Draug-class destroyer

{{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=Plan Draug class destroyer.gif |image_caption=The lead ship ''Draug'' at some point before the Second World War. Note QF guns in blisters along the side to allow forward fire. }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name=''Draug'' class |builders= Karljohansvern Orlogsstasjon |operators={{navy|Norway}} |class_before= {{HNoMS|Valkyrjen}} |class_after= {{sclass|Sleipner|destroyer|4}} |subclasses= |cost= |built_range= |in_service_range= |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned=3 |total_ships_completed=3 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost=1 |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_scrapped=2 |total_ships_preserved= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |type=Destroyer |displacement= {{convert|578|LT|t|order=flip|0|abbr=on}} |length= {{convert|69.2|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} |beam= {{convert|7.3|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} |height= |draught= {{convert|2.9|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} |power= |propulsion={{convert|8,000|ihp|lk=in|abbr=on}} VTR engines |speed={{convert|26.5|kn|km/h|2|lk=in}} |range= |endurance= {{convert|105|LT|t|order=flip|abbr=on|0}} coal |complement=76 |sensors= |EW= |armament=* 6 × {{convert|76|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} quick-firing guns * 3 × {{convert|457|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} torpedo tubes |armour= |notes= }} }}

The '''''Draug'' class''' was the first multi-vessel class of destroyers built for the Royal Norwegian Navy in the early 20th century and the first destroyers constructed for the Royal Norwegian Navy since {{HNoMS|Valkyrjen||2}}, which was commissioned on 17 May 1896. The class comprised three ships, {{HNoMS|Draug|1908|2}}, {{HNoMS|Troll|1910|2}} and {{HNoMS|Garm|1913|2}}. All three were built at the Karljohansvern Orlogsstasjon. The ''Draug'' class were the last Norwegian-constructed destroyers until the {{sclass|Ålesund|destroyer|4}} was laid down in 1939. The ''Draug'' class saw service until the 1940s. In 1940, ''Garm'' was sunk while the other two remained in service until sold and broken up for scrap.

==Characteristics== The ''Draug'' class was patterned on the British {{sclass2|River|destroyer|4||1903}}, only somewhat larger and more heavily armed.{{sfn|Kvam|1963|p=169}} The destroyers had a displacement of {{convert|578|LT|t|order=flip|0}} and were {{convert|69.2|m|ftin}} long with a beam of {{convert|7.3|m|ftin}} and a draught of {{convert|2.9|m|ftin}}. The destroyers had a complement of 76 officers and ratings.{{sfn|Gardiner|Gray|1986|p=349}}

The ships of the class were coal-powered vessels with a capacity of {{convert|105|LT|t|order=flip}}. While ''Draug'' and ''Troll'' had vertical triple expansion steam engines driving two shafts, rated at {{convert|7500|hp|lk=in}}, ''Garm'' was powered by Germania direct steam turbines, rated at {{convert|8000|ihp|lk=in}}. ''Draug'' had a maximum speed of {{convert|26.5|kn|lk=in}}, ''Troll'', {{convert|27|kn}} and ''Garm'', {{convert|27.4|kn}}. They carried six {{convert|76|mm|in|adj=on|0}} quick-firing guns, as well as three trainable {{convert|457|mm|in|adj=on|0}} torpedo tubes.{{sfn|Kvam|1963|p=169}}{{sfn|Gardiner|Gray|1986|p=349}}{{sfn|''Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II''|1995|p=216}}

==Ships in class== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Construction data{{sfn|Gardiner|Gray|1986|p=349}}{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=378}} |- ! scope="col" | Ship ! scope="col" | Builder ! scope="col" | Launched ! scope="col" | Fate |- ! scope="row" | {{HNoMS|Draug|1908|2}} | rowspan=3 | Karljohansvern Orlogsstasjon | 18 March 1908 | Broken up in 1944 |- ! scope="row" | {{HNoMS|Troll|1910|2}} | 7 July 1910 | Sold in 1947 to be broken up |- ! scope="row" | {{HNoMS|Garm|1913|2}} | 27 May 1913 | Sunk at Bjordal on 26 April 1940 |}

==Service history== As the single ''Valkyrjen'' was not enough to fulfil the need for destroyers, the ''Draug'' class was ordered and built in the years 1908–1913. ''Draug'' was the lead ship, launched in 1908, followed by ''Troll|'' in 1909 and ''Garm'' in 1913.{{sfn|Kvam|1963|p=169}} The class, and lead ship, was named after the Draugr – a sinister, malevolent being of Nordic origin and often connected with mariners and the sea.

All three ships were kept in commission until the Second World War, although they were mothballed years before 1939. As war became imminent, the three ships were returned to active service, ''Troll'' and ''Garm'' on 28 August, ''Draug'' on 5 September 1939. As all three ships were in poor condition, it took much time and work before they could be declared operational. After mobilisation, the ''Draug''-class vessels were considered fit only for escort and guard service.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} They served with the 1st Destroyer Division based at Bergen.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=216}}

On 8 April 1940, as the German invasion of Norway was imminent, the three ''Draug''-class ships were posted to the 2nd Naval District in south- and mid-western Norway. ''Draug'' was based at Haugesund, ''Garm'' at Bergen and ''Troll'' at Måløy.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} ''Draug'' escaped to the United Kingdom on 9 April 1940 after an action against German transports. ''Garm'' was sunk by German bombers at the village of Bjordal in the Sognefjord on 26 April 1940. ''Troll'', which had been ordered to Shetland, was abandoned by her crew at Florø was captured at anchor by the advancing German forces on 18 May 1940.{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=378}}{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=216}} ''Troll'' was used as a condensor vessel and heating barge in the shipyard at Laksevaag.{{sfn|Whitley|2000|p=216}}

''Draug'' served as an escort vessel on the east coast of Britain until she was scrapped in 1944. ''Troll'' was returned to Norway by the Germans following the end of the Second World War. The ship was sold in 1947 and broken up for scrap.{{sfn|Chesneau|1980|p=378}}

==Citations== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==

* {{cite book |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |year=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich, UK |isbn=0-85177-146-7 }} * {{cite book |editor-last=Gardiner |editor-first=Robert |editor-last2=Gray |editor-first2=Randal |name-list-style=amp |year=1986 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |isbn=0-85177-245-5 }} * {{cite book |title=Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II |publisher=Crescent Books |location=Avenel, New Jersey |orig-year=1946 |year=1995 |isbn=0-517-679639 |ref={{sfnref|''Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II''|1995}} |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran }} * {{Cite book|title=Sjøkrigsmateriellets utvikling etter Krimkrigen (en kortfattet oversikt) |last=Kvam |first=Kåre Eysteinson |year=1963 |publisher=Sjøforsvarets overkommando |location=Oslo |url=https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015022408109 |language=no }} * {{cite book |last=Whitley |first=M. J. |orig-year=1988 |year=2000 |title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-326-1}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book |title=Norwegian naval ships 1939–1945 |last=Abelsen |first=Frank |year=1986 |publisher=Sem & Stenersen AS |location=Oslo |isbn=82-7046-050-8 |language=no, en}}

==External links== * [http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/288216x53056/8330/a0.htm Naval History via Flix: KNM Draug], retrieved 29 January 2006 * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110514030247/http://hem.fyristorg.com/robertm/norge/Norw_navy_ships.html Ships of the Norwegian navy], retrieved 29 January 2006

{{Norwegian destroyers}} {{WWII Norwegian ships}} Category:Destroyer classes Category:Draug-class destroyers