1847

When Finland was lost in the war of 1809 new principles of defence emerged under Baltzar von Platen who lead the way towards the formation of the central defence. The idea revolved around a defence in depth where fortifications would be erected far inland near rivers which could act as communication highways from the coastland to inform and warn of the incoming attacker. In 1819 it was further developed upon and several operational positions were placed across Sweden where the army would gather and organize their counter offensive. One key position was Karlsborg fortress which began construction very soon after the loss of Finland in order to act as a temporary capital in case Stockholm was to fall into enemy hands. Several more fortifications were planned, although their construction were either halted or abandoned. Most projects were centred around Stockholm, replacing the old in the archipelago.

The idea of the central defence was withdrawal inland, allowing the enemy forces to advance into the vast forests of Sweden where they only would engage in minor battles until a concentrated force could mobilize for a counterattack. Enemy logistical services could therefore be ambushed or harassed the further inland they came.

Of course, such a defence would cause much suffering from the local population and demoralize some troops who lived in the area to surrender it so quickly. However, it allowed for sparsely populated areas to quickly be abandoned. It was a version of the scorched earth, except everything was left intact as the army hurried back to a fortress or to join another army for a counterattack.

Now when Finland again was in Sweden’s possession, they had to yet again reconsider their principles of defence. Never had the kingdom been this large and to protect its long coastland and inland it had to review and prepare a plan how to adequately defend its territories. King Oscar called upon the marshal of the realm Arvid Mauritz Posse and his many generals, some veterans from the war of 1839-42, to form krigsberedningskommittén (the war preparation committee).

First and foremost, they would discuss where to station the Swedish High Seas Fleet where it could quickly mobilize and repulse hostile movements within the Baltic and Norwegian coastland. Some help could be leveraged from Denmark in the Baltic if Russia was to attack. The most recent expansion of the fleet was Finska eskadern meant to replace the archipelago fleet and defend the shallow waters surrounding Finland, similarly, was the creation of Livländska Flottiljen that would act as a lock to the Gulf of Riga docked at Kuressaare castle.

Second objective was to oversee notable fortifications and their key regions,

• Sweden
  • Karlsborg; 260 guns, 6-8.000 men garrison.
  • Vaxholm; 50 guns, 1.200 men garrison.
• Finland
  • Sveaborg; 520 guns, 7.000 men garrison.
  • Svartholm; 50 guns, 8 mortars and 700 men garrison.
• Norway
  • Akershus castle (no military value); 1.200 men garrison.
• Dagö - Estonia
  • Kuressaare castle; 50 guns, 800 men garrison.

For the forts in Finland they were placed in key positions along water- and roadways that would need to be captured for any Russian incursion to be successful, there were therefore in need of stockpiling and training of troops to be able to withstand an attack for at least 6 months. The same situation could be found at Kuressaare, a relatively modern fortress awaiting completion in 1853 (originally anticipated for 1848). Vaxholm fortress would be a key before anyone would be able to enter Stockholm from the sea, one among many minor forts scattered throughout the archipelago. Karlsborg was still under construction albeit being in service since 1832 was the bastion of the central defence where the regent and parliament would go to using Göta kanal to establish a temporary capital in case Stockholm was lost.

Third was to prepare plans for military movements in case of an invasion from the new Russian Republic or perhaps a possible invasion in the southwest of the kingdom. For Finland this meant the absolute reliance that first Svartholm and later Sveaborg would withstand a siege until Sweden could mobilize its army and enforce a massive pincer manoeuvre to repulse Russia. For Norway it meant that their small army of only 6.000 men and 4.000 reserves would take hold of the fjords and Akerhus castle to harass the enemy until the Swedish army could mobilize and be sent in to aid Oslo or Trondheim, however, the positioning of the High Seas Fleet should be placed to provide enough security and threat that hostile fleets would be forced to engage in battle before landing any troops. Much relied on the efficiency of the Swedish forces to be well trained and quick to mobilize, this of course was a clear flaw as part of Sweden’s forces were situated around the Bothnian bay and the Finnish troops were tied down in case Russia was to attack. Only troops from Norway were available for grand campaigns outside of Scandinavia, although, they too would do best to dig down and rely on their Ski Corps. Discussion were to be held how to best utilize fortifications and consolidate their northern kingdom in a way that lessened the reliance on a blitz march from Swedish troops.

Perhaps it was all in good time to start planning as the military reforms moved towards its definite end. The first part of the Swedish naval reform^{Defunctplan.png} was heading towards its completion in 1850, and it was in this phase that they would have their first propeller battleship as well as a handful of steam gunboats. Finska eskadern consisting of 64 small warships would also be completed in 1850. The modernization of the fleet would become a key aspect to fulfil the need for speed the Swedish kingdom was in dire need of in order to protect its coastlines. Discussions would be held about building a “army fleet” of paddlewheel transport ships which could compliment the northern army when mobilizing.

The army rearmament program that began in 1843 replacing the old flintlock rifles with percussion cap rifles and other more modern weapons was anticipated to be completed between 1854-56. This meant that the general state and training of the kingdoms army was anticipated to be in a good state by 1850, although, it would surely not be fully modernized or prepared for modern warfare until 1856 as nearly 20.000 rifles was still in need of replacement.