Royal Navy Patrol Boats Make History In Sweden

Three of the Royals Navy’s smallest vessels have been transitting Sweden’s Gota Canal crewed by students from the Universities of Liverpool, Manchester, Salford and Southampton.

The ships each have five regular crew and around ten students onboard.

They’re small and cosy to say the least but their simplicity makes them the perfect training vessels for sailors to be.

It's the first time the Navy's smallest ships have embarked on such a voyage.

The Gota Canal is a 190km waterway linking several lakes across Sweden from the Baltic Sea in the east to Gothenberg in the west. 

It was built in the 19th century and was based on Scotland's Caledonian Canal, but the Swedish waterway is narrower and much shallower that it's Scottish predecessor.

But according to Lt Conrad Rolfe, the Commanding Officer of HMS Charger that won't affect the trip:

“Thankfully the canal is rather conveniently designed at P2000 size”

The crews of 'Charger', 'Biter' and 'Blazer' will spend five days navigating the locks.

 “Because they’re so small we can get into a lot of ports that other ships can’t so we’re almost flying the flag for the Royal Navy”

- Officer Cadet Rosanna Morgan

Joining the students on board is officer cadet David Persson who joined the Swedish Navy 5 years ago voluntarily.

However, from this month on, due to falling numbers and increased Russian Military activity, Sweden has reintroduced conscription and those who fail to attend the compulsory tests are fined.

When the three ships reach Gothenburg they’ll turn and head south to Copenhagen, across to Holland, round the south coast of the UK and then back up to Liverpool ready for the students to begin their next year at university in a couple of months time.