HSwMS Virgo (T126)

HSwMS Virgo (T126) was a Swedish Navy Spica-class, torpedo-armed, fast attack craft (FAC).

Ex-HSwMS Virgo’s hull on 11 May 2006.
History
 Sweden
Name: HSwMS Virgo
Namesake: Virgo
Builder: Karlskronavarvet
Launched: 10 September 1966
Commissioned: 22 March 1968
Decommissioned: 1 November 1989
Identification: T126
Status: Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class and type: Spica-class fast attack craft (FAC)
Displacement: 210 tons
Length: 42.5 m (139 ft)
Beam: 7.1 m (23 ft)
Draught: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Propulsion: Three Bristol Proteus 4,250 HP gas-turbines driving 3 hydraulically controllable pitch screws
Speed: 40 knots+
Complement: 30
Armament: 1× 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

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 a 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 Castor (T124) and HSwMS Vega (T125). Three similar vessels were built by Götaverken AB at Hisingen. She was launched on 10 September 1966.

The vessel was taken out of service in 1 November 1989.[2] Today her hull remains, without any other details, at Slagsta Marina, Stockholm.

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
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