HSwMS Hvalen was a submarine of the Swedish Navy. Constructed in Italy, the submarine sailed the entire way to Sweden for her commissioning unaccompanied.[1] In October 1915 she became involved in a diplomatic incident between neutral Sweden, and Germany, which was then engaged in fighting Britain in the First World War. Following a series of sinkings of German cargo ships and naval vessels in the Baltic Sea by British submarines entering the Baltic through the (Swedish-controlled) Öresund straits, a German warship opened fire on Hvalen killing a crew-member.[2] According to the captain of the Hvalen, she was flying the Swedish naval flag and in Swedish home waters at the time she was fired on.
[3] Compensation was later paid to the widow of the crew-member and an apology was issued.[4]
