Name Västergötland class Preceded by Näcken class | Builders Kockums Succeeded by Gotland class | |
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Operators Swedish Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy Subclasses Södermanland class
Archer class | ||
The Västergötland class of diesel-electric submarines was introduced in 1987 by the Swedish Navy.
History
The original four ships of the class (Västergötland, Hälsingland, Södermanland, and Östergötland) were built between 1983 and 1988 by Kockums AB. The latter two have undergone comprehensive refits, including the insertion of a new hull section with an air-independent propulsion system equipped with Stirling engines. They have been recommissioned in 2003-2004 as the new Södermanland class.
Västergötland and Hälsingland were put in reserve until November 2005, when they were sold to the Republic of Singapore Navy as the Archer class. They were refitted to Södermanland class standards and received additional climatisation for use in tropical waters, and relaunched in 2009-2010.