Gothenburg Squadron
| Gothenburg Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Göteborgseskadern | |
| Active | 1939–1959 |
| Country | Sweden |
| Branch | Swedish Navy |
| Type | Maritime security, mine clearance |
| Role | Training unit |
| Size | Squadron |
Gothenburg Squadron (Swedish: Göteborgseskadern, GE) was a naval squadron of the Swedish Navy which has operated in various forms from 1939 to 1959. The unit was based at Gothenburg naval base at Nya Varvet in Gothenburg.[1][2]
History
The oldest written evidence of a naval station in Gothenburg dates from 1523, when Gustav Vasa based a number of smaller ships at Old Älvsborg Fortress.[3] The Gothenburg Squadron was discontinued in 1959, and its war organization was partly taken over by the Third Squadron (Tredje eskadern). In the peace organization, the newly formed 6th Mine Clearance Department (6. minröjningsavdelningen, 6. mröjA), which was to be placed at the Gullmarn base in Skredsvik, took over the tasks from the Gothenburg Squadron.[1]
World War II
During the fall of 1939, the Gothenburg Squadron consisted of the following ships:[4]
- Coastal defence ships: Manligheten
- Destroyers: Wrangel and Wachtmeister
- Submarines: Hajen, Sälen and Valrossen
- Minesweepers: Starkodder and Styrbjörn
- Gunboats: Skagerack
- Patrol boats: 2 x type I and 6 x type II
In September, the squadron was strengthened with the Coastal Fleet's destroyers Klas Horn and Göteborg as well as two submarines.[5]
| Full compilation of the Gothenburg Squadron's naval forces during World War II[6] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship type | Fall of 1939 | 9 April 1940 | Spring of 1941 | Spring of 1942 | 29 July 1943 | Spring of 1944 | Spring of 1945 |
| Coastal defence ships | Manligheten | Manligheten | Manligheten | Manligheten | Manligheten | Manligheten | Manligheten |
| Cruisers | Fylgia | ||||||
| Destroyers | Wrangel Wachtmeister |
Wrangel Wachtmeister |
Wrangel Wachtmeister Psilander Puke |
Wrangel Wachtmeister Psilander Puke |
Wrangel Wachtmeister Psilander Puke |
Puke Klas Horn Karlskrona Göteborg |
Klas Horn Göteborg |
| Auxiliary barracks ships | Tjelvar | Tjelvar | Tjelvar | ||||
| Depot ships | Jacob Bagge | ||||||
| Salvage ships | Isbrytaren II | ||||||
| Submarines | Hajen Sälen Valrossen |
Hajen Sälen Valrossen |
Hajen Sälen Valrossen |
Springaren Delfinen Nordkaparen Ulven Gripen Draken |
Springaren Delfinen Nordkaparen Gripen Draken |
Springaren Delfinen Nordkaparen Gripen Draken U 4 U 5 U 6 |
U 7 U 8 U 9 |
| Minesweepers | Starkodder Styrbjörn |
Starkodder Styrbjörn |
Koster Kullen Vinga Ven Starkodder Styrbjörn |
Koster Kullen Vinga Ven Starkodder Styrbjörn |
Koster Kullen Vinga Ven Starkodder Styrbjörn |
Koster Kullen Vinga Ven Starkodder Styrbjörn |
Koster Vinga Ven Starkodder Styrbjörn |
| Auxiliary cruisers | Hjkr 10 Fidra | ||||||
| Auxiliary gunboats | Skagerack | Skagerack Odin |
Skagerack Odin |
Skagerack Odin |
Skagerack Odin |
Skagerack Odin |
Skagerack Odin |
| M-boats | 4x | 6x | 5x | ||||
| Motor Torpedo Boats | 6x | 3x | 4x | ||||
| Patrol boats | Thetis Astrea | ||||||
| Auxiliary patrol boat type I | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x | ||
| Auxiliary patrol boat type II | 6x | 12x | 18x | 12x | 12x | 12x | 12x |
References
Notes
- 1 2 Kjellander 2007, p. 35
- ↑ "Göteborgsavdelningen (Göteborgseskadern), stabsexpeditionen > Se förteckning" (in Swedish). National Archives of Sweden. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ↑ "Göteborgs eskader och örlogsstation 1523-1870". www.gsgbg.se (in Swedish). Garnisonssällskapet Göteborg. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ↑ Lagvall 1991, p. 19
- ↑ Holmquist 1972, p. 198
- ↑ Lagvall 1991
- Kjellander, Rune (2007). Svenska marinens högre chefer 1700-2005: chefsbiografier och befattningsöversikter samt Kungl Örlogsmannasällskapets ämbetsmän och ledamöter 1771-2005 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 978-91-87184-83-3. LIBRIS 10452099.
- Lagvall, Bertil (1991). Flottans neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945: krönika. Marinlitteraturföreningen, 0348-2405 ; 71 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Marinlitteraturfören. ISBN 91-85944-05-X. LIBRIS 7753511.
- Holmquist, Åke (1972). Flottans beredskap 1938-1940. Sverige under andra världskriget, 99-0108326-5 (in Swedish). Stockholm. ISBN 91-38-00216-7. LIBRIS 7257422.