Archipelago

Fleet Army Armen flotta
Naval flag of the archipelago fleet (1761–1813)
active	1756 to 1823
Country	Sweden
Branch of service	army
Type	fleet
Strength	approx. 24,000
Location	Stockholm and Sveaborg
Colours	blue
commander
Important commanders	Augustin Ehrensvärd

The archipelago fleet ( Swedish skärgårdsflottan ), officially called the army's fleet (Swedish arméns flotta ), was a part of the Swedish army between 1756 and 1823. It was founded on the initiative of the Sveaborg fortress commander Augustin Ehrensvärd . It should support the army in landing operations, protect the flanks of the land forces and the Swedish coast, which is surrounded by many small islands, the skerries . The naval formation was largely independent of the army and navy throughout its existence , with the exception of a brief period in the late 1760s.

Their ship stocks included smaller galleys , prams , gunboats and special frigates (Swedish Skärgårdsfregatt ) that had a shallow draft and could be moved with oars. This enabled them to navigate the island's shallow and unclear waters.

The archipelago took part in naval battles in the Seven Years War (1756–1763), the Russo-Swedish Wars (1788–1790) and (1808–1809) , the Danish-Swedish War (1808–1809) and the Swedish-Norwegian War (1814) part.

Galley fleets of this type also owned forces from other countries, including Norway and Russia .

history

Augustin Ehrensvärd (1710–1772), commander of the archipelago from 1756–1766 and 1770–1772

The creation of this special fleet of smaller vehicles resulted from the experiences of the Great Northern War (1700–1721). The devastation along the Swedish coast highlighted the difficulty of defending Finland in particular against a Russian fleet of rowing vessels. They were not in danger of being attacked by Swedish liners within the archipelago . In the 18th century it became clear that the mastery of the archipelago with its narrow fairways significantly improved the possibilities of landing troops in the rear of the enemy and cutting off connecting routes and supply transports. With the establishment of the Kronstadt naval base , the Russian galley fleet was close to the Swedish border and the Finnish archipelago. The Swedish naval bases, especially the main one in Karlskrona , were strategically cut off and revealed the need to set up an archipelago fleet and an Eskadre port in Finland.

After the Peace of Nystad in 1721, the Swedish leadership decided to equip the war fleet with a larger number of galleys. They were stationed in Skeppsholmen and called Stockholms eskadern ( Stockholm Squadron ). With the beginning of the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743), the Russian galleys once again demonstrated their superiority in the archipelago. Now the efforts intensified to set up their own galley fleet. In 1750, the number of these ships had risen to 60, which were modeled on Mediterranean galleys. On October 18, 1756, an official fleet was created, which was subordinate to the Krigskollegium , the highest management of the Swedish army administration, and was therefore also referred to as the army fleet . It consisted of the Stockholm and Finland squadrons . General Augustin Ehrensvärd was appointed as commander . The galleys were initially separated from the Kriegsmarine, but on October 8, 1766, when the Hattarne came to power, they were again subordinated to it. After a change of power to the Mössorna took place, on January 2, 1770, on royal instructions, the Finnish squadre was re-established in the army under Ehrensvärd's command. The Stockholm squadron remained in the navy under the name of the galley fleet . Under Gustav III. On November 14, 1776, the galley fleet and the Finnish squadron were again merged into the army's fleet and named as the Swedish squadron of the army fleet and the Finnish squadron of the army fleet . Each squadron was under the command of a deputy chief with the rank of colonel . As Ehrensvärd's successor, Henrik af Trolle was appointed commander of the army's fleet. Strategic decisions were made on army orders while a naval officer was in command of each ship. In 1760 the archipelago was given its own flag, which, in contrast to the flag of the Navy, was completely blue. The designation of the ranks and associations was taken from the army. The main bases of the fleet were in Stockholm and Sveaborg, while smaller bases were in Gothenburg (Bohus Squadron, 1789), Stralsund ( Pomeranian Squadron, moved to Landskrona in 1807 ) and Åbo ( Finnish Squadron) as well as a few other smaller places in Finland. To protect the galley fleet, special so-called galley sheds were built on the bases in Stockholm and Karlskrona in the 1750s, while the ships were secured in docks in Sveaborg . The most important vehicle designer in the archipelago of that time was Fredrik Henrik af Chapman (1721–1808), who was knighted in 1772 for his services.

Battle of Svensksund 1790, painting by Johan Tietrich Schoultz

In 1786 the Swedish Eskadre comprised 31 galleys, the Finnish Eskadre 16 larger and 65 smaller vehicles. During the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790) , the expansion of the archipelago was accelerated. The quality of the Swedish deep-sea fleet was roughly comparable to that of the Russian and it was superior in number and size of the ships. The role of the archipelago fleet was to interact with the land forces, protect their flanks, facilitate troop movements and assist them in offensive operations. The fleet failed to achieve final victory and suffered some initial setbacks, including a tactical defeat against the Russian coastal fleet at Svensksund in August 1789, but suffered a devastating defeat on July 9, 1790 in a second battle of Svensksund. The experience of the war against Russia showed that the heavy archipelago frigates lacked the necessary mobility for coastal operations, while smaller rowed ships proved to be more efficient.

The archipelago was strongly represented in the Russo-Swedish War (1808-1809) , but less successful. Russia attacked the Swedish forces in Finland during the winter, so ice prevented the use of naval forces on either side. Sveaborg, a cornerstone of Finnish defense, and most of the Finnish squadron were lost early on . Other ships of the archipelago were set on fire in the docks of Åbo by the Swedes themselves because of the threat of conquest. The loss of most of the archipelago's fleet prevented Sweden from regaining its advantage in the Finnish archipelago. The war ended with a peace treaty to the detriment of Sweden, which lost all of Finland to Russia.

In the final phase of the Napoleonic Wars , Sweden was united with Great Britain against Napoleon Bonaparte and took part in battles in Central Europe. The archipelago fleet was used in a brief war against Norway in 1814 to capture strategic fortresses and bases and force Norway into a union with Sweden. It was the last war Sweden actively participated in.

After merging with the navy, the archipelago was disbanded in 1823. In fact, it continued to exist as archipelago artillery until 1866, which in turn was combined with the navy in 1873.

team

In 1790 the team consisted of 320 officers, 675 NCOs and about 6,000 men. The ships were under both naval and army command. Naval officers were responsible for on-board service and command of the ship, while army officers commanded the army soldiers, including the marines . In addition to the naval officers, non-commissioned officers, volunteers and cabin boys served on board, whose main task was to operate the ship's artillery . The NCOs were divided into three service groups: artillerymen, navigators and boatmen . Since the ships of the fleet could be sailed as well as rowed, numerous army soldiers were required as rowers. In 1790 there were around 7,000. During the war from 1808 to 1809, when the army needed all available soldiers, Landwehr associations and boatmen of the merchant fleet were also subordinated to the archipelago.

Fleet vehicles

In 1790 the fleet consisted of 265 armed vehicles. The most important types of vehicles were galleys, archipelago frigates , cannon sloops , cannon dinghies , mortar barges , cannon barges , artillery frames and cannon schooners . In 1809, for example, the Sveaborg squad sat out

• two inhibitions
• 20 cannon sloops
• 51 gunboats
• four gun launches
• a cutter brig
• an Avis yacht
• four battalion commander vehicles
• two cooking sloops
• three water barges ,

and the squad from Åbo

• 24 cannon sloops
• eight gunboats
• two gun launches
• two battalion commander vehicles
• three cooking sloops
• a water barge
• an ambulance ship
• an ammunition vehicle

together.

galley

Model of a Swedish galley from 1749 in the Stockholm Maritime Museum

The Swedish galleys were two-masted. They combined oars and sails for locomotion. In the firefight they made no speed ahead and the sails were cast. Their overall length varied between 30 and 39 m, the width was 5.4 m and the draft 1.8 m. They only had one deck . The main mast was amidships and was 16 m long. The foremast was a little shorter (15 m). On the back one was cannon placed. A cabin for the commander was located under the superstructure of the aft ship. The deck also acted as bridge and combat platform that was manned by soldiers for close combat. The crew quarters between the forecastle and the cabin were open. If necessary, the sails were cut down and served as protection against weather and wind.

The galley was equipped with row benches and 20 to 22 pairs of oars. Each oar that was twelve feet long was operated by five to ten men. This required a large crew of 250 rowers. A total of up to 300 people could be on board, for example in 1770 they were under the command of a lieutenant (commander) and 7 non-commissioned officers (3 helmsmen, 1 boatswain, 3 artillerymen). The cruising speed under oars was around 1.5 to 2  knots , under sail and oars around 3 knots. The armament consisted of two cannons of either 18 or 24 pounds or of a 24-pounder and two 6-pounders. In addition, they were equipped with rotating basses. With the cannons that could only shoot ahead, the vehicles had a hard time holding their own against ships with greater firepower. This disadvantage forced the development of a new type of vehicle. Very few new galleys were built after 1745.

Some smaller galleys, called half galleys, were also made. They were about 22 m long and had a draft of 1.4 m. Her rig consisted of only one latin sail . They carried 16 to 18 pairs of straps, each operated by three men. Their armament consisted of a 6 pound cannon on the forecastle and 16 rotating guns. The galley took on primarily reconnaissance tasks .

Archipelago frigate

Model of the Turuma Lodbrok (1771) in the Stockholm Maritime Museum

The three-masted archipelago frigate was built from 1760 and designed by Fredrik Henrik af Chapman. This powerful vehicle the size of a frigate came in four different classes: Udema , Pojama , Turuma and Hemmema. The type designation corresponded to the name of Finnish landscapes ( Nyland , Österbotten , Åboland and Tavastland ). The ocean-going ships had one or two decks and could be rowed. In contrast to the galleys, the crew could sleep in hammocks below deck. Their advanced artillery stood amidships and was able to fire in both directions. In addition, like the ships of the Naval War Fleet, they were broadside vehicles . The disadvantage of the ship was its relatively large draft and the well-trained staff necessary to operate the rig. The draft only allowed an average rudder speed of about half a knot. The length of the ships was between 23.8 and 35.6 m, the width between 5.5 and 10 m and the draft between 1.8 and 3.1 m. In addition to the sails, 14 to 16 pairs of oars were available for movement.

Cannon sloop

Cannon sloops could be sailed as well as rowed. They had two foldable masts and were equipped with 10 pairs of oars, each oar being operated by two men. The 15.6 m long and 3.9 m wide sloop with a draft of only 90 cm was easy to maneuver and, with a crew of up to 63, could achieve a speed of up to 2.5 kn with a displacement of 46 t. There was no weather protection for the crew. The artillery fire could only be released through the bow .

The cannon sloop formations were used for attack, defense, reconnaissance and security tasks. Their combat tactics were comparable to the role of the cavalry on land. They could also form land batteries, for which certain sloops carried special mounts . The boats originally equipped with either an 18- or 12-pounder, later they received two 24-pounders in the fore and aft. The first sloops were made in 1776 and played an important role in the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790). In 1790 there were 127 boats. Covered cannon sloops were also built at the beginning of the 19th century. They were larger than their predecessors and could be used in the open sea. In 1770 they were under the command of a lieutenant or ensign and an artillery sergeant.

Cannon dinghy

Cannon dinghies were used in the Finnish Squadron in 1786 . By 1790 90 boats were built, which were preferred in the Russo-Swedish War (1808-1809). So that the floating mount with a heavy cannon could better absorb the recoil when firing, the hull was extended to 3.25 m with a stern post. The 11 to 15.3 m long dinghy had a draft of 75 cm and a retractable mast. 24 men operated the sailable boat equipped with 5 to 10 pairs of oars. It was under the command of an artillery sergeant. Aft was an 18 or 24 pounder that could only fire in the direction of the bow.

Mortar launch

Mortar launches were equipped with a 40-pound mortar and four rotating guns. They were primarily used when shelling land targets or vehicles that were protecting islands. The 10 m long boats were moved with seven pairs of oars .

Gun launch

The cannon launch was a schooner rigged vehicle with a length of 12.6 m. She had a draft of 1.2 m and could be rowed or sailed with 8 pairs of oars. The armament consisted of a 12 pounder and 16 rotating guns.

Artillery cream

The artillery frames were broadside vehicles. They had three masts. The foremast measured 18.5 m, the main mast 20.5 m and the mizzen mast 17 m. An artillery frame included a dinghy and a sloop. Seven pairs of straps were placed between the gun ports, which were 1.35 m above the waterline. There were several loopholes above them for musket shooters. The typical dimensions of a pram were 38 m in length, 9.9 m in width and a draft of 2.7 m. The vehicles could be sailed or rowed with 8 pairs of oars. Their armament consisted of 24 12-pounders and 16 4-pounders. In the cabin by the mizzen mast, two cannons were also set up, which could fire fore and aft if necessary. The crew consisted of about 250 to 400 men who were under the command of a captain, two lieutenants and eight non-commissioned officers. Artillery frames were cumbersome and slow.

Commanders

• Augustin Ehrensvärd (1756–1766)
• Christopher Falkengréen (1767–1770)
• Augustin Ehrensvärd (1770–1772)
• Henrik af Trolle (1772–1784)
• Carl August Ehrensvärd (1784–1790)
• Johan Gustaf Lagerbjelke (1790–1811)
• Victor von Stedingk (1812–1823)

literature

• Hans Norman: Skärgårdsflottan: Uppbyggnnad, military användning och förankring i det svenska samhället 1700-1824 . Historiska media, Lund 2000, ISBN 91-88930-50-5 , p. 50-75 .
• Stig Axel Fridolf Jägerskiöld, Johan Tietrich Schoultz: Svensksund. Gustaf III: s krig och skärgårdsflottan 1788–1790 . Schildt, 1990, ISBN 951-50-0498-5 , pp. 159 .
• Oscar Nikula: Svenska skärgårdsflottan 1756–1791 . Samfundet Ehrensvärd, Helsingfors 1933, p. 193 .
• Hans Ekund: Augustin Ehrensvärd: målaren, upplysningsmannen ,omanniskovännen, byggaren, sjömannen och flaggmannen . National Museum (Stockholm), Stockholm 1997, ISBN 91-7100-552-8 .
• Archipelago . In: Bernhard Meijer (Ed.): Nordisk familjebok konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi . 2nd Edition. tape 2 : Armatoler – Bergsund . Nordisk familjeboks förlag, Stockholm 1904, Sp. 24 (Swedish, runeberg.org ).

Web links

• Hans Högman: Svenska skärgårdsflottan. Retrieved October 6, 2013 (Swedish). 
• Jaakko Kurttila: Skärgårdflottans historia. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 21, 2013 ; Retrieved October 6, 2013 (Swedish). 
• Thomas Roth: Armèns flotta och krigen i Öresund. (PDF; 145 kB) (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 7, 2007 ; Retrieved October 6, 2013 (Swedish). 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} around 1790, see Nordisk familjebok (1904) p. 24
2. ^ Naval City of Karlskrona. Retrieved October 6, 2013 . 
3. ↑ Archipelago Fleet . In: Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon . 6th edition. tape 17 . . Leipzig 1909, p. 698 ( zeno.org ).
4. ↑ Roth: Armen flotta och krigen i Öresund. P. 1.
5. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Högman: Svenska skärgårdsflottan.
6. ↑ ^{a b c} Hans Norman: Skärgårdsflottan: Uppbyggnnad, military användning och förankring i det svenska samhället 1700-1824 . Historiska media, Lund 2000, ISBN 91-88930-50-5 , p. 50-75 .
7. ↑ Roger Charles Anderson: Oared Fighting Ships. From classical times to the coming of steam . London 1962.
8. ↑ Högman. Vehicle types in the archipelago fleet. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on June 16, 2006 ; Retrieved October 20, 2013 (Swedish). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
9. ^ Josef von Xylander: Contribution to the history of the Swedish war in the years 1808 and 1809 . Ernst Siegfried Mittler, Berlin and Posen 1825, p. 111 ( limited preview in Google Book search).