HSwMS Oscar II - Guide 354

The Oscar II, a coastal defence ship of the Swedish Navy, is today's subject.

Read more about the ship here:
Kryssare : med svenska flottans kryssare under 75 år - Borgenstam, Insulander & Åhlund
Örlogsfartyg: Svenska maskindrivna fartyg under tretungad flagg - Karlskrona von Hofsten & Waernberg

[ManiusCuriusDenatus]

My brother in law, a Swede, served in the Swedish Navy during the Cold War. All of these videos on the Swedish navy are giving me an appreciation of his country's naval history.

[joshuanishanthchristian]

Mildly surprising she wasn't preserved, considering her status at the end of her life

[tangonf]

I have noted the Swedes are as good as we (UK) at failing to see the value of preservation and scrapping everything so later generations cant enjoy them. This ship deserved to be saved as a museum given her longevity.

[AdurianJ]

Oscar II was the Flagship of the Stockholm Squadron the local defence squadron for Stockholm during WW2.
The other squadrons in southern and western Sweden had Äran class coastal defence ships as flagships.
These squadrons usually comprised older destroyers and submarines but also auxiliary cruisers.

[frankbodenschatz]

My Swedish uncle Gus would have loved the attention you are giving the Swedish navy. Thanks!

[chrpnll]

"After a lot of talk, the middle path was chosen".
Swedish history for the last 200 years xD

[oscarrigvall]

We have a model of her at the naval museum i work at. Probably my favourite ship, followed closely by the armoured cruiser fylgia

[wilsonlaidlaw]

Is it somewhat odd that during the just pre-WW2 update, she was not given the most famous of Swedish guns, the 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft canons?

[Harneskus]

I'm glad you're taking a look at more Swedish ships, very cool!

[PortShaftBrake]

Definitely the best of the new intro-musics. It got such a good thematic resonance.

[mixxter]

As always awsome clip. As a swede its so nice to se our old ships again.

[justin]

Miss the old opening but understand why we dont have it. But still miss it.

[mkaustralia]

Strange the Swedes did not use the 40mm Bofors in the upgrade given how they were the AA of choice by the US and UK for many of their upgrades during WWII.

[xiledxsokarx]

Awesome vid as always enjoy the content. Love seeing a ship named after my great great great grandfather King Oscar II who had a bad habit with sleeping with staff of the royal household.

[larsrons]

Interesting guide. I remember this ship from my Hearts of Iron II games when playing Sweden, but didn't know much about it.

[matthewpalmer]

Oh damn, it's a 5 Minute Guide that ACTUALLY came in at 5min (subtracting the intro). Nice!

[JGCR]

Being a damage control training hulk almost guarantees long survival. For example the German Navy still uses the old Frigate Köln from the 1960s as a damage control training hulk, which herself replacing a british WW2 Black Swan class sloop (Scharnhorst ex HMS Mermaid) which had been used for the purpose until then.

[TomSedgman]

Drach, have you considered using the Captain Pugwash theme?

[vespelian]

Handsome ship. Shame she could not have been preserved.

[jonbjo]

Who knew the Swedes had such a modern navy?! As someone who identifies more with my Norwegian heritage, I almost feel bad we held up the construction of this ship for a few years. I'm also so fascinated to find out there is more beyond the US. UK, French, German, and Japanese navies in the early 20th century. Thank you Drach for another great synopsis. Also, the new intro music is growing on me.