Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1404

1048 categories, is in time of war liable to do service in the reserve of the Landstorm, from the eighteenth to the fiftieth year of age.

On January 1, 1894, the troops of the line numbered about 30,000 men, with 900 officers. The number of troops of the line actually under arms can never exceed, even in war, 18,000 men without the consent of the Storthing. The King has permission to transfer, for the purpose of common military exercises, a number of men not exceeding 3.000, from Norway to Sweden and from Sweden to Norway, but only for (at most) six weeks annually.

The infantry consists of 5 brigades of 4 battalions of Line, Landvaern, and Landstorm, of 4 companies. For each brigade there is a school of sub-officers. His Majesty's guard consists of 2 companies of riflemen.

Cavalry.—3 corps of Line, Landvaern and Landstorm, each consisting of 3 (1 corps 2) squadrons of mounted riflemen.

In addition, 1 orderly-squadron of Line, Landvaern and Landstorm. Besides there is a school of sub-officers, "The school-squadron."

Artillery.—3 battalions of Line, Landvaern, and Landstorm, of 3 batteries of 6 pieces, and 1 company of equipage field artillery per battalion; 1 battalion of Line, Landvaern, and Landstorm, of 2 companies of fortress artillery and two batteries of 6 pieces mountain artillery. There are 2 schools of sub-officers, one for the field artillery and one for the fortress artillery.

Engineers.—1 battalion of Line, Landvaern, and Landstorm, of 2 companies of sappers, 1 company of pontooneers, 1 company of telegraphists, and 1 company of equipage. Besides there is a school of sub-officers.

Like the Swedish navy, that of Norway is maintained solely for coast defence. It consists of 2 modern armourclads built at Elswick; 4 ironclad monitors; 1 wooden corvette launched in 1862; 4 unarmoured gun-vessels of 640, 1,000 and 1,113, and 1,371 tons, built 1877-96; 1 of 1,371 tons (Frithjof); 4 older gunboats between 190 and 280 tons, 8 between 230 and 390 tons, and 16 smaller (60 tons), besides a small torpedo flotilla (26 torpedo boats and 1 torpedo division boat).

These ships call for little description. The monitors, Skorpionen, Thrudvang, and Mjölner (1,447 and 1,515 tons) were built in 1866-68. They have 5-inch armour-belts, and l2-inch plating on their turrets, which carry severally two 4.7-in. Q.F., and four 2.4-in. Q.F. The Thor, launched in 1872, is a little larger (2,003 tons), has $14 1/2$-inch turret-plating, and carries two 4.7-in. Q.F., and four 2.4-in. Q.F. guns. Of unarmoured ships the deck-protected gun-vessel Viking (1,113 tons) is steel-built, with a cellulose belt, is 203 ft. 6 in. in length, and has 30 ft. beam, engines of 2,000 I.H.P., and steamed 15 knots at her trials. Her armament consists of two 5.9-in. guns, and four 2.4-in. and four smaller quick-firers. A new vessel of the Viking type is the Frithjof (1,371 tons), armed with two 4.7-in. Q.F., 4.3-in. Q.F., and four smaller quick-firers, and having a speed of 15 knots. The torpedo division boat Valkyrien (385 tons), armed with two 3-in. Q.F., and four smaller quick-firers, steamed 23 knots at her trials.

The turret ships Harold Haarfagre and Tordenskjold have lately been built on the Tyne. They displace 3,500 tons, and are protected by a belt of armour on the side, and by an armoured deck curved down to the lower edge of the belt. The thickness of the belt is 7 in. and of the armour in the barbettes, 7.9-in. (Harveyed steel). The armament consists of two 8.2-in. Q.F., in barbettes, six 4.7-in. Q.F., six 3-in. Q.F., and six smaller quick-firers. The speed is $16 1/2$ knots. They are remarkably powerful vessels for their size, and two others of the class have been ordered at Elswick.

The despatch-vessel, Heimdal (630 tons), armed with four 2.4-in.