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HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1930.
" I sorgfylld tid — till värn för vår frihet — bjuder jag dig, stolta fartyg, Drottning Victoria glida ut och börja din bana. Beskydde Gud din framtid. "
“In sad times — in defense of our freedom — I invite you, proud ship, Drottning Victoria to slip out and begin your path. May God protect your future.” - Queen Victoria, launch of the HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 15 September 1917.
Background:
HSwMS(His Swedish Majesties Ship) Drottning Victoria or HMS (Hans Majestäts Skepp) Drottning Victoria in Sweden, is one of the three Sverige-class coastal defence ships (or coastal battleship by other name) of the Swedish Navy. In Swedish, it’s called “Pansarskepp” (Armored ship). The ship was delivered to the Swedish Navy in 1921.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria is named after the current Queen at the time, Sophia Maria Victoria of Baden (1862-1930).
HSwMS Drottning Victoria was the second of it’s class, first arrived HSwMS Sverige (1917) and after Drottning Victoria, HSwMS Gustaf V (1922).
She was called “Drottningen” (“The Queen”) by her crew.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria was first launched 15-03-1917 and was delivered to the navy 05-12-1921. She was decommissioned 01-04-1957 and was sold for scrap 1959.
Pictures: Construction
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At Götaverket, 1 September 1915.
Central keelson and double bottom under construction.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 96.
At Götaverket, 2 February 1917, 2 May 1916.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 166.
At Götaverket, 4 September 1917.
Main deck laid.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 97.
Pictures: Launched
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At Götaverket, 15 September 1917.
Prepared to be launched.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 167.
Pictures: Pansarskepp Drottning Victoria
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HSwMS Drottning Victoria, test drive, 1921.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 165.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1927.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 177.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1930.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 172.
Swinemünde, April 1930.
Pansarskepp Sverige and Drottning Victoria in Swinemünde to bring home H. M. Queen’s dust.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 212.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1930.
Honor guards at the flower-encrusted coffin with the dust after Queen Victoria, on her way home onboard Drottning Victoria.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 182.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 20 May 1937.
Drottning Victoria with her parade lighting used at the coronation revue at Spithead, England.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 188.
Karlskrona, Oscarsdockan, 1937.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria at the dockyard in Karlskrona. Here you can see the propellers.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 111.
Combat training, 1939.
Firing exercise with HSwMS Gustaf V (to the left) and HSwMS Drottning Victoria (to the right).
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 208.
Outside Huvudskär, 10 July 1939.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria under combat training.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 141.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 18 February 1940.
Drottning Victoria frozen at Hårsfjärden.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 211.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1940.
Firing exercise.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 211.
HSwMS Sverige, 1940.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria and HSwMS Gustaf V seen from Sverige.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 221.
Stockholm, February 1940.
From left to right. HSwMS Äran, HSwMS Drottning Victoria and HSwMS Gustaf V.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 217.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1943.
Source: Örlogsfartyg - Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg, page 76.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria’s crew, 1944-1945.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 197.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1945.
Picture of the mast with a range finder at the bottom and a radar antenna at the top of the mast.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 133.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1945.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 198.
Corporal, ship number 900 Nicke.
Ship dog on HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 144.
Picture of Nicke the Sailor on a 28 cm cannon onboard HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 192.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 213.
Pansarskepp division on their way out through the archipelago, with Drottning Victroia in front, followed by Gustaf V.
Source: Örlogsfartyg - Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg, page 125.
Pictures: Cannons and Ammunition
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A 28 cm dual mounted M/12 for HSwMS Sverige at Bofors mounting hall.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 126.
Showcasing the stations on how the gun works.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 122.
An armor-piercing shell for the 28 cm cannon.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 129.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
Reloading the 28 cm cannon.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 118.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
A 28 cm shell stuck in the gun barrel.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 191.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 148.
Salvo from heavy and medium artillery.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 124.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 48.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 49.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1939.
15 cm gun turret.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 121.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria, 1942.
Dual 25 mm anti-aircraft guns M/32.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 146.
HSwMS Sverige, 1940.
Dual mounted 7,5 cm anti-aircraft cannon M/28 on Sverige. In the background is HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 145.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
Anti-aircraft machine gun.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 144.
Anti-air onboard the HSwMS Drottning Victoria. In the background is HSwMS Sverige.
Source: Örlogsfartyg - Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg, page 75.
Armor:
Belt: 200 mm
Citadel: 100 mm
Main gun turret’s front: 200 mm
Secondary gun turret’s front: 125 mm
Bridge: 175 mm
Deck horizontal: 18 mm
Deck slopped: 28 mm
All the armor is made with KC (Krupp Cemented)
Armament:
28,3 cm Turret:
Gun depression/elevation: -5°/+20°
Gun depression/elevation speed: 5°/s
Turret rotation speed: 4°/s
Caliber length: 45
Projectile:
Penetration:
350 mm (KC) against vertical armor at 6 000 m (Original ammunition)
155 mm (KC) against vertical armor at 18 000 m (Original ammunition)
87 mm (KC) against horizontal armor at 18 000 m (Original ammunition)
Weight: 305 kg
Velocity: 860 m/s
Range:
19 400 m (at 18°)
24 000 m (1930s)
Shells carried:
80-100 per cannon
60% High-Explosive shells
20% Armor-Percing shells
20% Semi-Armor-Percing shells
Rate of Fire:
4 Rounds per Minute
15,2 cm Turret:
Gun depression/elevation: -7°/+15°
Caliber length: 50
Projectile:
Weight: 45,4 kg
Velocity: 850 m/s
Range:
16 000 m (at 15°)
19 000 m (1930s)
Shells carried:
150 per cannon
Rate of Fire:
5-6 Rounds per Minute
Modifications:
HSwMS Drottning Victoria (1921)
Main armament:
4 x 28,3 cm M/12 (2x2)
Secondary armament:
8 x 15,2 cm M/12 (1x2, 6x1)
4 x 7,5 cm M/12
Anti-aircraft armament:
2 x 7,5 cm M/15 (Later M/15-23)
2 x 6,5 mm M/14
Torpedoes:
2 x 45,7 cm torpedo (Underwater torpedo tubes)
HSwMS Drottning Victoria(1935-1938)
Main armament:
4 x 28,3 cm M/12 (2x2)
Secondary armament:
8 x 15,2 cm M/12 (1x2, 6x1)
Anti-aircraft armament:
4 x 7,5 cm M/28 (2x2)
4 x 25 mm M/32 (2x2)
2 x 6,5 mm M/14
Torpedoes were removed for better fire-control systems
HSwMS Drottning Victoria (1941)
Main armament:
4 x 28,3 cm M/12 (2x2)
Secondary armament:
6 x 15,2 cm M/12 (1x2, 4x1)
Anti-aircraft armament:
4 x 7,5 cm M/28 (2x2)
4 x 40 mm M/36 (Gyro stabilized) (2x2)
2 x 40 mm M/36 (1x2)
3 x 20 mm M/40
Displacement:
Standard: 6 842 Tonnes
Max: 7 663 Tonnes
Waterline Length: 120,9 m
Length Overall: 121,6 m
Width: 18,63 m
Draft: 6,25 m
Speed:
23,2-23,5 Knots
22 000 HP
Crew:
427
Extra Information:
Spoiler
In January 1943 a radar antenna was mounted on the mast of Drottning Victoria. It was target measurement for the artillery.
Extra Pictures:
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Types of battleships, armored cruisers and battlecruisers during the time of the creation of the Sverige-class.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 278.
“The powerful anchor arrangement”.
Anchor sketch of the fleet parade in England at Spithead 1937. HSwMS Drottning Victoria anchorage is marked with a circle.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 186.
Unwanted meeting
G5 = Gustaf V
DV = Drottning Victoria
Jagare = Destroyer
Ubåtar = Submarines
Deutschland-class panzerschiff (armored ship)
Flyg = Aircraft
x) 0800 Action stations is signaled
At 0725 the Destroyer HSwMS Stockholm reported “unknown warships bow to me”. Later Stockholm reported “Unknown warships consist of three Deutschland”.
At 0800 Action stations was sounded as the three Deutschland were only 13 km away from the fleet. The fleet prepared for the worst as there was no heavy or medium caliber guns in their fleet that could shoot accurate against the three Deutschland, but the Germans were kind that day as they waved their 28 cm guns towards the fleet and laughed so loud that it could be heard on the hydrophones.
Prior to encountering the three Deutschland, Drottning Victoria was in Karlskrona dockyard in January and February as the ammunition storage room were being rebuilt for the longer 28 cm shells with longer caps. 180 High-explosive shells with the new caps were ordered but could not be delivered until April.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 209.
Pictures from: Stawomir Lipiecki
Source: https://www.warships.com.pl/index.php?strona=glowna
Displaying inner workings of the 28 cm gun turret.
Translation needed.
Picture of HSwMS Gustaf V (1945) showcasing Sverige-class armor layout.
Picture of HSwMS Gustaf V (1945) showcasing Sverige-class internal workings.
Translation needed.
Picture of HSwMS Gustaf V (1948).
Picture of HSwMS Drottning Victoria (1921).
Picture of HSwMS Drottning Victoria (1938).
Picture of HSwMS Drottning Victoria (1945).
Picture: Armor and Armament
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Svårt artilleri = Heavy artillery
Medelsvårt artilleri = Medium artillery
Lätt artilleri / luftvärn = Light artillery / Anti-Air
Kulsprutor = Machine guns
Strålkastare = Searchlights
Torpedbestyckning = Torpedo armament
Two underwater side tubes M/14 for the 45,7 cm torpedo, put to a 45° angle from centerline.
They were removed during the reconstructions 1927-1930.
The 57 mm is a “landing gun”, intended for use ashore.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 293.
Picture: Data on the cannons
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Tillverkare = Manufacturer
BO AB Borfors-Gullspång, Karlskoga
FB Finspongs Bruk, Finspong
GWA Sir G W Armstrong, Elswick Works, Storbritannien
LH Société Anonyme des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, Le Havre, Frankrike
MN Maxim-Nordenfelt, London, Storbritannien
NA Nordiska Artellerifabriken AB, Stockholm
NB Nordenfelt, Searing, Belgien
NL Nordenfelt, London, Storbritannien
SV Stockholms Vapenfabrik AB, Stockholm
SVT Societa Vickers Terni, Italien
**Vo = Velocity, Dmax = Max cannon range, Emax = Max cannon elevation
***After 1939 24 000 m range with new ammunition
****Max range with tracer
*****57 mm M/89B was built as anti-aircraft cannon in a couple of different varieties with different designations
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 300-301.
Picture: Midsection of the ship
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The picture is based on HSwMS Sverige, but the armor layout is the same
Pansar = Armor
Huvuddäck = Main deck
Trossdäck = Orlop deck
Träbackning = Wooden backing
KVL = Waterline
Skin = Ship plate on the outside which armor is screwed on, with or without intermediate wooden backing
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 295.
Picture: Technical Data of the Sverige-class
Spoiler
Namn = Name
Byggvarv = Construction yard
Byggnadsort = Place of construction
Sjösatt = Launched
Levererad = Delivered
Utrangerad = Decommissioned
Deplac std = Standard displacement
Deplac max = Max displacement
Besättning = Crew
L kvl = Waterline length
L ö a = Length overall
B kvl = Width
D kvl = Draught
All is in meters
Propellermaskineri = Propeller machinery
Ånganläggning = Steam plant
Effekt = Effect
Ångtryck = Steam pressure
Drivmedel = Fuel
ahk(axelhästkraft) is shp(shaft horsepower)
F.a.r.t, kontrakt = Speed, contract
F.a.r.t, provtur = Speed, test drive
Aktionsradie/F.a.r.t = Cruising radius/speed
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 292.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 73.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 279-280.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 281.
Source: Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria, page 284.
Picture: Summary of propulsion
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Fartyg = Ship
Typ = Type
Hk = Horsepower
Pannor = Boilers
Bränsleförråd = Fuel storage
Aktions-radie vid = Cruising radius
Propellrar = Propellers
diameter = diameter
varv/min = revolutions/min
F.a.r.t knop = Knots
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 296.
Picture: Armor, Armament, Data and Propulsion in one
Spoiler
Source: Örlogsfartyg - Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg, page 124.
Pictures: Machinery
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HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
Starboard engine room.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 110.
HSwMS Drottning Victoria.
One of Drottning Victoria’s cog wheels for the propeller machines. The gearbox cover over the gears has been lifted off.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 106.
The machine Arrangement for HSwMS Drottning Victoria and HSwMS Gustaf V.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 105.
High pressure and reverse turbine on HSwMS Drottning Victoria and HSwMS Gustaf V. Revers turbine, to the right of the picture, was only present in the high pressure turbine.
As it progressed, it rotated in a vacuum.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 105.
Turbine arrangement on HSwMS Drottning Victoria and HSwMS Gustaf V.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 105.
Pictures: Blueprint of 28 cm gun turret and 15 cm gun turret
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28 cm gun turret.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 123.
15 cm gun turret.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 124.
Pictures: Blueprint of HSwMS Drottning Victoria
Spoiler
Blueprint of HSwMS Drottning Victoria and HSwMS Gustaf V.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 163.
Drottning Victoria 1945.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 264.
Drottning Victoria 1945.
Source: Örlogsfartyg - Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg, page 127.
Construction drawing of the Drottning Victoria and Gustaf V.
Source: Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V, page 164.
Sources:
Spoiler
Pansarskepp - Från John Ericsson till Gustaf V - Per Insulander - Curt S Ohlsson
Klart skepp - Boken om Sverigeskeppen Sverige, Gustaf V, Drottning Victoria - Steckzén, Birger
Örlogsfartyg - Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg - von Hofsten Gustaf / Waernberg Jan
Pansarskepp from the first to the last, HSwMS Svea to HSwMS Gustaf V.
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