TYPE: Destroyer - “Torpedojager”
NAMES:
Norwegian service: 1939: Odin 1946: KNM Odin L03, 1950: KNM Odin F302
German service: Panther
CLASS: Sleipner klasse Torpedojager
BUILDING SITE: Marinens Hoververft, Horten - Norway
BUILDING NUMBER: 126
LAUNCHED: 24.01.1939
ARMAMENT 1939 (Original)
Spoiler
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3x 105mm L/40 Bofors M II Cannons
Rounds per minute: 12 rpm
Reload time: 5 Seconds
Maximum range M II Variant: 17.000 Meter
-Armor: Armored shield, probably 3-5mm on sides and thicker front plate.
-Placements:
1x on the foredeck in front of wheelhouse/bridge
1x on the deck aft of the vessel
1x in front of the aft cannon above mounted on a a platform -
1x 20mm Oerlikon anti air cannon
-Placed on a platform more or less mid ships, same location as the 40mm bofors on the other vessels of the class. -
2x 12.7x99mm Colt MG/52 Machineguns
-Placements: 1x on each side of the vessel midships besides the Bofors 40mm cannon
-Cooling system: water cooled -
1x Double 53.3cm torpedocannon
-Placement: aft of the chimney, in front of the bofors cannon
-Torpedo stowage: Unknown
-Torpedo:
Whitehead Model XV
-Dimensions: 53.34cm x 5,15 m
-Weight: Ca. 970 kg
-Warhead: 250 kg
-Speed & ranges:
-Range at 40 knots: 4.500-5.000m
-Range at 33 knots: 8.000-8.500m
The torpedo is very similar the Model XI. This has some Norwegian modifications that affects the air, the head of the torpedo is unusual -
Depth charges
Racks: 2x depth charge racks
Throwers: 4x depth charge throwers
-Placements:
1x thrower on each side of the vessel with the bofors cannon
4x in the aft if the vessel to be dropped, cant see any thrower
model and make uncertain, same with specs. judging from how they are seen from pictures they are probably some where between 50-100 kg
ARMAMENT 1940 (After German capture)
Spoiler
-
3x 105mm L/40 Bofors M II Cannons
Rounds per minute: 12 rpm
Reload time: 5 Seconds
Maximum range M II Variant: 17.000 Meter
-Armor: Armored shield, probably 3-5mm on sides and thicker front plate.
-Placements:
1x on the foredeck in front of wheelhouse/bridge
1x on the deck aft of the vessel
1x in front of the aft cannon above mounted on a a platform -
1x 20mm Oerlikon anti air cannon
-Placed on a platform more or less mid ships, same location as the 40mm bofors on the other vessels of the class. -
2x 12.7x99mm Colt MG/52 Machineguns
-Placements: 1x on each side of the vessel midships besides the Bofors 40mm cannon
-Cooling system: water cooled -
1x Double 53.3cm torpedocannon
-Placement: aft of the chimney, in front of the bofors cannon
-Torpedo stowage: Unknown
-Torpedo:
Whitehead Model XV
-Dimensions: 53.34cm x 5,15 m
-Weight: Ca. 970 kg
-Warhead: 250 kg
-Speed & ranges:
-Range at 40 knots: 4.500-5.000m
-Range at 33 knots: 8.000-8.500m
The torpedo is very similar the Model XI. This has some Norwegian modifications that affects the air, the head of the torpedo is unusual -
24 mines
-The vessel was after the capture in 1940 modified to have 24x sea mines. unknown witch model and as i have understood it, this might have replaced the depth charge throwers/system. but the depth charge throwers located midships on the sides seems to still be there.
ARMAMENT 1941 (German service as Torpedo recovery vessel)
Spoiler
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1x 10.5 cm SK C/32 Cannon
-Placement: Stern
-Mass: 1,585–1,785 kilograms
-Length: 4.74–4.86 metres
-Barrel length: 4.4 meters (bore length)
-Shell: Fixed
-Shell weight: 15.1 kilograms
-Caliber: 10.5 centimeters
-Elevation: MPLC/32: -10 to +50
-Muzzle velocity: 785 m/s
-Maximum firing ranges;
-Horizontal: 15 kilometers at +44.4°
-Ceiling: 10,300 meters at +80° -
1x 37mm L/80 SK C/30 Cannon
Mass: 243 kilograms
Length: 3,074 metres
Barrel length: 2,962 meters
Shell: fixed, cased charge
Shell weight: 0.68 kilograms
Caliber: 37 x 380 mm R
Action: single-shot
Breech: semi-automatic, vertical sliding block
Elevation: depends on the mount
Traverse: 360°
Rate of fire: 30 rpm (practical)
Muzzle velocity: 1,000 m/s
Effective firing range: 2,000m (effective ceiling)
Maximum firing range: 8,500m at 37.5° -
4x 20mm L/65 C/38 Cannon
Gun Weight C/38: 57.5 kg
Gun Length oa: 2.2525 m
Bore Length: 1,300 m
Rifling Length: 1,159 m
Number Of Grooves: (8) 0.325mm x 5.2mm
Country: 2.65 mm
Twist: Uniform RH 1 in 36
Chamber Volume: 0.048 dm3
Rate Of Fire C/38;
480 rounds per minute cyclic
220 rounds per minute practical -
24 mines
-The vessel was after the capture in 1940 modified to have 24x sea mines. unknown witch model
ARMAMENT 1948 (As Frigate)
Spoiler
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3x 76mm Cannons
-
2x 40mm Cannons
-
2x 20mm cannons
I cant find the models
TECHNICAL DATA
Displacement: 735 Metric tons
Length: 74.30 Meter
Width: 7.75 Meter
Depth: 4.15 Meter
MACHINERY
2x De Laval Geared turbines
2x Shafts
Power: 1.200 AHP
Speed: 32 knots (59.26 Km/h)
Bunkers: 100 Metric tons of Oil
Range: 3.500n. miles at 15 knots (27.78 Km/h)
CREW
Estimated crew: The crew varied between 75-83 Men during the voyages
ARMOR
Hull material: Steel hull, identical to Sleipner regarding the light metal use.
German 1941 rebuild: Added some sort of anti mine/demagnetizer along the vessel.
TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS
1940: Taken over by the German navy in Vigebukta, Kristiansand
1940: Renamed PANTHER. Partially redecorated and refurnished
1940: German escort service in the 7th T-flotilla with escort service in the Skagerak and Kattegatt
1940: Used as a school vessel
1940: Torpedo fishing vessel in the 27th U-boat flotilla with station in Gotenhafen
1945: Found in Holmestrand and returned to KNM
1946: Pennant No. L.03
1948: Converted to a frigate and renamed KNM ODIN
1950: Pennant No. F-302 (NATO)
1959: Scrapped and sold for scrapping
HISTORY
Spoiler
Background
In Norway, in the interwar period, there was very little willingness to invest money in defence, and there was a lot of back and forth about both the use of money and the type of vessels that should now be built or bought to replace the aging Draug class destroyers that had been built before 1 world war. The politicians wanted smaller and less expensive vessels such as canoes and torpedo boats to be procured, while the navy believed that far more powerful vessels were needed. The 11 vessels that were launched up to 1929 were in their own right just the realization of construction plans from the weapons program during the First World War. But they were only able to launch the minesweeper HNoMS Olav Tryggvason and the surveillance ship HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen. The rear gun for the Sleipner class was then also a draft from the Navy for a 1,000 tonne fighter, which was ordered to be reduced to around 700 tonnes fully equipped. Unfortunately, this affected the armouring, seaworthiness and radius of action, it was also mentioned several times during the war and measures were taken to reduce the weight of the ship when there were major problems with stability. And when the Storting decided in March 1933 to build the first ship of this class, it was simply named “Large Torpedo Boat”. The crew was then also only 75 men. In order to achieve the greatest possible strength with the least possible weight, it was built with a longship frame system, except fore and aft. Some special steel with much greater strength was also used. The cabin bulkhead and superstructure were built in aluminum and the hull was built with a single bottom. It received two sets of steam turbines and three oil-fired water tube boilers for artificial draft. It thus had a maximum speed of 32 knots.
With 3x 105mm cannons, 1x 40mm cannon, two sinking mine launchers on the side and ranges behind and a double torpedo cannon, the ship was on a long way to end destroyer. Construction was added to the Navy’s main shipyard in Horten and Sleipner was launched on 7 May 1936. The exact background for when the other five vessels, in what became the Sleipner class, was adopted is unknown.
Wartime
Gyller and Odin were themselves stationed at Egersund, and directly under the High Command of the Navy, to run an escort service. On 8 April, they both happened to be near Kristiansand, and Odin was sent out in the morning to assist in the rescue operation of personnel from the German merchant ship Rio De Janeiro, which had been sunk by a Polish submarine. Later in the day it returned to Kristiansand with 16 dead and 19 wounded Germans. Gyller was intent on escorting the German merchant ship Seattle along the Norwegian coast. When the message about the torpedoing was received, it was asked to interrupt the escort and enter Kristansand as soon as possible. Here they eventually reported to the commandant, but were given no precautionary orders, apart from being on standby, probably with the intention that they would possibly contribute to and protect the city. And on the night of April 9, they were both attacked by German planes, which they also fired back at. At dawn they received a message not to fire on British vessels, and they then assumed that they were British ships that were heading towards Kristiansand. This misunderstanding can to some extent explain why they did not open fire on the incoming vessels, which later turned out to actually be German. When the commander of the fortress, under threat of bombing, chose to surrender the city, he let this promise also apply to the naval vessels Gyller and Odin. These ships were therefore handed over to the German forces without a further fight. Gyller was later transferred to Kiel, where it was manned with personnel from the ground-supported torpedo boat Albatross. On 25 May it changed its name to Lowe’s. Odin was named with, among other things, personnel who had survived the sinking of Blucher. It arrived at keel on 18 May and was renamed Panther. Both these vessels were transferred to the German 27 submarine flotilla in Gotenhafen. This was a pure training flotilla where the former Norwegian vessels partly served as target vessels and partly engaged in fishing for practice torpedoes. Gyller/Lowe also got a role during the biggest ship disaster in history. It was the escort for the passenger ship Wilhelm Gustoff which was sunk by a Soviet submarine on 30 January 1945 with almost 10,000 deaths.
After it was captured by the Germans in 1940, Odin was modified to be able to have mines on the aft deck. I’m not entirely sure if it went beyond the sink mine systems. but I proceed from this. I am also relatively certain, from what I can see, that they kept the original Norwegian armouring. And in 1941 they were upgraded once more, this time a much more extensive refit. Here they removed most of the Norwegian armament and mounted one 10.5 cm SK C/32 Cannon on the aft deck, mounted one 37mm L/80 SK C/30 Cannon, four 20mm L/65 C/38 Cannon.
Fate
The ship was found after the war in Holmestrand and returned to Norway under the original name Odin. The ship was then in 1946 given the pennant number L03 and in 1948 converted to a Frigate with 3x 76mm guns, 2x 40mm guns and 2x 20mm guns which show very well designated in the conversion plans if I have attached in a spoiler folder further down the post. As a frigate, the ship was given a new pennant number in 1950, F 302, and in 1959 it was decommissioned and sold for scrapping.
The Sleipner class consisted of, HNoMS Sleipner (1936), HNoMS Æger (1936), HNoMS Gyller (1938), HNoMS Balder (1939), HNoMS Odin (1939) & HNoMS Tor (1939). The armament varied a bit between those vessels. HNoMS Odin, were among other things equipped a 20mm Oerlikon cannon instead of the 40mm L/60 Bofors that the other vessels of the class were equipped. The attached picture below, is of the HNoMS Odin and clearly shows the 20mm cannon being mounted instead of the 40mm cannon. I don’t know which model of the oerlikon it is, but it is probably the Mk.II as is on every vessel, but i only list is as 20mm Oerlikon until further information. and also, the image is taken t. april 1940 and we can see that here is the German crew of the German troop transport vessel “Rio de Janeiro”.
The vessel in the German configuration (1941) served the Norwegian navy from 1945 (When it was returned) to 1948 when it was rebuilt and refitted as a frigate (it received the pennant number L03 in 1946). as a frigate it received 3x 76mm cannons, 2x 40mm cannons and 2x 20mm cannons.
IN GAME
This is as mentioned a old design, and due to the requirements regarding weight, it had problems with the stability. But it is very light, has a decent top speed of 59.2 Km/h, both refits has satisfying armament that works well against both air and surface targets so i would believe this would be a very nice vessel to play.
GENERAL ARRANGEMENT - FRIGATE REBUILD DRAWING OF HNoMS Odin
Spoiler
ALBUM
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SOURCES
Spoiler
Redirecting…
Norske Marinefartøy – Bodoni Forlag
Leselystig 39: Modeller som forteller – Norsk Marinehistorie | Polar Coordinate
HNoMS Odin (1939) - Wikipedia
ALL images are lended from
DigitaltMuseum
Torpedoes
Whitehead og andre norskbygde torpedoer - Kystfort
Verification of the 3x 105mm L/40 Bofors M II Cannons, it is here listed used on the sistership Æger, and it should be the same cannons on Odin.
Nasjonalbiblioteket
Primary source
Nasjonalbiblioteket
- Yes
- No