- HMS Gotland (cruiser)
HMS "Gotland" was a
seaplane cruiser of theSwedish Navy built byGötaverken .During
World War II Gotland sighted theGerman Battleship Bismarck in the Baltic sea, which led to its detection. It was originally planned to be a conventionalaircraft carrier with aflight deck , but the plans changed and it became a seaplane cruiser with onecatapult .Its aircraft complement consisted of six
Hawker Osprey seaplanes . It had capacity for eight and attempts were made to purchase two more, unsuccessfully since they weren't manufactured anymore.HMS "Gotland" was converted in 1944 to an
anti-aircraft cruiser due to a lack of modernseaplane s.After
World War II it served as atraining ship until it was decommissioned in 1956, stricken in 1960, sold in 1962 and finally scrapped in 1963.References
* [http://www.canit.se/~griffon/aviation/text/gotland.html The aircraft carrying cruiser GOTLAND]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/sweden.htm World Aircraft Carriers List: Sweden]
* [http://www.bismarck-class.dk/other_craft_involved/swedish_ship_involved/swedish_ship_involved.html Swedish Ship Involved - Aircraft Cruiser - HMS Gotland]
* [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/sweden/cruisers/gotland/index.html Gotland Class - Data]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.