1st Submarine Flotilla (Sweden) explained

Unit Name:1st Submarine Flotilla
Native Name:Första ubåtsflottiljen
Dates:1904–present
Country:Sweden
Allegiance:Swedish Armed Forces
Branch:Swedish Navy
Type:Submarine
Size:Flotilla (350 personnel)[1]
Command Structure:


SAFHQ (2005–)
Motto:Esse non videre ("To be without being seen")
March:"Fladdrande Fanor" (V. Widqvist)
Website:www.forsvarsmakten.se/1ubflj
Commander1:Captain Paula Wallenburg
Identification Symbol Label:Cufflink
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Shoulder sleeve insignia

The 1st Submarine Flotilla (Swedish: Första ubåtsflottiljen, 1. ubflj) is a unit of the Swedish Fleet which has operated in various forms since 1904. Its unit staff is located at Karlskrona naval base, Blekinge in Karlskrona Garrison.

History

The embryo of the 1st Submarine Flotilla was formed in 1904, when the Swedish Navy was supplied with its first submarine, Hajen, and the submarine force was formed.[2] In 1918 the submarine force was included as the 1st Submarine Division (1. undervattensbåtsdivisionen) in the Coastal Fleet. In 1934, the submarine force had been organized as the Submarine Department (Ubåtsavdelningen) with three included divisions. In 1951, the unit was assigned its current name, and was part of the Coastal Fleet as the 1st Submarine Flotilla. During the 1970s, the Navy Diving School (Flottans dykarskola) was added to the flotilla, which later formed the Diving Division (Dykdivisionen), which included submarine rescue ships.

On 1 July 1994, the flotilla was organized as the First Submarine Department (Första ubåtsavdelningen, 1. UbA). This because all units within the Swedish Armed Forces were cadre organized, and got a permanent organisation. On 1 January 1998, the flotilla received its current name 1st Submarine Flotilla (Swedish: Första ubåtsflottiljen, 1. ubflj), and by the Defence Act of 2004 it was decided that the flotilla with its staff would be relocated from Hårsfjärden to Karlskrona. From 1 January 2005, the flotilla came to serve from Karlskrona naval base.

Organization

Between 1904 and 1998, the submarine force was included in the Coastal Fleet. See below the composite of the submarine force at different time points. During the 1930s, the submarine force was included in the Winter Squadron (Vintereskadern), which was the equipped part of the Swedish Navy during winter time. Parts of the submarine force were included in the Gothenburg Squadron and the Karlskrona Department (Karlskronaavdelningen) during World War II.

Year Name Division Ships
1918 1. undervattensbåtsdivisionen Delfinen, Skäggald, Svärdfisken, Tumlaren
1934 Ubåtsavdelningen Depådivision Svea
1934 Ubåtsavdelningen 1. ubåtsdivisionen Draken, Gripen, Ulven
1934 Ubåtsavdelningen 2. ubåtsdivisionen Bävern, Illern, Uttern
1934 Ubåtsavdelningen 3. ubåtsdivisionen Hajen, Sälen
1940 Ubåtsavdelningen Depådivision Svea
1940 Ubåtsavdelningen 1. ubåtsdivisionen Draken, Gripen, Ulven
1940 Ubåtsavdelningen 2. ubåtsdivisionen Sjöbjörnen, Sjöhunden,
1940 Ubåtsavdelningen 3. ubåtsdivisionen Delfinen, Najad, Springaren
1945 Ubåtsavdelningen SS Patricia, Belos
1945 Ubåtsavdelningen 1. ubåtsdivisionen Sjöborren, Sjöhästen, Sjöormen
1945 Ubåtsavdelningen 7. ubåtsdivisionen Najad, Neptun, Näcken
1945 Ubåtsavdelningen 12. ubåtsdivisionen U4, U5, U6
1951 1. ubåtsflottiljen SS Patricia, Belos
1951 1. ubåtsflottiljen 1. ubåtsdivisionen Neptun, Sjöborren, Sjöhunden
1951 1. ubåtsflottiljen 2. ubåtsdivisionen Dykaren, Nordkaparen, Näcken, Sjöormen, Tumlaren
1975 1. ubåtsflottiljen Belos,
1975 1. ubåtsflottiljen 1. ubåtsdivisionen Sjöhästen, Vargen
1975 1. ubåtsflottiljen 3. ubåtsdivisionen Delfinen, Draken, Gripen, Hajen,
1989 1. ubåtsflottiljen 1. ubåtsdivisionen Sjöbjörnen, Sjöhästen, Sjölejonet,, Hälsingland, Södermanland, Västergötland, Östergötland
1989 1. ubåtsflottiljen 2. ubåtsdivisionen Najad,,, Sjöhunden
1989 1. ubåtsflottiljen Dykdivisionen Belos
1998 1. ubåtsflottiljen 1. ubåtsdivisionen ,,, Södermanland, Östergötland, Hälsingland, Västergötland
1998 1. ubåtsflottiljen 2. ubåtsdivisionen Najad,
1998 1. ubåtsflottiljen Dykdivisionen , URF
1998 1. ubåtsflottiljen Torpedbärgningsdivisionen Pelikanen, Pingvinen
2013 1.ubåtsflottiljen ,,, Södermanland, Östergötland
2021 1.ubåtsflottiljen Gotland, Halland, Uppland, Södermanland

Heraldry and traditions

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the 1st Submarine Division (Första ubåtsavdelningen) 1994–1998 and the 1st Submarine Flotilla since 1998. Blazon: "Or, from a wavy base azure a trident issuant sable".

Flag

The flag is a double swallow-tailed Swedish flag. It was presented to the then 1st Submarine Division by the Supreme Commander, General Owe Wiktorin at the Artillery Yard in Stockholm on 30 April 1996.

Commanding officers

Names, designations and locations

NameTranslationFromTo
Swedish: 1. undervattensbåtsdivisionen1918-??-??1934-??-??
Swedish: UbåtsavdelningenSubmarine Division1934-??-??1951-??-??
Swedish: 1. ubåtsflottiljen1st Submarine Flotilla1951-??-??1994-06-30
Swedish: 1. ubåtsavdelningen1st Submarine Division1994-07-011997-12-31
Swedish: 1. ubåtsflottiljen1st Submarine Flotilla1998-01-01
DesignationFromTo
Swedish: 1. ubflj1951-??-??1994-06-30
Swedish: 1. UbA1994-07-011997-12-31
Swedish: 1. ubflj1998-01-01
LocationFromTo
Muskö naval base1969-09-302005-08-31
Karlskrona naval base2005-09-01

Footnotes

  1. Web site: 2023-09-27 . Första ubåtsflottiljen . 2024-02-15 . www.forsvarsmakten.se . Försvarsmakten.
  2. Web site: Om förbandet . . About the unit . 9 May 2017 . sv.

References

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