Archipelago fleet
The archipelago fleet (Swedish: skärgårdsflottan), officially the "fleet of the army" (Swedish: arméns flotta), was a branch of the armed forces of Sweden which existed between 1756 and 1823. Its purpose was to protect the coasts of Sweden, which was surrounded by a natural barrier of archipelagoes (or skerries). Throughout its existence, it was a largely independent arm of the army, separate from the navy, with the exception of a few years in the late 1760s. In a number of respects, it was a precursor of the Swedish Coastal Artillery and its coastal fleet.
| Arméns flotta Fleet of the army | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1756–1823 |
| Disbanded | 1823 |
| Country | Sweden |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Fleet |
| Role | Coastal defence, amphibious warfare |
| Size | 285 ships (1790) |
| H/Q | Stockholm |
| Colours | Blue |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | See list
|
| Insignia | |
| Blue Ensign (1761–1813) | |
Its vessels consisted of traditional Mediterranean-style galleys, prams, gunboats and specially-designed broadside-armed "archipelago frigates". All types had the ability to operate under oars and a small draft, enabling them to navigate the shallow and often treacherous inshore waters.
The archipelago fleet was active in several wars from 1757 to 1814: the Swedish involvement in the Seven Years' War, the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–90, the Finnish War of 1808–09 and the brief Swedish–Norwegian War of 1814.