Draug-class destroyer

Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship class overviewTemplate:Infobox ship characteristics

The Draug class was the first multi-vessel class of destroyers built for the Royal Norwegian Navy in the early 20th century and the first destroyers constructed for the Royal Norwegian Navy since Template:HNoMS, which was commissioned on 17 May 1896. The class comprised three ships, Template:HNoMS, Template:HNoMS and Template:HNoMS. All three were built at the Karljohansvern Orlogsstasjon. The Draug class were the last Norwegian-constructed destroyers until the Template:Sclass was laid down in 1939. The Draug class saw service until the 1940s. In 1940, Garm was sunk while the other two remained in service until sold and broken up for scrap.

Characteristics

The Draug class was patterned on the British Template:Sclass2, only somewhat larger and more heavily armed.Template:Sfn The destroyers had a displacement of Template:Convert and were Template:Convert long with a beam of Template:Convert and a draught of Template:Convert. The destroyers had a complement of 76 officers and ratings.Template:Sfn

The ships of the class were coal-powered vessels with a capacity of Template:Convert. While Draug and Troll had vertical triple expansion steam engines driving two shafts, rated at Template:Convert, Garm was powered by Germania direct steam turbines, rated at Template:Convert. Draug had a maximum speed of Template:Convert, Troll, Template:Convert and Garm, Template:Convert. They carried six Template:Convert quick-firing guns, as well as three trainable Template:Convert torpedo tubes.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Ships in class

Construction dataTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Ship	Builder	Launched	Fate
Template:HNoMS	Karljohansvern Orlogsstasjon	18 March 1908	Broken up in 1944
Template:HNoMS		7 July 1910	Sold in 1947 to be broken up
Template:HNoMS		27 May 1913	Sunk at Bjordal on 26 April 1940

Service history

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, launched in 1908, followed by Troll| in 1909 and Garm in 1913.Template:Sfn The class, and lead ship, was named after the Draugr – a sinister, malevolent being of Nordic origin and often connected with mariners and the sea.

All three ships were kept in commission until the Second World War, 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. They served with the 1st Destroyer Division based at Bergen.Template:Sfn

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. Draug escaped to the United Kingdom on 9 April 1940 after an action against German transports. Garm was sunk by German bombers at the village of Bjordal in the Sognefjord on 26 April 1940. Troll, which had been ordered to Shetland, was abandoned by her crew at Florø was captured at anchor by the advancing German forces on 18 May 1940.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Troll was used as a condensor vessel and heating barge in the shipyard at Laksevaag.Template:Sfn

Draug served as an escort vessel on the east coast of Britain until she was scrapped in 1944. Troll was returned to Norway by the Germans following the end of the Second World War. The ship was sold in 1947 and broken up for scrap.Template:Sfn

External links

• Naval History via Flix: KNM Draug, retrieved 29 January 2006
• Ships of the Norwegian navy, retrieved 29 January 2006