Swedish Naval Medical Officers’ Corps

The Swedish Naval Medical Officers’ Corps was organized in 1902 and included the military physicians of the Swedish Navy and the Swedish Coastal Artillery. Prior to that, the navy's physicians were subordinate to the National Swedish Board of Health. The navy has, as far as the healthcare is concerned, an identical history as the Swedish Army. As early as 1535, so-called bardskärer ("barbers") are mentioned in the navy; they were usually hired for each sea expeditions, after which they were dismissed. There was no initial healthcare at the shipyards, but the sick were usually sent to the respective home towns to be cared for there. Incidentally, these bardskärer or fältskärer were difficult to obtain (the 1567 sea-going fleet of 47 ships had only 17 fältskärer). Moreover, since they would be rather ignorant and the hygienic devices aboard were particularly deficient, great morbidity and mortality ruled the navy and the army, paralyzing military operations. With the arrangement of medical education in Sweden and the formation of the Swedish Army Medical Corps (Fältläkarkåren) in the early 1800s, the conditions improved. However, in the context of the navy's renewal and expansion towards the end of the 1800s, the need for more independent orderly healthcare for the same appeared. The same was also true of the other European navies. The sea duty also required more specifically educated physicians. According to the decision of the state authorities in 1902, the Swedish Naval Medical Officers’ Corps was established. Except for the chief (the Marinöverläkare, "Chief Naval Physicians") with Captain's (N) rank, there were: 3 first naval physicians with Commander's rank, 12 naval physicians of the 1st class with Lieutenant's (N) rank, or possibly with Commander 2nd Class' rank, 20 naval physicians of the 2nd class with Sub-Lieutenant's rank, or possibly Lieutenant's (N) rank, 12 naval physician fellows with Sub-Lieutenant's rank, as well as a reserve with corresponding positions.[2]

In 1925, the Swedish Naval Medical Officers’ Corps consisted of the Chief Naval Physician, 3 first naval physicians (1 physicians each at Karlskrona and Stockholm naval stations, and 1 fortress physician at Vaxholm Fortress), 13 naval physicians of the 1st rank (could after 10 years of well-attended service be appointed first naval physician), 20 naval physicians of the 2nd rank (could after 3 years be appointed naval physician fellow of the 1st rank), 10 naval physician fellows as well as 10 active duty naval physician fellows of military age with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree or Licentiate of Medical Sciences degree who thus fulfilled their military service. In addition, there was a reserve of physicians.[3]

In 1969, the Swedish Naval Medical Officers’ Corps was amalgamated with the Swedish Army Medical Corps (Fältläkarkåren) and the Swedish Army Veterinary Corps, which formed the Medical Corps of the Swedish Armed Forces.[4]

The chief of the Swedish Naval Medical Officers’ Corps was referred to as Marinöverläkare and he was commander of the corps and its reserve as well as head of the Royal Swedish Naval Materiel Administration's Sanitation Department. He was to assist the National Swedish Board of Health in dealing with matters concerning the health and medical care in the Swedish Navy and in the Swedish Coastal Artillery, with the right to participate in the deliberations of the Board of Directors on these questions.[5]

• 1902–1917: Karl Leonard Rudberg[note 1]
• 1917–1937: Gunnar Nilson
• 1937–1956: Herbert Westermark
• 1956–1969: Lars Troell

• Holmberg, Anton Edvard Theodor (1903). Den nyinrättade marinläkarkåren (in Swedish). Stockholm. SELIBR 2708713.