The HMS Hedvig Eleonora, the RSwN first true aircraftcarrier. She as laid down as a luxury liner for the Swedish-America Line in 1928 but when the depression struck the company couldn't afford her so she was bought by the navy on the slips.
The navy had wanted a carrier for long and now they got the chance to build one to practice on before ordering a true carrier. She as used for the first five years a training carrier, working up diffrent aircraft and tactics. In 1938 she got her first true airwing. She served most of her active time in the pacific war, before being scuttle after several hits by kamikazes at battle of Okinawa.
Hedvig Eleonora, Sweden Carrier laid down 1926 (Engine 1928)
Displacement:
25 989 t light; 26 810 t standard; 29 979 t normal; 32 514 t full load
Dimensions: Length overall / water x beam x draught
656,17 ft / 656,17 ft x 85,30 ft (Bulges 98,43 ft) x 26,25 ft (normal load)
200,00 m / 200,00 m x 26,00 m (Bulges 30,00 m) x 8,00 m
Armament:
8 - 4,13" / 105 mm guns (4x2 guns), 35,32lbs / 16,02kg shells, 1924 Model
Dual purpose guns in deck mounts with hoists
on side, all amidships, 2 raised mounts - superfiring
22 - 2,24" / 57,0 mm guns in twin mounts, 5,65lbs / 2,56kg shells, 1918 Model
Anti-aircraft guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread,
24 - 0,98" / 25,0 mm guns (12x2 guns), 0,48lbs / 0,22kg shells, 1926 Model
Machine guns in deck mounts
on side, evenly spread, 4 raised mounts
Weight of broadside 360 lbs / 163 kg
Shells per gun, main battery: 1 000
Armour:
- Belts: Width (max) Length (avg) Height (avg)
Main: 1,97" / 50 mm 426,51 ft / 130,00 m 11,08 ft / 3,38 m
Ends: 0,98" / 25 mm 229,64 ft / 69,99 m 11,08 ft / 3,38 m
Upper: 0,98" / 25 mm 426,51 ft / 130,00 m 8,00 ft / 2,44 m
Main Belt covers 100 % of normal length
Main belt does not fully cover magazines and engineering spaces
- Torpedo Bulkhead and Bulges:
0,39" / 10 mm 426,51 ft / 130,00 m 25,59 ft / 7,80 m
- Gun armour: Face (max) Other gunhouse (avg) Barbette/hoist (max)
Main: 0,79" / 20 mm 0,20" / 5 mm 0,98" / 25 mm
2nd: 0,20" / 5 mm - -
3rd: 0,20" / 5 mm - -
- Armour deck: 0,39" / 10 mm, Conning tower: 1,97" / 50 mm
Machinery:
Oil fired boilers, steam turbines,
Geared drive, 4 shafts, 104 760 shp / 78 151 Kw = 28,00 kts
Range 14 500nm at 14,00 kts (Bunkerage = 5 704 tons)
Complement:
1 138 - 1 480
Cost:
£4,850 million / $19,401 million
Airwing
1938
16x
J8 Grumman F3F "Flying Barrel"
12x T2 Martin TB4M
12x B4 Hawker Hart
1942
12x
J12 Gloster F5/34 "Gladan"
8x
J14 Westland Whirlwind long range fighters
12x T4 Douglas Devestator
12x B5 Northrop Y17
1945
16x
J23 Grumman F6F Hellcat
8x
J14 Westland Whirlwind long range fighters
12x B17, SAAB 17 bombers
12x T17 SAAB 17 Torpedobombers