Royal Norwegian Navy

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Royal Norwegian Navy
Sjøforsvaret
Henrik Bjelke
Niels Larsen Bruun
Thore Horve
Leif Larsen
Insignia
Pennant and Naval Jack

Naval Ensign
Military of Norway
Components
Army
Navy
(Coast Guard)
Air Force
Home Guard
Cyber Defence Force
Ranks
Norwegian military ranks
Bugle calls
Bugle calls of the Norwegian Army
Armed Forces equipment
Army equipment
Naval ships (active)
Norwegian military aircraft

The Royal Norwegian Navy (

minesweepers, 4 minehunters
, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support vessels and 2 training vessels.

This navy has a history dating back to 955. From 1509 to 1814, it formed part of the navy of Denmark-Norway, also referred to as the "Common Fleet". Since 1814, the Royal Norwegian Navy has again existed as a separate navy.

In Norwegian, all its naval vessels since 1946 bear the ship prefix KNM, which stands for "Kongelige Norske Marine" (which translates to "Royal Norwegian Navy"); in English, these vessels are identified by the prefix HNoMS, meaning "His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship".[a] Coast Guard vessels bear the prefix KV, for "Kystvakt" (which translates to "Coast Guard"); in English, these vessels are identified by the prefix NoCGV, for "Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel".[4]

History

The history of Norwegian state-operated naval forces is long, and goes back to the

Håkon the Good at the Gulating
in 955, although variants of the Leidang had at that time already existed for hundreds of years. During the last part of the Middle Ages the system of levying of ships, equipment, and manpower for the leidang was mainly used to levying tax and existed as such into the 17th Century.

During most of the union between Norway and

Tordenskjold carried out 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. Because of this the Royal Norwegian Navy shares its history from 1509 to 1814 with the Royal Danish Navy
.

The modern, separate Royal Norwegian Navy was founded (restructured) on April 12, 1814, by Prince

schooners, 46 gun chalups and 51 gun barges.[5]
April 1, 1815, the Royal Norwegian Navy's leadership was reorganized into a navy ministry, and Fasting became the first navy minister.

Norway retained its independent armed forces, including the navy, during the

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

In 1900, just five years prior to the separation from Sweden, the navy, which was maintained for coastal defense, consisted of: two British-built coastal defence ships (HNoMS Harald Haarfagre and HNoMS Tordenskjold – each armored and displacing about 3,500 tons), four ironclad monitors, three unarmored gun vessels, twelve gunboats, sixteen small (sixty ton) gunboats, and a flotilla of twenty-seven torpedo boats.[6]: 1066  These were operated by 116 active duty officers (with an additional sixty reserve) and 700 petty officers and seamen.[6]: 1067 

Hårfagre og Tordenskjold

Norway was neutral during

commerce raiders.[7]

World War II

See also: Norwegian armed forces in exile § Navy

King Haakon VII
of Norway and the Royal family, as well as the government, to escape capture.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the flag plaza outside the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

On June 7, 1940, thirteen vessels, five aircraft and 500 men from the Royal Norwegian Navy followed the King to the United Kingdom and continued the fight from bases there until the war ended. The number of men was steadily increased as Norwegians living abroad, civilian sailors and men escaping from Norway joined the Royal Norwegian Navy. Funds from Nortraship

were used to buy new ships, aircraft and equipment.

Ten ships and 1,000 men from the Royal Norwegian Navy participated in the

Normandy Invasion
in 1944.

During the war the navy operated 118 ships, at the end of the war it had 58 ships and 7,500 men in service. They lost 27 ships, 18 fishing boats (of the Shetland bus) and 933 men in World War II.[8]

The navy had its own air force from 1912 to 1944.

1960s to present

The building of a new fleet in the 1960s was made possible with substantial economic support from the

cold war, the navy was optimized for sea denial
in coastal waters to make an invasion from the sea as difficult and costly as possible. With that mission in mind, the Royal Norwegian Navy consisted of a large number of small vessels and up to 15 small diesel-electric submarines. The navy is now replacing those vessels with a smaller number of larger and more capable vessels.

The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Norway's naval history.

Ensign and Jack

  • Naval Ensign 1814–1815
    Naval Ensign 1814–1815
  • Naval Ensign 1815–1844 (during Union with Sweden, also used by the Swedish Navy)
    Naval Ensign 1815–1844
    (during Union with Sweden, also used by the Swedish Navy)
  • Naval Ensign 1844–1905 (during Union with Sweden)
    Naval Ensign 1844–1905
    (during Union with Sweden)
  • Naval Ensign since 1905
    Naval Ensign since 1905
  • Naval Jack 1844–1905 (during Union with Sweden, also used by the Swedish Navy)
    Naval Jack 1844–1905
    (during Union with Sweden, also used by the Swedish Navy)
  • Naval Jack since 1905
    Naval Jack since 1905

Bases

Main article: List of Royal Norwegian Navy bases
Haakonsvern
Ramsund
Trondenes Fort
Sortland Naval Base
KNM Harald Haarfagre
Karljohansvern
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Royal Norwegian Navy bases