7 in (18 cm) and 7.5 in (19 cm) turret armour.

Armament

The main armament of the ships where two 8.2 in (21 cm) single turret guns. Secondary armament included six single 6 in (15 cm) guns and ten 5.7 cm (2.2 in) single guns.

Ships

Äran was laid down at the Lindholmens shipyard in Gothenburg and launched in 1902. Wasa was laid down at the Bergsund shipyard in Finnboda and was also launched in 1902. Tapperheten and Manligheten were both laid down at Kockums Shipyard in Malmö and were launched in 1904.

Ship name	Launched	Completed	Struck	Fate
Äran	14 August 1901	7 September 1902	June 1947	Broken up, 1961
Wasa	29 May 1901	6 December 1902	March 1940	Broken up, 1961
Tapperheten	7 November 1901	April 1903	June 1947	Broken up, 1952
Manligheten	1 December 1903	3 December 1904	February 1950	Converted to pontoon, 1956; broken up, 1984

Service

Tapperheten ran aground on rocks near Stockholm in January 1914. The vessel was refloated in July by blasting the rocks out from under her, repaired and returned to service by the end of 1915.^[1]

References

^ "American Marine Engineer January, 1916". National Marine Engineers Beneficial Association of the United States. Retrieved 25 October 2020 – via Haithi Trust.

Moore, J: Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I (1919; reprinted 1992) ISBN 1 85170 378 0

External links

Description of class (1)

[1] "American Marine Engineer January, 1916". National Marine Engineers Beneficial Association of the United States. Retrieved 25 October 2020 – via Haithi Trust.

[1]

Äran-class coastal defence ships
Äran Wasa Tapperheten Manligheten
Preceded by: Dristigheten Followed by: Oscar II
List of coastal defence ships of the Swedish Navy

v t e Swedish naval ship classes of World War II
Coastal defence ships	Dristigheten^S Äran Oscar II^S Sverige
Armoured cruisers	Fylgia^S
Light cruisers	Gotland^S Tre Kronor^I
Protected cruisers	Clas Fleming^S
Minelayers	Älvsnabben^S
Destroyers	Wale^S Ragnar Hugin Wrangel Ehrensköld Klas Göteborg Sella^RM Romulus^RM Mode Visby Öland^I
Torpedo boats	Komet Plejad
Submarines	Hajen Bävern Valen^S Draken Delfinen Sjölejonet Kust Neptun
Minesweepers	Sökaren Arholma
Patrol boats	Jägaren
S Single ship of class RM Purchased from Regia Marina I Incomplete until the end of the war

Class overview
HSwMS Äran
Name	Äran class
Builders	Bergsund, Finnboda Kockums, Malmö (2) Lindholmens, Gothenborg
Operators	Swedish Navy
Preceded by	Dristigheten
Succeeded by	Oscar II
Completed	4
General characteristics
Type	Coastal defense ship
Displacement	3,592 tons
Length	87.48 m (287 ft 0 in)
Beam	15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught	5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	6,500 hp (4,800 kW), two shafts
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h)
Complement	285
Armament	2 × 8.2 in (21 cm) (2 × 1) 6 × 6 in (15 cm) (6 × 1) 10 × 5.7 cm (2.2 in) (10 × 1) 2 torpedo tubes
Armour	7 in (18 cm) belt 7.5 in (19 cm) turret