Gotland
1941
(Rhenania RH-90A)
- Class: Gotland - 1 seaplane cruiser of 1930
- Displacement: 4,700 tons
- Dimensions: 442 x 50.5 x 18 ft.
- Machinery: Steam turbines, 2 screws, S.H.P. 33,000 = 28 knots
- Armor: Bulkheads 1-2 in., turrets 1-2 in., deck 2 in., C.T. 2 in.
- Armament: 6-6 in. (2x2+2x1), 4-75mm, 4-25mm A.A. guns; 6-21 in. T.T.; 80-100 mines
- Aircraft: 6 Hawker Osprey
- Complement: 467 (ship) + 60 (aircraft)
- Builder: Finnboda, Stockholm, Sweden
- Laid Down: 1930
- Launched: 14 Sep 1933
- Commissioned: 14 Dec 1934
- Decommissioned: 1956
- Service: Originally planned as a conventional aircraft carrier with flight deck, but plans changed to cruiser with one catapult and seaplane storage deck.
One of her aircraft sighted the German battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in the Kattegat at the beginning of their breakout into the Atlantic, May 1941. The sighting was reported to Royal Swedish Navy headquarters and leaked to the British, setting their pursuit in motion. Converted to anti-aircraft cruiser in 1944 due to lack of modern seaplanes. After World War II served as training ship until decommissioned. Sold for scrap in 1962.
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