HMS U3

HMS U3 is a submarine that was launched on June 11, 1942. It is preserved at Teknikens och sjöfartens hus in Malmö. HM Ubåt U3 was part of the series of coastal submarines, U1-U9, whose final appearance was established by Kungl. Maj:t on March 17, 1939. The contract for building the first submarine U1 was signed with Kockums on September 20, 1939. HM Ubåt U3 was keel-laid on May 6, 1941 and delivered to the Navy on November 1, 1943. During the war, U3 was used largely for training new crews for the 18 submarines delivered during the war. After the war, the submarines were depotted with reduced crews, where one crew alternately operated 3-4 submarines. Technical experiences from the war and information from abroad inspired a modernization phase for all submarines with sufficient remaining life.

Modifications performed on U3 at Kockums yard in Malmö between August 1952 and April 1953 included the installation of a snorkel and various other improvements. Equipment removed included the forward deck torpedo tube, the air defense gun, the net saw, the turbo-fan, and a periscope. In 1954, U3 received a new hydrophone, instruments for torpedo guidance and more modern radio equipment. After a period, the drop keel was removed and tests with automatic weight regulation and one-man steering equipment were performed.

Radar warning systems were installed on the snorkel. Six of the nine coastal submarines, U4-U9, were rebuilt between 1962-64 to the type Abborren II, where the entire aft compartment was replaced with a new one containing an electric motor for propulsion and a torpedo magazine for anti-submarine torpedoes in ballast tank three. All electronics were replaced. An advanced sonar system was installed and thereby changed the shape of the bow. Unfortunately, the modernizations did not improve the standard for the crew.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons