Three ships under sail. "Snauen Resolution led by Capitaine Restenius, in Companie with Snauen L´Apparance, led by Captaine Hedenqwis. Attacked and Captured by an English Cutter Brig, 5 December 1793 at dusk. Latitude 35 ° 33 'Long 12 ° 25' AF Part" . Photo: Cecilia Nordstrand, The National Maritime Museum / SMTM.
Many Swedish-flagged vessels of the “Lost Navy” were employed outside the Baltic, mainly as convoy vessels. Others were sold to private shipowners and used in long-distance shipping. The history of these “lost” naval ships is one of the least studied issues in Sweden’s naval history. This subproject studies two aspects of the presence of Swedish naval vessels outside the Baltic.
The main focus of the subproject will be on convoying naval ships, often purpose-built frigates that were used for convoying Swedish merchant fleets to southern Europe. What types of ships served as convoy ships and on diplomatic missions? Why these types? How did their use and design change over time?
The subproject also studies ships that were sold and purchased between the navy and merchant fleet and were employed outside the Baltic Sea. The ships are studied from a life cycle perspective, from being built to being discarded and the events in between. This includes when the vessels are sold and bought, the reasons for this, and if and how the ships were rebuilt for their new purpose.
This subproject is a part of the research programme’s historical and archaeological module.
The “Lost Navy” beyond the Skagerrak, 1680–1850.
Project leader
Leos Müller, CEMAS, Department of History, Stockholm University
E-mail:Leos.muller@historia.su.se
Participant
Fredrik Kämpe, historian, The Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums