HSwMS Castor (T124)

HSwMS Castor at sea in 1967.
History
Sweden
NameHSwMS Castor
NamesakeCastor
BuilderKarlskronavarvet
Launched25 October 1965
Commissioned7 July 1967
Decommissioned30 June 1985
IdentificationT124
StatusDecommissioned
General characteristics
Class and typeSpica-class fast attack craft (FAC)
Displacement210 tons
Length42.5 m (139 ft)
Beam7.1 m (23 ft)
Draught2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
PropulsionThree Bristol Proteus 4,250 HP gas-turbines driving 3 hydraulically controllable pitch screws
Speed40 knots+
Complement30
Armament1× Bofors 57 mm gun, 6× 533 mm (21.0 in) wire-guided torpedoes, 2× 7.62×51mm NATO machine guns, Flare and chaff rockets, naval mines and/or depth charges

HSwMS Castor (T124) was a Swedish Navy Spica-class, torpedo-armed, fast attack craft (FAC).

Design

The hull was made of steel, unlike some other contemporary designs which used plywood. Although the boat had a relatively small hull and displacement, this provided a stable platform. The Bridge and Operations Room were located at the rolling and stamping centre of the ship which further improved stability for the crew especially in high seas. The boats were fitted with an NBC support system where the hull could be closed down in the event of having to operate in a nuclear fall-out area.[1]

Construction and career

The vessel was one of three constructed in the 1960s by Karlskronavarvet, the other two being HSwMS Vega (T125) and HSwMS Virgo (T126). Three similar vessels were built by Götaverken AB at Hisingen. She was launched on 25 October 1965.

The vessel was taken out of service in 30 June 1985.[2]

References

  1. ^ Gardiner, Robert (ed.); Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7. OCLC 34267261.
  2. ^ Gustaf von Hofsten, Jan Waernberg (2003). Örlogsfartyg, Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg. Luleå: CB Marinlitteratur. ISBN 91-973187-3-6