The "Motley Crew" took a moment for a group shot with the skipper, LtCdr Jan Westas.

As we approach, crew are going about their duties and we are already starting to scatter to investigate.

The gangway has the typical "boat's placard".

From the stern, one of the workers comes up for air.

With her stern adorned with the national flag, her lines are thriced, secured and tended.

Looking across to the next slip sits a fine USN fast attack.

It looks like the SSN 758 (USS Asheville).

A nice bow shot of the HMS Gotland with her VHF antennae raised, she awaits our "inspection".   At 200 feet length 20 feet beam and 18 foot draft, she's 2/3rds the length of the old US diesel boats but she carries 1/3rd the crew... but with automation, new technology and primarily literal patrol duty, she's a quite capable boat.

With her white safety horn, Plexiglas covered running lights and sailplanes properly rigged, she was starting to look a lot more "familiar" to these many American "diesel boat sailors".

Caged for "pier safety" is her active attack sonar head.

The Helm.   This one position controls heading, depth, speed AND trim.   A qualified operator must really have his hands full in operation.

Behind the helm, on the opposite side, sits the sonar positions.   Here's three systems that are all operated independent with tasks as assigned.

Forward of the sonar "shack" is the navigation station.   Using ambient light lets you see the displays nicely.

Using the flash shows the buttons, controls and details.

Behind the Helm and opposite the sonar stations is the "operations" station.  

For a total crew of 32 (currently) consisting of 28 male and three female, the boat needs a good galley.   Here's the fridge, stoves and sinks.

Looking back is more storage and the ever-present Swedish coffee.   The glass units are for port use only... removed and replaced by secured steel ones when underway.

Leaving the crew's mess area,, we have two groups heading out for our toured exploration.

Below decks, forward.   She has four standard torpedo tubes, two lower sections seen at the top of this picture and two smaller "stealth" torpedo tubes below the array of the four main.

Opposite the Stirling engines resides the "maneuvering" station.   With the Stirling engine, diesel and electric as main propulsion systems, there's plenty to monitor and control.

Here's her two main diesels.   Big ole German units!

In the maneuvering room is also her fire monitor station.

Here's two of the sonar stations.   The flash obscures the real readings but the most humorous was the monitor at the upper left, displaying a "Windows XP" screensaver.

With all antennae collapsed, she sure looks sleek.   The "duck tail" at the rear is the exhaust portion of her snorkel system.

As we depart, there are many thanks to be handed out.

On of the Lt.jgs that led one of the tours.   "Tabias" was extremely knowledgeable and generous with us in his explanation of everything we could touch or point at.

Between the upper "attack sonar" and the "coffee can" on the deck lays the port and starboard fiberglass covered side sonar array... and the bow sonar sphere up front.

Plank owner on the USS Barb during W.W.II, our Lloyd Foglesong sidles up to one of the lieutenants that helped us understand their mighty vessel.

While we were saying our parting thanks, they extended the VHF antennae (far right) and their multipurpose mast (communication, gps etc.).

We certainly owe Chuck and many others a real heartfelt thanks for the glorious privilege of seeing this wonderful coastal hunter.

Boat data

SSK GOTLAND CLASS (TYPE A19) ATTACK SUBMARINE, SWEDEN

Kockums were awarded the contract in March 1990 to build three Gotland Class submarines, HMS Gotland, Uppland and Halland. The first of class, HMS Gotland, was commissioned in 1996. The second and third, HMS Uppland and Halland, were commissioned in 1997. Kockums is owned by HDW of Germany.

In November 2004, the Swedish Government approved a proposal for the US Navy to lease HMS Gotland and crew for one year to participate in naval exercises. Gotland arrived at the Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego in June 2005. The submarine will operate in the opposing force (OPFOR) role.

COMBAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The ship's combat management system is the 9SCS Mark 3 from Saabtech Vectronics (formerly CelsiusTech). The system carries the Swedish Royal Navy designation SESUB 940A. The system uses an extended version of the ADA software from Saabtech Vectronics' 9LV Mk 3 surface ship combat management system. The fire control system has the capacity to control several torpedoes in the water simultaneously. The 9SCS Mark 3 Combat Management System has three Type IID multifunction consoles from Terma. The terminals are for command and control, communications, and weapon control. The consoles are connected via a dual-Ethernet, copper-wire, local-area network (LAN).

TORPEDOES

The submarines are fitted with four 533mm torpedo tubes and two 400mm torpedo tubes. The Bofors Underwater Systems Type 613 torpedoes are fired from the 533mm tubes. The Type 613 is a heavy-weight anti-surface ship torpedo. It has wire guidance and passive homing, delivering a warhead of 240kg. The launch of the torpedo is by swim-out discharge: the speed is 40 knots and the range, 20km. The 613 torpedo equips all Sweden's submarines, the A19 Gotland, A17 Vastergotland, A14 Nacken and A12 Sjoorrmen.

Saab Bofors Underwater Systems has developed a new heavyweight torpedo for the Swedish Navy, the Torpedo 2000 (Swedish Navy designation Torpedo 62). It is a high speed anti-submarine/anti-surface torpedo with a range of more than 40 km and speed of over 40 knots. The Gotland class submarine will be equipped with the Torpedo 2000, which is fired from the 21 inch tubes. Gotland has the capacity to carry sixteen Torpedo 2000s. The combat system on the Gotland class submarines will be adapted to accommodate a new generation of torpedoes including the new Torpedo 2000, which will become the submarine's principle weapon.

The two 400 mm (15.75 inch) tubes fire the Saab Bofors Underwater Systems Type 43 lightweight anti-submarine torpedo. The planned modifications to the submarine's combat system will accommodate Saab Bofors new lightweight Type 43x2 anti-submarine /anti-surface ship torpedo. The Type 43x2 is wire-guided and has improved tracking compared to the standard Type 43 torpedo. Each 400mm tube will take two Type 43x2 torpedoes.

The Gotland deploys the Saab Bofors Underwater Systems stand-off self-deployed Mine 42. The Mine 42, derived from a Type 27 torpedo, travels unguided to a predetermined location to lay on the seabed. The submarine also has the capacity to carry 48 mines mounted externally in a girdle arrangement.

SENSORS SUITE

The submarine is equipped with a CSU 90-2 integrated sonar sensor suite from Atlas Elektronik. This includes a passive cylindrical bow array, an intercept array and two passive flank arrays. The sonar system uses ADA software.

The submarine is fitted with a Kollmorgen search and attack periscope and a Terma Scanter navigation radar. The electronic support measures system is the Thales Defence Ltd. Manta radar surveillance and warning system. Manta carries out surveillance, detection, analysis, classification and identification of hostile radar threats from D-band to J-band.

PROPULSION SYSTEMS

The submarine is equipped with two MTU diesel engines and two Kockums V4-275R Stirling Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) units. The Stirling engines are mounted in elastic, soundproof modules and each provide up to 75kW. The submarine has the capacity for two weeks of air independent propulsion at a speed of 5 knots without snorting. The AIP uses liquid oxygen and diesel fuel in a controlled inert (helium) environment. The AIP liquid oxygen tanks are located on the deck below the engines. The propulsion system provides a speed of 11 knots surfaced and 20 knots dived.

Her arriving US Navy Press Release

Swedish Submarine HMS Gotland Arrives in San Diego
Release Date: 6/30/2005   By Journalist 2nd Class Paul Cage, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific

The Swedish attack submarine HMS Gotland arrived at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., June 27 to begin a one-year bilateral training effort with the U.S. Navy’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) forces.   Gotland will play a major role in the Navy’s ASW training by being an opposing force (OPFOR) during exercises against carrier and expeditionary strike groups, air patrols and other forces.   “We have been waiting for this day,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jan Westas, commanding officer of Gotland, which was shipped on a container ship from Sweden while the crew traveled separately. “We have all missed Gotland. Everyone is motivated, ready and eager to go to sea and get back to work.”   Gotland was selected to be the OPFOR because of its unique propulsion system. Gotland is the first submarine in the world to operate with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system.    “The Stirling AIP system allows us to stay submerged at sea for weeks without having to come up to recharge our batteries or snorkel for air,” said Lt. Cmdr. Rickard Boberg, Gotland’s chief engineer. “No other Navy in the world except for Japan uses this system, and they bought it from us. With our low signatures and smaller sonar cross section, it will be a little more challenging for the [other] ships and submarines.”   Gotland’s trip from Sweden to San Diego took about a month. During that time, the crew prepared for its arrival by making logistical arrangements with local contractors for services the submarine requires.   “The time was also used to prepare the crew for operations in San Diego,” said Westas. “We also spent some time getting acquainted with the area, enjoying attractions like Sea World and Disneyland.”   Gotland's crew is proud to be participating in the bilateral training.   “We have done most of our training in the Atlantic and Baltic Oceans with various NATO countries,” Westas said. “So for us to be here representing Europe is an honor.”   Sweden is not a member of NATO. Instead, it is part of the Alliances Partnership for Peace program, which is aimed at improving defense cooperation. Through various programs, exchanges and exercises, including Gotland’s year-long training effort here, the Partnership for Peace program will help partner countries like Sweden prepare to operate jointly with NATO forces.  

Before beginning the yearlong training here, Gotland’s crew has to complete a lot of work to make the boat ready for sea.   “This is the first time Gotland has been in the Pacific, which is very different from the Baltic Ocean,” Westas said. Gotland was built for operating in the waters around Scandinavia, which has less salt content. “Now that we are in the Pacific, we will have to re-ballast Gotland for the Pacific.”   The 30-person male and female crew is comprised of 19 officers and 11 conscripts.    “This is a small crew, and we are very happy to have been selected to participate in these exercises,” Westas said.    With Gotland’s arrival, ships, aircraft and their crews in the Pacific will now have more realistic and effective training, Fleet ASW officials said.   “We are ready to get to work and challenge your Navy,” said Westas. “We are the underdog. However, we are ready to show whoever we are up against what we can do.”

(June 27, 2005) – The Swedish diesel-powered attack submarine HMS Gotland arrives in San Diego on a transport ship from Sweden. Gotland will begin a one-year bilateral training effort with the U.S. Navy’s anti-submarine warfare forces in July. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Jo A. Wilbourn Sims (RELEASED)   (She COULD handle the weather of trans-ocean transit but she's not "certified" for such... so she got a piggy-back ride)

E-mail any editing errors to associate member, Mike Brood, mbrood@bergall.org

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