Romulus-class destroyer

The Romulus class was a class of two destroyers operated by the Royal Swedish Navy during the Second World War and into the first decades of the Cold War.

Romulus
Class overview
Name	Romulus class
Operators	Swedish Navy
Succeeded by	Mode class
Built	1934
In service	1940–1958
Completed	2
Scrapped	2
General characteristics
Type	Destroyer
Displacement	630 long tons (640 t) (standard)
Length	81.4 m (267 ft 1 in)
Beam	8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)
Draft	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2 Yarrow boilers 19,000 shp (14,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range	1,700 nmi (3,100 km; 2,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	99
Sensors & processing systems	Sonar and hydrophones
Armament	3 × single 100 mm (3.9 in) 100/47 DP guns 3 × single 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns 2 × twin 457 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes (2 × twin mounts) 2 × depth charge throwers 28 × mines

Design and description

The Romulus-class ships consisted of two Spica class purchased from the Royal Italian Navy in March 1940 that had been built in Italy as Spica and Astore.^[1] The ships displaced 630 long tons (640 t) at standard load and 900 tonnes (890 long tons) at deep load. They measured 81.4 meters (267 ft 1 in) long overall with a beam of 8.2 meters (26 ft 11 in), and a draft of 2.3 meters (7 ft 7 in). The Romulus's were propelled by two Tosi geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam from a pair of Yarrow boilers. The turbines were designed to produce a total of 19,000 shaft horsepower (14,000 kW) for an intended maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,700 nautical miles (3,100 km; 2,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). The ships' crew numbered 99.^[2]

The main armament of the Romulus class consisted of three 100-millimeter (3.9 in) dual-purpose guns in single mounts. One gun was located at the forecastle and the others were in superfiring mounts at the stern. After modifications by the Royal Swedish Navy, their anti-aircraft defense was provided by three 20-millimeter (0.8 in) Breda AA guns in single mounts and a pair of 13.2-millimeter (0.5 in) M/31 heavy machine guns. The ships were equipped with four 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in two rotating, twin-tube mounts located between the rear funnel and the stern gun. Two depth charge throwers were fitted and the ships could carry 28 mines.^[2]

Ships

Name	Pennant numbers	Builder	Launched[3]	Acquired[3]	Decommissioned[3]	Fate[3]
Romulus	27	BSN, Naples	30 May 1935	1940 from Italy	1958	Scrapped, 1961
Remus	28	BSN, Naples	30 May 1935	1940 from Italy	1958	Scrapped, 1961