Laxen-class submarine

The Laxen-class was a pair of coastal submarines operated by the Swedish Navy between 1915 and 1935. The vessels were some of the earliest Swedish submarines and a development of an initial design based off USS Holland. The submarines, Laxen and Gäddan, were commissioned in 1914 and 1915, respectively. The submarines served for about two decades, with the first decommissioned in 1935 and the second in 1931.

Model of HSwMS Laxen at the Karlskrona Naval Museum
Class overview
Name	Laxen class
Builders	Karlskrona Navy Yard
Operators	Swedish Navy
Preceded by	Undervattensbåten No 2-class
Succeeded by	Abborren-class
Built	1913-1915
In service	1914-1935
Completed	2
Scrapped	2
General characteristics
Type	Coastal submarine
Displacement	Surfaced: 140 tons Submerged: 170 tons
Length	26.80 metres (87 ft 11 in)
Beam	3.61 metres (11 ft 10 in)
Installed power	700 brake horsepower (520 kilowatts) (diesel) 200 horsepower (150 kilowatts) (electric)
Propulsion	2 × 6-cylinder Diesel engines 2 × Electric motors 2 shafts
Speed	Surfaced: 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph) Submerged: 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph)
Complement	10
Armament	1 × 457 mm (18.0 in) torpedo tube

Development and design

In 1900, the Swedish Navy sent Carl Richson to the United States, who was ordered to study submarines. After his return, he was inspired by USS Holland and designed HSwMS Hajen, Sweden's first submarine.^[1]: 11 Over the next decade, Hajen's design was further developed to create a fleet of coastal submarines. One of the later evolutions was the Undervattensbåten No 2-class in 1909, which served as the basis for the Laxen-class. Compared to their predecessors, the Laxen-class featured improved engines and superstructure. An improved design, which featured an additional torpedo tube and better engines, entered service as the Abborren-class several years later.^[1]: 131

The class measured 26.80 metres (87 ft 11 in) in length with a beam of 3.61 metres (11 ft 10 in) and displaced 140 tons surfaced and 170 tons submerged. The complement consisted of 10 officers and crew. They were powered by a pair of six-cylinder diesel engines and two electric motors that produced 700 brake horsepower (520 kilowatts) and 200 horsepower (150 kilowatts), which drove two propellers. This gave a maximum speed of 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph) on the surface and 6.6 knots (12.2 km/h; 7.6 mph) submerged. Armament comprised a single 457 mm (18.0 in) torpedo tube mounted in the bow.^[2]: 362

During World War I, Sweden primarily relied on the Swedish Navy to enforce the nation's neutrality. Swedish doctrine viewed submarines as a cheap method to counter enemy capital ships, and the Navy often pushed to build more boats.^[2]: 355 Both were built at the Karlskrona Navy Yard and were commissioned into the fleet by 1915. They served through World War I and were retired in the early 1930s.^[2]: 362

Ships in class

Data^[2]: 362

Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Stricken
Laxen	1913	1914	1914	1935
Gäddan	1914	1915	1915	1931