Sleipner class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The Sleipner class was a class of six destroyer
s built for the Royal Norwegian Navy
from 1936 until the German invasion
in 1940. The design was considered advanced for its time, and it was the first class of vessels for the Norwegian Navy that used aluminium in the construction of the bridge
, the mast
and the outer funnel
. Extra strength special steel was used in the construction of the hull
. Unlike the earlier Draug class
the Sleipner class had comparatively good capabilities in both main guns, anti-aircraft artillery
and anti-submarine weapon
s.
The class was named after Sleipnir
, the eight-legged horse of Odin
.
had not been finished when the Germans attacked, and it is not known if any changes in armament were planned.
Although classified by the Norwegians as destroyers they have been widely regarded as torpedo boats because of their displacement and armament.
, and was kept in service until 1959. Gyller and Odin were captured by the Germans in 1940 at Kristiansand
. Balder and Tor were captured unfinished at the shipyard and put into German service after completion.
Gyller and Odin were returned to the Royal Norwegian Navy after the war and kept in service until 1959. Balder and Tor were finished by the Germans, and used by them until returned in 1945. Balder was scrapped in 1952, Tor in 1959.
The Germans re-classed the ships as Torpedoboot Ausland
and renamed them: Gyller to Löwe, Odin to Panther, Balder to Leopard, and Tor to Tiger.
In 1945 Löwe was one of the escorts to the Wilhelm Gustloff
on her last voyage. The Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed and sank with a great loss of life. During the sinking, Löwe came alongside and rescued 472 of her passengers and crew.
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s built for the Royal Norwegian Navy
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...
from 1936 until the German invasion
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...
in 1940. The design was considered advanced for its time, and it was the first class of vessels for the Norwegian Navy that used aluminium in the construction of the bridge
Bridge (ship)
The bridge of a ship is the room or platform from which the ship can be commanded. When a ship is underway the bridge is manned by an OOW aided usually by an AB acting as lookout...
, the mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
and the outer funnel
Funnel (ship)
A funnel is the smokestack or chimney on a ship used to expel boiler steam and smoke or engine exhaust. They can also be known in as stacks.-Purpose:...
. Extra strength special steel was used in the construction of the hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
. Unlike the earlier Draug class
Draug class destroyer
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...
the Sleipner class had comparatively good capabilities in both main guns, anti-aircraft artillery
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
and anti-submarine weapon
Anti-submarine weapon
An anti-submarine weapon is any one of a range of devices that are intended to act against a submarine, and its crew, to destroy the vessel or to destroy or reduce its capability as a weapon of war...
s.
The class was named after Sleipnir
Sleipnir
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse. Sleipnir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson...
, the eight-legged horse of Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
.
Armament
The armament within the class varied slightly. Æger had the armament listed in the article info-box. Sleipner, the lead ship of the class, carried just two 10 cm guns and could not elevate them for use as anti-aircraft weapons. Gyller had two extra torpedo tubes, for a total of four. Odin had a 20 mm anti aircraft gun instead of a 40 mm. Balder and TorHNoMS Tor (1939)
HNoMS Tor was a Sleipner class destroyer of the Royal Norwegian Navy that was launched in September 1939. She was under outfitting and testing when Nazi Germany invaded Norway on 9 April 1940. Although scuttled by Norwegian naval personnel to prevent her from being captured by the invading forces,...
had not been finished when the Germans attacked, and it is not known if any changes in armament were planned.
Although classified by the Norwegians as destroyers they have been widely regarded as torpedo boats because of their displacement and armament.
Fates
The vessels had quite different fates. Æger was bombed by German planes on 9 April 1940, and wrecked with loss of life. Sleipner was in Norwegian service throughout World War IIWorld 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...
, and was kept in service until 1959. Gyller and Odin were captured by the Germans in 1940 at Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
. Balder and Tor were captured unfinished at the shipyard and put into German service after completion.
Gyller and Odin were returned to the Royal Norwegian Navy after the war and kept in service until 1959. Balder and Tor were finished by the Germans, and used by them until returned in 1945. Balder was scrapped in 1952, Tor in 1959.
The Germans re-classed the ships as Torpedoboot Ausland
Torpedoboot Ausland
The Torpedoboot Ausland were small destroyers or large torpedo boats captured by Nazi Germany and incorporated into the Kriegsmarine. They were assigned a number beginning with TA-TA 1 to TA 6:...
and renamed them: Gyller to Löwe, Odin to Panther, Balder to Leopard, and Tor to Tiger.
In 1945 Löwe was one of the escorts to the Wilhelm Gustloff
Wilhelm Gustloff (ship)
The MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a German KdF flagship during 1937-1945, constructed by the Blohm & Voss shipyards. It sank after being torpedoed by the Soviet submarine on 30 January 1945....
on her last voyage. The Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed and sank with a great loss of life. During the sinking, Löwe came alongside and rescued 472 of her passengers and crew.