Äran-class coastal defence ship

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

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

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

Äran-class ships during combat exercise. Oil painting by Herman af Sillén.

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]