Draug class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Draug class was the first multi-vessel class of destroyers built for the Royal Norwegian Navy
, the first destroyer to be built for the RNoN being the Valkyrjen
, commissioned 17 May 1896. As the single Valkyrjen was not enough to fulfil the need for destroyers, the Draug class was ordered and built in the years 1908-1913. Draug was the lead ship, commissioned in 1910, followed by Troll in 1912 and Garm in 1913. Garm was also the first turbine engined vessel in Norway. Equipped with two Germania steam turbine
s, she consumed enormous amounts of coal.
s to combat enemy torpedo boat
s, as well as three trainable torpedo tube
s to attack larger vessels.
The class was named after the Draugr
- a sinister, malevolent being of Nordic origin and often connected with mariners and the sea.
, although they were mothballed years before 1939.
As war became imminent, the three ships were returned to active service, Troll and Garm on 28 August, Draug on 5 September 1939. As all three ships were in poor condition, it took much time and work before they could be declared operational.
After mobilisation, the Draug class vessels were considered fit only for escort and guard service.
On 8 April 1940, as the German invasion of Norway
was imminent, the three Draug class ships were posted to the 2nd Naval District in south- and mid-western Norway. Draug was based at Haugesund
, Garm at Bergen
and Troll at Måløy
.
While Draug escaped to the United Kingdom
on 9 April 1940, Garm was sunk by German bombers at the village of Bjordal in the Sognefjord
26 April 1940 and Troll was captured at anchor in Florø
by the advancing German forces on 18 May 1940.
Draug served as an escort vessel on the east coast of Britain until she was scrapped
in 1944.
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
, the first destroyer to be built for the RNoN being the Valkyrjen
HNoMS Valkyrjen
HNoMS Valkyrjen was a division's ship for the torpedo division of the Royal Norwegian Navy. She was built at F. Schichau shipyard in Elbing, Germany in 1896. The funds for the ship had been raised by the women of Norway and the ship was named Valkyrien in honour of them. She was also nicknamed The...
, commissioned 17 May 1896. As the single Valkyrjen was not enough to fulfil the need for destroyers, the Draug class was ordered and built in the years 1908-1913. Draug was the lead ship, commissioned in 1910, followed by Troll in 1912 and Garm in 1913. Garm was also the first turbine engined vessel in Norway. Equipped with two Germania steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
s, she consumed enormous amounts of coal.
Characteristics
They were fast vessels for their day, reaching speeds of up to 26.5 knots. The Draug class vessels carried six quick-firing gunQuick-firing gun
A quick-firing gun is an artillery piece, typically a gun or howitzer, which has several characteristics which taken together mean the weapon can fire at a fast rate...
s to combat enemy torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s, as well as three trainable torpedo tube
Torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s to attack larger vessels.
The class was named after the Draugr
Draugr
A draugr, draug or draugur , or draugen , also known as aptrgangr is an undead creature from Norse mythology...
- a sinister, malevolent being of Nordic origin and often connected with mariners and the sea.
Fates
All three ships were kept in commission until the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, although they were mothballed years before 1939.
As war became imminent, the three ships were returned to active service, Troll and Garm on 28 August, Draug on 5 September 1939. As all three ships were in poor condition, it took much time and work before they could be declared operational.
After mobilisation, the Draug class vessels were considered fit only for escort and guard service.
On 8 April 1940, as the German invasion of Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
was imminent, the three Draug class ships were posted to the 2nd Naval District in south- and mid-western Norway. Draug was based at Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
, Garm at Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
and Troll at Måløy
Måløy
is a town and the administrative centre of the municipality of Vågsøy in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. Måløy is located on the southeastern side of the island of Vågsøy, about northeast of the village of Holvik and about south of Raudeberg. The Måløybrua connects the town to the village of...
.
While Draug escaped to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 9 April 1940, Garm was sunk by German bombers at the village of Bjordal in the Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
26 April 1940 and Troll was captured at anchor in Florø
Florø
is a town and the administrative centre of Flora municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is also a former municipality that existed for just over 100 years. The town was founded on the Florelandet island between the Botnafjorden and Solheimsfjorden by royal decree in 1860. In...
by the advancing German forces on 18 May 1940.
Draug served as an escort vessel on the east coast of Britain until she was scrapped
Ship breaking
Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
in 1944.
External links
- Naval History via Flix: KNM Draug, retrieved 29 January 2006
- Ships of the Norwegian navy, retrieved 29 January 2006