HSwMS Vidar (1909)

History
Sweden
Name	Vidar
Builder	Kockums, Malmö
Launched	6 September 1909
Commissioned	14 April 1910
Stricken	13 June 1947
Identification	Pennant number: 4, 23
Fate	Sunk as a target, 28 August 1961
General characteristics (as built)
Class & type	Ragnar-class destroyer
Displacement	350 long tons (356  t) (normal) 416 long tons (423 t) (deep load)
Length	66.1 m (216 ft 10 in)
Beam	6.3 m (20 ft 8 in)
Draft	1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) (deep load)
Installed power	4 Yarrow boilers 7,200  ihp (5,400  kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 triple-expansion steam engines
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	1,400 nmi (2,600 km; 1,600 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	69
Armament	4 × single 75 mm (3 in) guns 2 × single 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes

Vidar was one of three Ragnar-class destroyers built for the Royal Swedish Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. Completed in 1910, she conducted neutrality patrols during both world wars.

Design and description

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]

Construction and career

Vidar was launched on 6 September 1909 by Kockums Mekaniska Verkstad at its shipyard in Malmö. The ship was commissioned on 14 April 1910. She conducted neutrality patrols during both world wars. ^[2]

Citations

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

References

• 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.