Hårsfjärden disasterThe Hårsfjärden disaster was an event in the Swedish Navy during World War II. A series of accidental explosions, it caused by far the worst damage to Swedish Navy units during the era of that war, in which Sweden was not a combatant. The disaster occurred on 17 September 1941.[1] Three Swedish Navy destroyers were berthed in Hårsfjärden fjord near Stockholm when the torpedoes[2] or oil tanks[3] of Göteborg exploded; flames then also enveloped Klas Horn and Klas Uggla in an inferno.[2][4] The three destroyers were sunk,[4] and thirty-three sailors killed, a major blow to the Swedish Navy. All three ships were later raised. Klas Uggla never again saw service; the other two ships did, after repairs.[2][1] An investigation into possible sabotage commenced. Theories also emerged that the cause was a bomb dropped accidentally by a Swedish plane on training maneuvers, or a torpedo demonstration gone wrong. But the cause was never established.[2][5] References
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