Fabian Tamm

Admiral Claës Fabian Tamm (13 November 1879 – 4 October 1955) was a Swedish Navy officer. Tamm began his naval career as an acting sub-lieutenant in 1899 and was promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1901. After attending the Royal Swedish Naval Staff College, he became a lieutenant in 1907 and taught at the Royal Swedish Naval Academy. From 1914 to 1917, he served as naval attaché in Berlin and Copenhagen. Tamm steadily advanced through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant commander in 1918 and head of the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in 1921. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1933 and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Coastal Fleet that same year. In 1939, he became Chief of the Navy, a position he held until 1945, after which he was promoted to admiral in the reserve in 1947. Outside his military career, he chaired several companies, including Ströms Bruks AB and Rederi AB Svea.

Early life Tamm was born on 13 November 1879 in Österbybruk, Uppsala County, Sweden, the son of the Governor of Stockholm and cabinet minister, Baron Claës Gustaf Adolf Tamm and his wife Ebba (née Tersmeden). He became a second-class non-commissioned flag officer (flaggunderofficer av andra graden) in the Swedish Navy on 4 April 1898, and took the naval officer examination on 1 November 1899. On 1 May 1914, he was appointed naval attaché in Berlin and Copenhagen, a position he held until 20 January 1917. That same year, he became a member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences and served as its secretary from 1918 to 1921. He was appointed admiral in the reserve in 1947, two years after he left active service.

In addition to his military activities, Tamm was chairman of the board of Ströms Bruks AB, Ljusne-Woxna AB and Rederi AB Svea (1945–52). Tamm was also chairman of the board of the Association of Army, Navy and Air Film (Föreningen Armé- Marin- och Flygfilm) from 1932 to 1939 and board member of AB Finnboda Varv.

Dates of rank

3 November 1899 – Acting sub-lieutenant 25 October 1901 – Sub-lieutenant 1 November 1907 – Lieutenant 31 December 1918 – Lieutenant commander 16 February 1923 – Commander 11 February 1927 – Captain 27 January 1933 – Rear admiral 1 April 1939 – Vice admiral 1947 – Admiral

Awards and decorations

Swedish

Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1925)