by Commander F. R. H. Swann, O.B.E., R.N.V.R.

Deputy Chairman of the Institution.

This is the second part of Commander Szoann's article. In this issue he deals with his subsequent visit to Sweden.

ALL three life-boats arrived together at Gothenburg about 5 o'clock and berthed at a quay near the centre of the town. In the evening we were entertained to dinner at their home by Captain and Mrs. Hans Hansson. Admiral Jedeur- Palmgren was present and also Captain Alvarman, the Swedish Life-boat Society's Inspector. We particularly enjoyed the many varieties of raw herring and the aquavite from Lapland. A very pleasant occasion indeed.

Next morning, Tuesday, 2Oth September, all three life-boats gave a demonstration in Gothenburg harbour for the benefit of the press and T.V. who were mostly embarked in the Swedish boat. We had a lady reporter in Grace Paterson Ritchie who asked if she could make a short trip in our inshore rescue boat which she thoroughly enjoyed. After an hour or so all three boats berthed close to the Volvo Penta works on the north bank.

SAW PLANS OF NEW LIFE-BOAT Our party was shown round the assembly shops and also saw plans of the new 65-foot life-boat which the Swedish Society is building - a single screw vessel with four Penta engines driving one shaft. The accommodation plan was of particular interest. We then embarked in the Swedish Hugo Hammer and steamed down the harbour to Langedrag near the entrance where we were all, including the crews of the British and German life-boats, entertained to lunch.

After lunch the German Chief Inspector, Captain Schumacher, our Chief Inspector, Lt.-Cmdr. W. L. G. Button, R.D., R.N.R., and Mr. R. M. Skillman, B.Sc., A.M.R.I.N.A., our Naval Architect, motored to Grotvik about 80 miles to the south. This is a small pier harbour on the eastern shore of the Kattegat.

Here we saw two boats. Fritz Scheel, a fast boat, a 45-footer built of aluminium and six years old. She is powered by two Chrysler engines each developing 550 h.p. and will do 26 knots but has to reduce speed very considerably in anything more than a fresh breeze.

We also saw a more conventional steel boat, the Gunnar Carlsson, 40-foot long, and capable of 8 knots. She was built in 1947. It was nearly dark when we arrived but both boats put to sea for a short demonstration. We watched from the shore and later had a short run in Fritz Scheel. There was a moderate breeze and slight sea. Later we motored to Halmstad where we spent the night.

Making an early start on Wednesday, 2ist September, we made a diversion to Torekov, another small fishing harbour on the Kattegat. Here we saw the Bernhard Ingelsson. Built of steel in 1944 she is about 38-foot long, with one propeller in a tunnel, and is powered by a Penta diesel of 150 h.p., giving her a speed of 81 knots. The life-boat is housed and launches on a simple form of trolley on a railway track. Like most of the Swedish life-boats she has a peimanent crew of two men supplemented by three or four volunteeis as required.

She was launched for our benefit and we had a short trip in her. We were impressed by the simplicity of the boat.

WATCHED BOATS ARRIVE Torekov is an interesting place. The stern of an old schooner is mounted on the sea wall and contains a fascinating museum of sailing ship relics. Proceeding to Malmo down the very excellent Swedish roads we watched the British and German life-boats arrive and secure to the quay. Here we were joined by Captain Hans Hansson who had spent the previous day in Stockholm. In the afternoon Adolph Bermpohl and Grace Paterson Ritchie with the press and T.V. embarked for a demonstration accompanied by the Swedish life-boat Gustaf V from Barseback.

This was the fast 32-foot boat which steamed across the North Sea to Leith for the International Conference at Edinburgh in 1963. She does just over 20 knots and is driven by two Volvo Penta diesels. The weather was ideal for the demonstration and as usual the launching of the German daughter boat and our I.R.B. aroused great interest.

Later the six of us embarked in Captain Alvarman's Ford Taunus and set off on route 15 to the eastward. We had some difficulty in finding accommodation but eventually Captain Hansson found us beds at the Stadshotel at Solvesborg.

THE 'GUSTAF DALEN' Next morning, Thursday, we motored the eight miles to Hano, a small fishing harbour on the Hano Bight, notorious for the worst weather in Sweden. Here we boarded the 6o-foot rescue cruiser Gustaf Dalen, a most impressive vessel.

Built of steel in 1964, she is single screw and has two Penta diesels each developing 160 h.p., which gives her a speed of n knots. She has a permanent crew of two and has many unusual features such as a spray curtain to give protection when coming alongside a burning casualty, remote control for lowering or weighing anchor, a hydraulic derrick for the dinghy, a geared up wheel for quick manoeuvring, heated guard rails for winter time and so on.

In addition, she has good accommodation, radar and all the usual R/T. The hull is well compartmented. On the average she does between 60 and 80 services in the year, mostly to disabled fishing craft. We went for a short trip in the boat, but as it was a very fine day were unable to test her sea-keeping qualities. On our return we went to the coxswain's house and met his wife and Siamese cat.

Then we drove another 50 miles to Karlskrona, the Swedish naval base on the south-east corner of the country. The fast life-boat Hjalparen was berthed alongside the quay having come round from her station a few miles to the west.

Built of steel in 1952, she is nearly 6o-foot long and is powered by a Mercedes- Benz diesel developing 1,000 h.p., which gives her a speed of 17 knots. Like most of the Swedish boats she has radar and all the usual electronic equipment.

She has a full time crew of two. We went for a short trip in her.

The 125 mile drive back to Malmo was done at a high average speed because of the splendid road.

We arrived at the Malmo quay at 5.30 p.m., half an hour before our deadline, and after saying goodbye to our Swedish friends boarded Adolph Bermpohl for a fast passage across the Sound to Copenhagen. Grace Paterson Ritchie had sailed earlier and we berthed astern of her at Langelinie, being welcomed by Captain Petersen of the Danish Life-boat Institution who had invited us to visit Denmark.

ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION Next morning the German and British life-boats gave another demonstration to the press and T.V. Later the Chief Inspector and I caught a plane for London, leaving Mr. Skillman to stay on board Adolph Bermpohl for her return passage to Heligoland.

It was a memorable eight days. The Norwegian celebrations were very well organized and most impressive, while the visit to Sweden to look at life-boats was very worthwhile. We were very impressed by several of the boats we saw.

But perhaps the most abiding memory will be of the friendship and hospitality we received. It was very pleasant meeting old friends and making new ones..