N700134 SWEDISH SUBMARINE CLASS VÄSTERGÖTLAND

Units of type Västergötland (Type A17) are Swedish classic diesel-electric fighter submarines that were launched in 1986-1988. A single ship of this type is 48.5 m long and 6.1 m wide, and the underwater displacement is approximately 1,150 tons. The maximum underwater speed is up to 20 knots. The armament consists of 6 533 mm torpedo tubes and 3 400 mm torpedo tubes. Units of type Västergötland were developed for the needs of the Swedish Navy (hereinafter: MW) at Saab Kockums AB at the turn of the 1970s and 1980s, in order to replace the Draken II-class ships in the line and complement the Näcken-class ships in the line. It should also be added that when building the presented class of submarines, the experience gained from the operation of Näcken class units was clearly based. In total, 4 Västergötland-class ships were built, 2 of which were sold to the Singapore Navy, and the remaining 2 underwent extensive reconstruction and modernization in 2003-2004, as a result of which they received, among others, AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) propulsion, which it greatly increased their autonomy, and at the same time had a fantastic effect on reducing their noise during low speed underwater cruises. Very often these upgraded units are referred to as the Södermanland class.