NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Dragen	T1	148	Orlogsværftets, København		8.11.1929	7.1930	to Germany 2.1941 (TFA3)
Hvalen	T2	149	Orlogsværftets, København		13.6.1930	7.1931	to Germany 2.1941 (TFA5)
Laxen	T3	150	Orlogsværftets, København		28.11.1930	7.1931	to Germany 2.1941 (TFA6)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	290
Displacement full, t	335
Length, m	59.6 pp 61.0 oa
Breadth, m	6.00
Draught, m	2.30
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Dragen, Hvalen: 2 sets Brown-Boveri geared steam turbines, 2 Thornycroft boilers Laxen: 2 sets Atlas geared steam turbines, 2 Thornycroft boilers
Power, h. p.	6000
Max speed, kts	27.5
Fuel, t	oil 40
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	2 x 1 - 75/38 M29, 2 x 1 - 8.80, 2 - 450 TT (bow), 2 x 3 - 450 TT
Complement	46

Standard scale images

Project history

Torpedo boats of Dragen and Glenten classes have appeared unique rather modern surface ships, commissioned by Danish Navy during the interwar period. They were, first of all, for coast defence, as has predetermined their small dimensions: common feature characterising Scandinavian ships.

Design was developed by Danish Admiralty, thus experience of building and service of turbine-driven torpedo boats of Søridderen class was used. They were built in two series on three boats each with break in some years and differed only by armament structure.

For their displacement new Danish torpedo boats were very strongly armed: two 75mm guns, two triple rotating TTs on upper deck and two more fixed single TTs in a bow. Partly large number of TTs was brought to nothing by small calibre, but it was still standard for Danish Navy (decision on changing to customary 533mm torpedoes has followed only in 1939, when it has been approved building of first rigorous torpedo boats of Najaden class). Ships of 2nd series had more powerful artillery. For compensation of increased upper weight deck TTs have fulfilled twin.

Modernizations

mid-1930s, all: + 2 x 1 - 20/56 Madsen

Naval service

After capitulation of Denmark in April, 1940 all three torpedo boats were laid up into reserve and disarmed. 5.4.1941 according with agreement between Germany and Denmark these ships were transferred to Kriegsmarine in disarmed condition to "leasing" for usage as torpedo retrievers. In 1942 Dragen, Hvalen and Laxen have received indexes TFA3, TFA5 and TFA6 respectively.

TFA3 (ex-Dragen) was lost on mine 14.5.1945. TFA5 (ex-Hvalen) and TFA6 (ex-Laxen) 14.6.1945 were badly damaged in Flensburg-fjord at explosion of ammunition transport Donau and were never repaired.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.