HSwMS Södermanland (Söd)

For other ships with the same name, see HSwMS Södermanland.

HSwMS Södermanland underway in Stockholm on 12 June 2010.
History
Sweden
Name	HSwMS Södermanland
Namesake	Södermanland, Sweden
Ordered	1980s
Builder	Kockums
Launched	21 April 1988
Commissioned	21 April 1989
Motto	Crypst corripit ("Gripen surprises and chops")
Nickname(s)	Söd
Status	Active
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Västergötland-class submarine Södermanland-class submarine
Displacement	1,400 t (1,378 long tons) surfaced 1,500 t (1,476 long tons) submerged
Length	60.5 m (198 ft 6 in)
Beam	6.1 m (20 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	2 × Hedemora diesel generators 2 × Kockums v4-275R Sterling AIP units
Speed	8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced) 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) (submerged)
Complement	28 officers and enlisted
Armament	6 × (533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes) 3 × (400 mm (16 in) torpedo tubes)

HSwMS Södermanland (Söd) is a Swedish naval submarine, launched in 1988 and currently in active service. She is the third ship of the Västergötland-class submarine and named after Södermanland, Sweden.

Development

The submarine design combined the best properties from the Sjöormen class and the Näcken class. Submarines of the Västergötland class had greater submarine hunting capacity than previous classes, partly due to the fact that they were equipped with a new modern submarine torpedo. The submarines in the Västergötland class were able to fire up to six heavy and six light wire-guided torpedoes at the same time against different targets.

The Västergötland class included the submarines HSwMS Södermanland and HSwMS Östergötland. After significant upgrades, these two submarines were reclassified to a new Södermanland class.

Career

Between 2000 and 2004, Södermanland and Östergötland underwent extensive modifications, were extended by 12 metres (39 ft) and fitted with air-independent Stirling engines. At the same time, the submarines would be modified to handle international missions with operations in hot and salty waters. The conversion of the two submarines became so extensive that Kockums decided to reclassify the submarines to a new Södermanland class.

During 2022, Södermanland underwent yet another life extension program, in order to be operational until 2028.

As Östergötland was decommissioned in 2021, Södermanland is the only remaining submarine in its class.