Arne Söderlund Explained

Honorific Prefix:Rear Admiral
Arne Söderlund
Birth Place:Kimberley, Northern Cape
Nickname:Angel
Serviceyears:19662006
Rank:Rear Admiral (JG)
Commands:
    Battles:South African Border War

    Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) Arne "Angel" Söderlund is a retired South African Navy officer and author.

    Early life

    Admiral Söderlund was born and educated in Kimberley, South Africa where he matriculated from CBC.

    Navy career

    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, before being assigned to the strike craft project in Israel where he commissioned the second strike craft P1562 and later) as First Lieutenant and Operations Officer. In 1980 he was appointed as the first Captain of (later). After a four-year appointment to Chief of Staff Intelligence, he was appointed as Naval and Military Attache in London from 1994 to 1997.[1]

    Promoted Commodore (which later changed to Rear Adm (Junior Grade)) he served as when Fleet Command was formed in 1999. He retired in 2006.

    Author

    He co-authored the following books:

    Submarine museum

    Söderlund was instrumental in setting up the as a submarine museum.[3] 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.

    Naval museum

    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.

    Notes and References

    1. Book: Söderlund. Arne. Arne Söderlund. Steyn. Douw. Iron Fist From The Sea: South Africa's Seaborne Raiders 1978–1988. 19 December 2014. Helion and Company. 978-1909982284.
    2. Book: South Africa's Navy : A Navy of the People and for the People . Bennett. C. H.. Chris Bennett (admiral). Söderlund. Arne G.. Arne Söderlund. 2008. 978-0-620-41446-3.
    3. Web site: Wingrin. Dean. New life for old sub. Defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. 20 November 2014. 3 March 2011.