HSwMS Puke (19) was a Psilander-classdestroyer of the Swedish Navy from 1940 to 1947. The ship was purchased from Italy by Sweden in 1940, along with her sister ship HSwMS Psilander. Before that, she served in the Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) as Bettino Ricasoli, one of four members of the Italian Sella class. Puke was scrapped in 1949.
The Sella-class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Palestro and Curtatone classes.[1] They had an overall length of 84.9 meters (279 ft), a beam of 8.6 meters (28 ft 3 in) and a mean draft of 2.7 meters (8 ft 10 in). They displaced 970 metric tons (950 long tons) at standard load, and 1,480 metric tons (1,460 long tons) at deep load. Their complement was 8–9 officers and 144 enlisted men.[2]
The Sellas were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers. The turbines were rated at 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW) for a speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) in service,[3] although the ships reached speeds in excess of 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) during their sea trials while lightly loaded.[4] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[5]
Bettino Ricasoli, named after the Italian Prime Minister Bettino Ricasoli, was laid down by Pattinson at their Naplesshipyard on 11 January 1923, launched on 29 January 1926 and commissioned on 11 December. The forward single-gun turret was replaced by a twin-gun turret in 1929.[5]
Sale to Sweden
In December 1939, a Swedish commission to Italy departed to investigate the possibility for Sweden to buy warships.[6] This led to the acquisition of the Psilander and Romulus-classes. On 14 April 1940, all four destroyers left La Spezia and on 10 July the ships arrived in Gothenburg where the ship was renamed for Admiral Johan af Puke.[7]
Swedish service
After arriving in Sweden, Puke was put into service in the Gothenburg Squadron.[8] Over time, the ship was found to be too weakly built and rolled heavily in heavy seas, which meant that reinforcements had to be made and bilge keels had to be mounted on the hull. In addition, the low freeboard of the stern caused it to be flooded in bad weather.[9] In the years 1941–1942 the ships armament were modified. The air defense was changed to two 40 mm anti-aircraft automatic guns m/36 and two dual 8 mm anti-aircraft machine guns m/36. The 45 cm torpedoes was changed to 53 cm torpedoes and depth charge throwers and rack-deployed depth charges were installed.[10] After a very short service, the ships were placed in reserve between 1943 and 1944.
Fate
Puke was decommissioned on 13 June 1947, after which she was used for shooting and exploding tests before she finally was scrapped in Karlskrona in 1949.
Birchfield, B.; Borgenstam, Carl; Caruana, Joseph & Frampton, Viktor (1988). "Question 3/87". Warship International. XXV (2): 205–210. ISSN 0043-0374.
Borgenstam, Curt; Insulander, Per; Kaudern, Gösta (1989). Jagare: med Svenska flottans jagare under 80 år (in Swedish). Västra Frölunda: Marinlitteratur. ISBN91-970700-4-1. SELIBR 7792227.
Fraccaroli, Aldo (1968). Italian Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-0002-6.
Hofsten, Gustaf von; Waernberg, Jan; Ohlsson, Curt S. (2003). Örlogsfartyg: svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg. [Forum navales skriftserie, 1650-1837 ; 6] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibl. i samarbete med Marinlitteratur. ISBN91-974384-3-X. SELIBR 8873330.
McMurtrie, Francis E., ed. (1937). Jane's Fighting Ships 1937. London: Sampson Low. OCLC 927896922.
Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 280–317. ISBN0-8317-0303-2.
Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-85409-521-8.
Web
Miramar Ship Index (subscription required)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HSwMS Puke.
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HSwMS Puke 19 was a Psilander class destroyer of the Swedish Navy from 1940 to 1947 The ship was purchased from Italy by Sweden in 1940 along with her sister ship HSwMS Psilander Before that she served in the Regia Marina Royal Italian Navy as Bettino Ricasoli one of four members of the Italian Sella class Puke was scrapped in 1949 HistoryItalyNameBettino RicasoliNamesakeBettino RicasoliBuilderSocieta Pattison NaplesLaid down11 January 1923Launched29 January 1926Commissioned11 December 1926FateSold to Sweden 1940SwedenNamePukeNamesakeJohan af PukeAcquired1940Commissioned27 March 1940Decommissioned13 June 1947FateScrapped 1949General characteristics as built Class and typePsilander class destroyerDisplacement970 t 950 long tons standard 1 480 t 1 460 long tons full load Length84 9 m 278 ft 7 in Beam8 6 m 28 ft 3 in Draught2 7 m 8 ft 10 in Installed power3 Thornycroft boilers 36 000 shp 27 000 kW Propulsion2 shafts 2 geared steam turbinesSpeed33 knots 61 km h 38 mph Range3 600 nmi 6 700 km 4 100 mi at 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph Complement152 153Armament1 twin 1 single 120 mm 4 7 in guns 2 single 40 mm 1 6 in AA guns 2 single 13 2 mm 0 52 in machine guns 2 twin 533 mm 21 in torpedo tubes 32 mines Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 2 1 Sale to Sweden 2 2 Swedish service 2 3 Fate 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Bibliography 3 3 Web 4 External linksDesign and description EditMain article Sella class destroyer The Sella class destroyers were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Palestro and Curtatone classes 1 They had an overall length of 84 9 meters 279 ft a beam of 8 6 meters 28 ft 3 in and a mean draft of 2 7 meters 8 ft 10 in They displaced 970 metric tons 950 long tons at standard load and 1 480 metric tons 1 460 long tons at deep load Their complement was 8 9 officers and 144 enlisted men 2 The Sellas were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines each driving one propeller shaft using steam supplied by three Thornycroft boilers The turbines were rated at 36 000 shaft horsepower 27 000 kW for a speed of 33 knots 61 km h 38 mph in service 3 although the ships reached speeds in excess of 37 knots 69 km h 43 mph during their sea trials while lightly loaded 4 The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1 800 nautical miles 3 300 km 2 100 mi at a speed of 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph 5 Their main battery consisted of four 120 millimeter 4 7 in guns in one twin gun turret aft of the superstructure and one single gun turret forward of it 2 Anti aircraft AA defense for the Sella class ships was provided by a pair of 40 millimeter 1 6 in AA guns in single mounts amidships and a pair of 13 2 millimeter 0 52 in machine guns They were equipped with four 533 millimeter 21 in torpedo tubes in two twin mounts amidships 3 The Sellas could also carry 32 mines 2 Construction and career EditBettino Ricasoli named after the Italian Prime Minister Bettino Ricasoli was laid down by Pattinson at their Naples shipyard on 11 January 1923 launched on 29 January 1926 and commissioned on 11 December The forward single gun turret was replaced by a twin gun turret in 1929 5 Sale to Sweden Edit In December 1939 a Swedish commission to Italy departed to investigate the possibility for Sweden to buy warships 6 This led to the acquisition of the Psilander and Romulus classes On 14 April 1940 all four destroyers left La Spezia and on 10 July the ships arrived in Gothenburg where the ship was renamed for Admiral Johan af Puke 7 Swedish service Edit After arriving in Sweden Puke was put into service in the Gothenburg Squadron 8 Over time the ship was found to be too weakly built and rolled heavily in heavy seas which meant that reinforcements had to be made and bilge keels had to be mounted on the hull In addition the low freeboard of the stern caused it to be flooded in bad weather 9 In the years 1941 1942 the ships armament were modified The air defense was changed to two 40 mm anti aircraft automatic guns m 36 and two dual 8 mm anti aircraft machine guns m 36 The 45 cm torpedoes was changed to 53 cm torpedoes and depth charge throwers and rack deployed depth charges were installed 10 After a very short service the ships were placed in reserve between 1943 and 1944 Fate Edit Puke was decommissioned on 13 June 1947 after which she was used for shooting and exploding tests before she finally was scrapped in Karlskrona in 1949 References EditNotes Edit Whitley 1988 p 160 a b c Fraccaroli 1968 p 43 a b Roberts 1980 p 298 McMurtrie 1937 p 281 a b Whitley 1988 p 159 Borgenstam Insulander amp Kaudern 1989 p 54 Borgenstam Insulander amp Kaudern 1989 p 63 Lagvall 1991 Borgenstam Insulander amp Kaudern 1989 p 58 Borgenstam Insulander amp Kaudern 1989 p 160 Bibliography Edit Birchfield B Borgenstam Carl Caruana Joseph amp Frampton Viktor 1988 Question 3 87 Warship International XXV 2 205 210 ISSN 0043 0374 Borgenstam Curt Insulander Per Kaudern Gosta 1989 Jagare med Svenska flottans jagare under 80 ar in Swedish Vastra Frolunda Marinlitteratur ISBN 91 970700 4 1 SELIBR 7792227 Fraccaroli Aldo 1968 Italian Warships of World War II Shepperton UK Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 0002 6 Hofsten Gustaf von Waernberg Jan Ohlsson Curt S 2003 Orlogsfartyg svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg Forum navales skriftserie 1650 1837 6 in Swedish Stockholm Svenskt militarhistoriskt bibl i samarbete med Marinlitteratur ISBN 91 974384 3 X SELIBR 8873330 Lagvall Bertil 1991 Flottans neutralitetsvakt 1939 1945 kronika Marinlitteraturforeningen 0348 2405 71 in Swedish Stockholm Marinlitteraturforen ISBN 91 85944 05 X SELIBR 7753511 McMurtrie Francis E ed 1937 Jane s Fighting Ships 1937 London Sampson Low OCLC 927896922 Roberts John 1980 Italy In Chesneau Roger ed Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 New York Mayflower Books pp 280 317 ISBN 0 8317 0303 2 Whitley M J 1988 Destroyers of World War 2 An International Encyclopedia Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 85409 521 8 Web Edit Miramar Ship Index subscription required External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to HSwMS Puke Bettino Ricasoli Marina Militare websitePortals Italy Sweden Engineering Military Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HSwMS Puke 19 amp oldid 1072255874, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
