Coastal Fleet | |
---|---|
Kustflottan | |
Active | 1904–2000 |
Country | Sweden |
Allegiance | Swedish Armed Forces |
Branch | Swedish Navy |
Type | Naval force composed of surface combatant, minelayer, minehunter and submarine units |
Role | Naval authority |
March | "Kustflottans marsch" (Åke Dohlin) [1] |
Insignia | |
Naval Ensign |
The Coastal Fleet [2] (Swedish : Kustflottan, Kfl) was until 1994 a Swedish Navy authority with the main task of training the naval ships commanders and crews. [3] After the formation of the authority Swedish Armed Forces in 1994, the Coastal Fleet remained as a unit until 2000.
The Coastal Fleet was the operational unit within the Swedish Navy, created from the combat forces capable of maritime operations. The Coastal Fleet was intended to serve as the mobile naval defence or battle group, encompassing all naval warfare capabilities such as artillery, torpedoes, and mines. It was designed to be capable of countering hostile actions along the Swedish coastlines independently of local defence tasks.
The Swedish Kustflottan
According to a decision in 1948, the Coastal Fleet would primarily consist of two squadrons, each with cruisers, destroyers, and large motor torpedo boats, along with a submarine and a mine flotilla. Additionally, on the Swedish West Coast, there would be a squadron of surface vessels and a submarine flotilla. [4]
The command flag of the last Commander-in-Chief of the Coastal Fleet, Vice Admiral Frank Rosenius, was lowered on 30 June 1998. [5]
The colour of the Coastal Fleet was a double swallow-tailed Swedish flag, which was presented in 1976. It was later taken over by the Joint Forces Command. [6]
The coat of the arms of the Coastal Fleet 1979–1997. Blazon: "Azure, an anchor erect cabled, argent". [7]
The Swedish Navy's ships were prepared for expeditions during the summer months and organized into temporary squadrons under the command of the 'highest commander' (högste befälhavare). In 1904, an Inspector of Naval Exercises at Sea (Inspektör för flottans övningar till sjöss) was added, also serving as the highest commander of the coastal squadrons. Starting in 1909, the squadrons began to be referred to as coastal fleets. From 1919 onwards, the positions of Highest Commander and Inspector of Naval Exercises at Sea were merged (SFS 1918:868), and the position of Highest Commander of the Coastal Fleet (Högste befälhavaren för kustflottan) was established, changed in 1931 to Commander-in-Chief of the Coastal Fleet (Chefen för kustflottan). [8]
The Västmanland Regiment, designations I 18 and Fo 48, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was disbanded for the first time in 1927 but later reraised and disbanded again in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Västmanland, and it was later garrisoned there.
The Kronoberg Regiment, designations I 11 and I 11/Fo 16, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was disbanded in 1997. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from Kronoberg County, and they were later garrisoned there.
Admiral (Adm) (Swedish: Amiral, Am) is a four-star commissioned naval officer rank in the Swedish Navy. Admiral ranks immediately above vice admiral and is equivalent to general.
Blekinge Wing, also F 17 Kallinge, or simply F 17, is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Ronneby in southern Sweden. It is one of the three remaining wings in Sweden and currently has two squadrons of multirole aircraft. F 17 in the south and F 21 in the north are the two wings remaining to have operational squadrons. F 7 is a school where pilots begin their training in the JAS 39 Gripen. After that the pilot's training is moved out to the two operational wings there they learn their final skills.
Count Carl August Ehrensvärd was a Swedish Navy admiral, politician and Minister for Naval Affairs from 1907 to 1911.
Swedish Air Force Flying School, also F 5 Ljungbyhed, or simply F 5, is a former Swedish Air Force training wing with the main base located in Ljungbyhed in southern Sweden.
The Norrland Dragoon Regiment, also K 4, is a Swedish Army unit specialized in arctic warfare and special operations. Located in the province of Lappland, it was historically a cavalry unit that traces its origins back to the 17th century.
Norrbotten Wing, also F 21 Luleå, or simply F 21, is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located in Luleå Airport in northern Sweden. It is one of the three remaining wings in Sweden and currently has two squadrons of multirole aircraft. F 21 in the north and F 17 in the south are the two wings remaining to have operational squadrons. F 7 is a school where pilots begin their training in the JAS 39 Gripen. Once completed the pilot's training is moved out to the two operational wings where they acquire their final training.
The 1st Submarine Flotilla is a unit of the Swedish Fleet which has operated in various forms since 1904. Its unit staff is located at Karlskrona naval base, Blekinge in Karlskrona Garrison.
The 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla of the Swedish Fleet was founded in 2005 when the former minelayer and surface flotillas joined together. The flotilla home base is in Karlskrona, Blekinge and is a part of the Karlskrona naval base. The flotilla mostly deploy ships in international missions today.
Naval Staff is the staff of the Chief of the Swedish Navy. Established in 1907, it originated from the Fleet Staff which was established in 1896. The Naval Staff's duties included, among other things to assist the Chief of the Navy with leadership of the Navy's mobilization, training, tactics, organization, equipment and personnel to the extent that such activity was not directly related to operational activities, which was handled by the Defence Staff. In 1994, the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters took over the Naval Staff's duties. The Naval Staff was reestablished in 2019.
Maritime Component Command was a part of the Joint Forces Command of the Swedish Armed Forces. The staff was located at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters in Stockholm and is headed by the Chief of Navy. The Maritime Component Command commanded the operations of the Swedish Navy forces.
East Coast Naval Base was a Swedish Navy command body which operated in various forms between the years 1928 and 2004. It was located in Stockholm from 1928 to 1966 and then in Haninge Municipality from 1966 to 2004.
Vice Admiral Erik Viktor Philip Gustafsson af Klint was a Swedish Navy naval officer. af Klint's senior commands include postings as Chief of Staff of the Coastal Fleet, head of Section 2 of the Defence Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Coastal Fleet and commanding officer of the Naval Command East.
Rear admiral (RAdm) (Swedish: Konteramiral, Kam) is a two-star commissioned naval officer rank in the Swedish Navy. Rear admiral ranks above rear admiral (lower half) and below vice admiral. Rear admiral is equivalent to the rank of major general.
Kommendör, abbreviated kmd is the most senior rank of commissioned officer below that of flag officer in the Swedish Navy, ranking below rear admiral and above commander. The rank is equivalent to colonel in the Swedish Army, Swedish Air Force and the Swedish Amphibious Corps.
Vice Admiral Carl Einar Blidberg was a Swedish Navy officer. Blidberg served as Chief of the Naval Staff from 1957 to 1961, Commander-in-Chief of the Coastal Fleet from 1962 to 1966, and as commanding officer of the Naval Command East and the East Coast Naval Base from 1966 to 1971.
The Naval Base is a naval unit within the Swedish Navy that has operated in various forms since 1928. The unit is mainly based within Karlskrona naval base in Karlskrona and but operations are also conducted at Berga Naval Base and Muskö naval base outside Stockholm and in Gothenburg.
Flag captain was in the Swedish Navy a captain or commander who served as deputy to a fleet commander. During the 1900s, the flag captain served as chief of staff of Flaggen, the staff of the Chief of the Coastal Fleet.
Vice Admiral John Christoffer Schneidler was a senior Swedish Navy officer. He served as head of the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College from 1919 to 1923, commander of Karlskrona Naval Yard from 1923 to 1925 and as head of the Royal Swedish Naval Materiel Administration from 1925 to 1933.