Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) Arne "Angel"[1] Söderlund PS SM MMM SAN (Rtd) is a retired South African Navy officer and author.
Arne Söderlund | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Angel |
| Born | Kimberley, Northern Cape |
| Allegiance |  South Africa |
| Service/ |  South African Navy |
| Years of service | 1966–2006 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral (JG) |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | South African Border War |
| Awards |            |
Early life edit
Admiral Söderlund was born and educated in Kimberley, South Africa where he matriculated from CBC.
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Admiral Söderlund joined the SA Navy in 1966.
In 1969 he was attached to the Argentine Navy for training aboard the Sail Training Vessel ARA Libertad and on his return served aboard mine sweepers as First Lieutenant and Type 12 frigates as Communications and later Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer.
He commanded the ship SAS Fleur, before being assigned to the strike craft project in Israel where he commissioned the second strike craft P1562 SAS P.W. Botha (P1562) and later SAS Shaka (P1562)) as First Lieutenant and Operations Officer.[2] In 1980 he was appointed as the first Captain of SAS Oswald Pirow (later SAS Rene Sethren). After a four-year appointment to Chief of Staff Intelligence, he was appointed as Naval and Military Attache in London from 1994 to 1997.[2]
Promoted Commodore (which later changed to Rear Adm (Junior Grade)) he served as Director Fleet Force Preparation when Fleet Command was formed in 1999. He retired in 2006.
Author edit
He co-authored the following books:
- South Africa's Navy : A Navy of the People and for the People. with Chris Bennett[3]: 17
- Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978–1988. with Douw Steyn[2]
Submarine museum edit
Söderlund was instrumental in setting up the SAS Assegaai as a submarine museum.[4][2] The guest of honour at the ribbon cutting ceremony was Rear Admiral (JG) Theo Honiball (Ret) who as a Lieutenant Commander was her first officer commanding. The ribbon was cut by Vice-Admiral Refiloe Johannes Mudimu, Chief of the Navy.[4]
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Söderlund owns and runs a Maritime Museum in his house, this is a remarkably well stocked museum and covers from 1500 through to current day Naval Warfare items, it concentrates mainly on SA Navy and the Royal Navy but also holds items from many Services. He can be contacted via Simons Town Naval Base and it is a must see museum.
Awards and decorations edit
Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
iPhrothiya yeSiliva (Silver Protea) (PS)
Military Merit Medal (MMM)
Pro Patria Medal
Southern Africa Medal
General Service Medal (South Africa)
Unitas (Unity) Medal
Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) (40 Year Clasp)
Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years))
References edit
- ^ Arne Söderlund on Facebook
- ^ a b c d Söderlund, Arne; Steyn, Douw (19 December 2014). Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978–1988. Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1909982284.
- ^ a b Wingrin, Dean (3 March 2011). "New life for old sub". Defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
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