Royal Norwegian Navy

The Royal Norwegian Navy (often abbreviated as RNoN) is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. As of 2005, the Navy consists of approximately 5,000 personnel and 25 vessels, including 2 frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 1 minelayer, 6 minesweepers, 1 mine detection vessel, 1 support vessel and 2 training vessels. The Navy also includes the Coast Guard.

History

The history of the Norwegian navy is long and goes back to the leidang which was first established by King Håkon the Good on Gulating in 955.

Related Topics:
Leidang - Håkon the Good - Gulating - 955

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During most of the union between Norway and Denmark the two countries had one common fleet. This fleet was established by King Hans in 1509. A large proportion of the crew and officers were Norwegian. In 1709 there were about 15 000 personell enrolled in the common fleet, of these 10 000 were Norwegian. When Tordenskjold did his famous raid at Dynekil in 1716 more than 80 percent of the sailors and 90 percent of the soldiers in his force were Norwegian.

Related Topics:
Denmark - King Hans - 1509 - 1709 - Tordenskjold - Dynekil - 1716

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The modern seperate Royal Norwegian Navy was founded on April 12, 1814 by Prince Christian Fredrik. The first commander of the navy was captain Thomas Fasting. April 1, 1815 the leadership of the navy was reorganized in to a navy ministry and commander Thomas Fasting became the first navy minister.

Related Topics:
April 12 - 1814 - Christian Fredrik - Thomas Fasting - April 1 - 1815

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During the union with Sweden Norway retained its independent armed forces, including the navy. During most of the union the navy was subjected to low funding even though there were ambitious plans to expand it. In the last part of the 19th century the fleet was increased to defend a possible independent Norway from her Swedish neighbours.

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Norway was neutral during World War I, but the merchant fleet suffered many casualties. The navy was mobilized to protect the neutrality.

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The Royal Norwegian Navy fought in World War II from April 8, 1940 when the guard ship HNoMS Pol III was attacked by the German torpedo boat Albatross. In the opening hours of the battle of Narvik, the old warships ("panserskip") Eidsvold and Norge (built before 1905) attempted to put up a fight against the invading German warships, but were torpedoed and sunk. The German Invasion fleet heading for Oslo were significantly delayed when Oscarsborg fortress opened fire with the two old 280mm guns, followed by the 150mm guns on Kopås on the eastern side of the Drøbak strait. The 280mm guns inflicted heavy damage on the German cruiser Blücher, which subsequently were torpedoed by torpedoes fired from a land based torpedo battery and sunk. The German invasion fleet retreated south and called for air strikes on the fortress. This delay allowed the King of Norway and the Royal family, as well as the government, to escape captivity.

Related Topics:
World War II - April 8 - 1940 - HNoMS Pol III - German - Torpedo boat - Eidsvold - Norge - 1905 - Oslo - Oscarsborg fortress - Drøbak - German cruiser Blücher

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The Royal Norwegian Navy continued the fight from bases in Great Britain until the war ended.

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