HSwMS Carls Crona (1749)

Model of the galley Carlscrona at the Naval Museum, Karlskrona
History
Sweden
NamesakeKarlskrona, Sweden
BuilderKarlskrona Naval Shipyard
Launched1749 (1749)
FateParticipated in the Battle of Stettiner Haff (1759); further fate unknown
General characteristics
Length42.1 m (138 ft 1 in)
Beam5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Draft2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Propulsion22 pairs of oars
Complement310
Armament
  • 1 × 24-pounder cannon
  • 2 × 6-pounder cannons
NotesGalley constructed under the supervision of shipbuilder Gilbert Sheldon for the Archipelago fleet

Carlscrona was a Swedish galley built in 1749 for the Swedish Archipelago fleet at the Karlskrona Naval Shipyard under the direction of shipbuilder Gilbert Sheldon. The vessel was armed with six cannons and carried a crew of 310 men.[1][2]

Naming

In surviving documents, this galley is featured with a few different spellings including Carlscrona, Carls Crona and Carls Chrona. There have been many Swedish ships called variations of the name Karlskrona. At least 6 ships with similar names have been built at the Karlskrona Naval Shipyard.[3]

History

The Carlscrona was built in 1749, and was one of the last galley ships ever built in Sweden, as they were not produced after 1749. Ships of this type were considered too fragile and man-power intensive, as the soldiers aboard them were also required as rowers.[4][5]

Between 1749 and 1757 the ship was stationed in Karlskrona and was primarily used for troop transport to Pomerania.[6] From 1758-1759 it was stationed in Stralsund (in modern day Germany but, at the time, the capital of Swedish Pomerania).[5] The ship was damaged fighting against the Prussians[5] during the Battle of Stettiner Haff in 1759,[7] was later moved to Stockholm in 1768 and decommissioned in 1780.[8]

The coat of arms from the Carlscrona[7] was preserved after its decomission, and is displayed in the model hall building at the Karlskrona naval base, along with a 1749 model of the ship, designed by galley builder John Acrell, which is thought to have been used during the construction of the galleys.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Fartyg med namnet Karlskrona" [Ships named Karlskrona] (PDF). Varvshistoriska föreningen i Karlskrona: VHFK. 2024-06-20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  2. ^ "Qwartalsbilaga till Carlscrona Weckoblad. Årgång 5 N:o 1. Anno 1784. Pris: 7 shilling" (PDF). Blekinge museums 1700-tals förening. 2025-09-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  3. ^ "Tidskrift för Flottans Mäns Riksförbund. Nr 4. Nov 2012. Årgång 78" (PDF). Flottans Män. 2022-05-28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-10-13. Retrieved 2025-09-18. Vid Örlogsvarvet i Karlskrona, sedermera Karlskronavarvet Kockums, har byggts sex farttyg med namnet Carlscrona (Carls Chrona, Karlskrona). [At the naval shipyard in Karlskrona, later Karlskronavarvet Kockums, six ships were built with the name Carlscrona (Carls Chrona, Karlskrona).]
  4. ^ "Tidskrift för Flottans Mäns Riksförbund. Nr 4. Dec 2015. Årgång 81" (PDF). Flottans Män. 2024-10-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-07-16. Retrieved 2025-09-18. In 1749, 42 galleys were built in two sizes, 23 of which were larger with 22 pairs of oars and a crew of 315 men, and 19 smaller with 20 pairs of oars and a crew of 295 men. [Under 1749 byggdes 42 galärer i två storlekar, varav 23 större med 22 par åror och 315 mans besättning samt 19 mindre med 20 par åror och en besättning på 295 man]
  5. ^ a b c "Tidskrift för Flottans Mäns Riksförbund. Nr 4. Nov 2022. Årgång 88" (PDF). Flottans Män. 2023-02-27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2025-09-18. Efter 1749 byggdes inga fler galärer. De ansågs alltför personalkrävande och bräckliga [After 1749, no more galleys were built. They were considered too labor-intensive and fragile.]
  6. ^ a b "Galären Carls Crona". Varvshistoriska Föreningen i Karlskrona. 2023-02-27. Archived from the original on 2025-09-18. Retrieved 2025-09-18. Åren 1749 – 1757 var galären stationerad i Karlskrona och utnyttjades i huvudsak för trupptransport till Pommern [From 1749 to 1757, the galley was stationed in Karlskrona and was mainly used for transporting troops to Pomerania.]
  7. ^ a b "Galjonsbild". DigitaltMuseum. 2014-08-15. Archived from the original on 2025-09-18. Retrieved 2025-09-18. Galären deltog 10 september 1759 i sjöslaget vid Frisches Haff, där hon skadades. [On September 10, 1759, the galley took part in the naval battle at Frisches Haff, where she was damaged.]
  8. ^ "Kustposten. Nr 3. 2012" (PDF). KA 2 Kamratförening. 2025-09-18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-09-18. Retrieved 2025-09-18. År 1749 sjösattes galären Carls Chrona på Örlogsvarvet som nybygge nt 89. Hon förflyttades till Stockholm 1768 och slopades 1780. [In 1749, the galley Carls Chrona was launched at the Naval Shipyard as newbuild 89. She was moved to Stockholm in 1768 and scrapped in 1780.]

Further reading

  • Hans Norman (2000). The Archipelago Fleet: Construction, Military Use, and Integration into Swedish Society 1700–1824. Lund: Historiska Media. ISBN 91-88930-50-5.
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