Mode was the first ordered of a class of four Swedish destroyers based on the Spica class designed in Italy. Small and ideal for coastal operation, the design was a cheaper alternative to traditional designs to meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding Swedish Navy.[1] The vessel was named after the son of Thor.[2]
Displacememt was 750 tonnes (740 long tons) standard and 960 tonnes (940 long tons; 1,060 short tons) full load. Overall length was 256 feet (78.03 m), beam 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m) and draught 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m).[3] A crew of 100 officers and ratings was carried.[4]
Machinery consisted of two Penhoët A oil-fired boilers, which supplied steam to two de Laval geared steam turbines, each driving its own propeller. The turbines were rated at 16,000 shp (12,000 kW) to give a design speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). 190 tonnes (190 long tons) of fuel was carried to give a range of 1,260 nautical miles (2,330 km; 1,450 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[5]
The main armament consisted of three 10.5 cm (4 in) K/50 M42 guns produced by Bofors.[3] These were placed in separate mounts, one on the fore deck, one on the aft deck and one on the aft superstructure.[4]Air defence consisted two 40 mm (1.57 in) K/60 M36 and two 20 mm (0.79 in) K/66 M40 individually mounted anti-aircraft autocannons, also provided by Bofors.[6] Three torpedo tubes for 53 cm (21 in) torpedoes were triple mounted aft of the superstructure and two depth charge throwers were mounted further towards the stern. 42 mines could also be carried for minelaying.[6]
Mode was modernised in 1953 and re-rated as a frigate. One of the 105 mm (4.1 in) main guns was removed, along with the triple 533 mm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes. Instead a single Squid depth charge launcher was fitted to improve anti-submarine capabilities and the 40 mm (1.6 in) guns were upgraded to provide greater anti-aircraft protection.[9] After the conversion, Mode retained minelaying capability.[5] The upgraded ship was allocated the pennant number 73.
Disposal
Mode was decommissioned on 1 July 1970 and was used as training vessel until being scrapped at Ystad in 1978.[10]
Arbeitskreis für Wehrforschung, ed. (1977). "Marine-rundschau: Zeitschrift für Seewesen" (in German). 74. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Borgenstam, Curt; Insulander, Per; Kaudern, Gösta (1989). Jagare : Med Svenska Flottans Jagare under 80 år (2:a) (in Swedish). Karlskrona: Västra Frölunda CB Marinlitteratur. ISBN91-97070-04-1.