Naval preparations of Denmark and Sweden according to the Dutch newspaper Java-bode dated 12 July 1854

An item reported that the threat for a naval war in the Baltic became more and more a reality. Despite their neutrality it would became possible that Sweden or Denmark or even both were actually were forced to choose a side and become involved. In the newspaper was a indication given of the strengths of the navies of these two countries.

The ships of the Swedish navy were for a larger part already armed and manned and the remaining were to be ready around 14 June as strictly ordered by the government. The navy possessed six ships of the line, six frigates, 4 sailing and steam corvettes, 10 smaller armed vessels and a large number of gunboats. The Norwegian squadron which was to join the Swedish fleet commanded by admiral Krusentjerna at Karlskrona consisted of two ships of the line, four frigates, two sail and three steam corvettes, one brig and twelve gunboats. The newspaper De Noord-Brabanter dated 9 February referred to a tiding dated Stockholm 24 January that the cabinet immediate after the approval of necessary funds by the Rijksdag (Parliament} ordered the naval shipyards to prepare the outfitting of ships. The intention was before the start of the summer to be able to sent five ships of the line to sea.

The Danish navy possessed two ships of the line, three frigates, three sail and one screw steam corvette, three steam brigs and 16 gunboats all fully armed and manned ready for immediate service.