APPENDIX C

145

To make themselves acquainted with recent improve-ments in galley construction, officers were sent to theMediterranean ports most famous for the building of vesselsof the kind. The scheme proposed was modified at a laterdate, the numbers of certain classes of craft being altered,and some new classes being introduced. The modifiedplan, however, had not been fulfilled when another warwith Russia broke out in 1741.

The experience of this war confirmed the advocates ofa Skdrgard, or separate coast-service flotilla, in their beliesthat it was necessary to the defence of the kingdom. Ithad not, however, been recommended that the flotilla inquestion should be anything but a part of the force admi-nistered by the Admiralty. It was not questioned that thepeculiar features of the Skdrgard —to the vicinity of whichoperations in war were likely to be confined—necessitatedthe employment of small vessels of special type: but itseems to have been no more supposed that these shouldcease to be under the naval authorities than it is nowsupposed that torpedo-boats or ‘ destroyers' should ceaseto be under them.

In 1747 the Diet resolved that Colonel AugustinEhrensvard of the Artillery should be directed to draw upa scheme for the improvement of the naval defences.Ehrensvard belonged to the political party of the Hats,which was then in power in the Diet. In the proposalswhich he submitted, his leading idea was the necessity ofsupporting an army operating near the coast by a navalforce. The inshore waters were inaccessible to both thearmy and the fleet, and it was of great importance thatmeans should be available for transporting and landingtroops in the enemy’s rear. He therefore recommendedthe establishment of an armed flotilla, largely composed ofgalleys of light draught and large enough to ship a strongbody of men. The new flotilla was to be in close connec-tion with the army. It should, therefore, be separate fromthe navy, be incorporated with the army, and be called the‘ Army’s fleet ’ (armens flotta ). The proposed force was tobe put under the command of a general officer. Anessential part of the scheme was the construction of afortified port in Finland. Ehrensvard’s recommendationswere adopted. He was promoted to major-general, and

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