The Swedish Navy has taken delivery of three new diesel-electric submarines, all at once. The Gotland, Uppland, and Halland were completed over the last three years but have been in the hands of the Materiel Administration undergoing tests and trials. The Gotlands are the first submarines designed from the start to use air-independent propulsion, and can remain submerged for 19 days at a time. They are the quietest conventionally-powered submarines in the world. Each has a crew of 25, displaces 1,494 tons, and is 60.4m long. Each boat has four 533mm torpedo tubes (with 12 Type-613/62 torpedoes) and two 400mm tubes (with six Type-43/45 torpedoes).--Stephen V Cole