Gothenburg Squadron (Swedish: Göteborgseskadern, GE) was a naval squadron of the Swedish Navy which has operated in various forms from 1939 to 1951. The unit was based at Gothenburg naval base at Nya Varvet in Gothenburg.[1][2]

Gothenburg Squadron
Göteborgseskadern
Active1939–1951
CountrySweden
BranchSwedish Navy
TypeMaritime security, mine clearance
RoleTraining unit
SizeSquadron
Garrison/HQGothenburg

History

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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

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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]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Kjellander 2007, p. 35
  2. ^ "Göteborgsavdelningen (Göteborgseskadern), stabsexpeditionen > Se förteckning" (in Swedish). National Archives of Sweden. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Göteborgs eskader och örlogsstation 1523-1870". www.gsgbg.se (in Swedish). Garnisonssällskapet Göteborg. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  4. ^ Lagvall 1991, p. 19
  5. ^ Holmquist 1972, p. 198
  6. ^ Lagvall 1991

Print

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  • 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. SELIBR 10452099.
  • Lagvall, Bertil (1991). Flottans neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945: krönika. Marinlitteraturföreningen, 0348-2405 ; 71 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Marinlitteraturfören. ISBN 91-85944-05-X. SELIBR 7753511.
  • Holmquist, Åke (1972). Flottans beredskap 1938-1940. Sverige under andra världskriget, 99-0108326-5 (in Swedish). Stockholm. ISBN 91-38-00216-7. SELIBR 7257422.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Further reading

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  • Larsson, Kenneth (2011). Flottans neutralitetsvakt 1939-1945: Göteborgseskadern (in Swedish). Lysekil: Flottans män. SELIBR 19210037.