HSwMS Sjölejonet was the lead ship of a class of nine naval submarines in the service of the Swedish Navy from just before World War II into the early Cold War. The submarines were ordered in response to the rising German threat to the south in the interwar period. Sjölejonet remained in service until 1959 and was sold for scrap in 1962.
Background After 1930 the rise of the German threat to the south produced more investment in Sweden's military. The Swedish Navy was given more funds and new submarine designs were ordered. Sjölejonet was the lead ship of her class of submarines.
Design The vessel measured long with a beam of and a draught of . Sjölejonet had a standard displacement of and submerged. The vessel was propelled by two propellers powered by two MAN diesel engines when surfaced creating and two electric motors when submerged rated at . This gave the submarine a maximum speed of surfaced and submerged. The submarine had a crew of 38. Sjölejonet was armed with six torpedo tubes, three of which were situated in the bow, one in the stern and the remaining two in a single traversing deck mounting. For anti-aircraft defence, the submarines had two guns in disappearing mounts.
Construction and career Constructed by Kockums MV A/Bat their shipyard in Malmö, Sweden, Sjölejonets keel was laid down in 1935. The submarine was launched on 25 July 1936 and was commissioned on 21 August 1938. In the 1950s, Sjölejonet underwent a major refit where the guns and deck torpedo tubes were removed and the conning tower was streamlined. The submarine's displacements remained the same, now surfaced and the diesels capable of and electric motors , but only a maximum speed of surfaced. The number of crew was reduced to 32. The submarine remained in service until stricken on 15 May 1959. The vessel was sold for scrap in 1962.
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