Swedish Army
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies
in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces
; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
. The regiment forms training organisations that train the various battalions of the army and home guard.
The army is currently undergoing a transformation from conscription
based recruitment to a professional defence. This is part of a larger goal to abandon the mass army from the Cold War
and develop an army better suited to modern maneuver warfare
and at the same time retain a higher readiness.
By 2014, the Swedish army will have around 50 000 soldiers in either full time or part time duty, with eight mechanized infantry
battalions instantly available at any time and the full force of 71 battalions ready to be deployed within one week.
The regular army will consist of 8 mechanized maneuver battalions, 19 support battalions of different kinds including artillery
battalions, anti-aircraft battalions, combat engineer battalions, rangers, logistics battalions, etc. and 4 reserve heavy armoured battalions and 40 territorial defence battalions. The battalion
is the core unit but all units will be completely modular and can be arranged in combat teams from company
to brigade
level with different units depending on the task. There will be a total of 6 permanent staffs under the central command capable of handling large battlegroups, 4 regional staffs and 2 brigade staffs.
was created at the then newly instituted Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters .
In 1998, the Swedish Armed Forces was again reorganized. Most of the duties of the Army Chief of Staff were transferred to the newly instituted post of "Inspector General
of the Army" . The post is similar to that of the "Inspector General of the Swedish Navy
" and the "Inspector General of the Swedish Air Force
" .
:
troops:
:
troops:
In addition, the force will include a number of personnel from the Territorial Defence Force.
Standing army
A standing army is a professional permanent army. It is composed of full-time career soldiers and is not disbanded during times of peace. It differs from army reserves, who are activated only during wars or natural disasters...
in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
Organization
The peace time organization of the Swedish Army is divided into a number of regiments for the different branches. The number of active regiments has been reduced since the end of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. The regiment forms training organisations that train the various battalions of the army and home guard.
The army is currently undergoing a transformation from conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
based recruitment to a professional defence. This is part of a larger goal to abandon the mass army from the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and develop an army better suited to modern maneuver warfare
Maneuver warfare
Maneuver warfare, or manoeuvre warfare , is the term used by military theorists for a concept of warfare that advocates attempting to defeat an adversary by incapacitating their decision-making through shock and disruption brought about by movement...
and at the same time retain a higher readiness.
By 2014, the Swedish army will have around 50 000 soldiers in either full time or part time duty, with eight mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers , or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat ....
battalions instantly available at any time and the full force of 71 battalions ready to be deployed within one week.
The regular army will consist of 8 mechanized maneuver battalions, 19 support battalions of different kinds including artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
battalions, anti-aircraft battalions, combat engineer battalions, rangers, logistics battalions, etc. and 4 reserve heavy armoured battalions and 40 territorial defence battalions. The battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
is the core unit but all units will be completely modular and can be arranged in combat teams from company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
to brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
level with different units depending on the task. There will be a total of 6 permanent staffs under the central command capable of handling large battlegroups, 4 regional staffs and 2 brigade staffs.
Leadership
Until 1975 the Swedish monarch was the formal head of the army. In 1937, the staff agency "Chief of the Army" was created to lead the army in peace time. Following a larger reorganization of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1994, CA ceased to exist as an independent agency. Instead, the post Chief of Army StaffChief of Army Staff
The Chief of Army Staff or Chief of Staff of the Army is the most senior officer in the command structure of many armies. The title comes from the fact that the officer is the chief army aide to the Commander-in-Chief, who is usually the head of state...
was created at the then newly instituted Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters .
In 1998, the Swedish Armed Forces was again reorganized. Most of the duties of the Army Chief of Staff were transferred to the newly instituted post of "Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
of the Army" . The post is similar to that of the "Inspector General of the Swedish Navy
Swedish Navy
The Royal Swedish Navy is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet – as well as marine units, the so-called Amphibious Corps .In Swedish, vessels of the Swedish Navy are given the prefix "HMS," short for Hans/Hennes...
" and the "Inspector General of the Swedish Air Force
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.-History:The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded...
" .
Chiefs of the Army
- Per Sylvan, 1937–1940
- Ivar Holmquist, 1940–1944
- Archibald DouglasArchibald Douglas-StjernorpCount Vilhelm Archibald Douglas , was a Swedish nobleman and soldier, who served as Inspector and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Army from 1944 to 1948....
, 1944–1948 - Carl August Ehrenswärd, 1948–1957
- Thord C:son Bonde, 1957–1963
- Curt Göransson, 1963–1969
- Carl Eric AlmgrenCarl Eric AlmgrenCarl Eric Åke Almgren was a general and the Swedish army chief from 1969 to 1976.-Education:He graduated from the high school in Linköping before beginning his career as an army officer. Almgren was appointed in April 1934 to officership at Jönköping, Kalmar regiment. In 1936 he became a...
, 1969–1976 - Nils Sköld, 1976–1984
- Erik G. Bengtsson, 1984–1990
- Åke Sagrén, 1990–1994
Inspectors General
- Paul Degerlund, 1998–2000
- Alf Sandqvist, 2000–2005
- Sverker GöransonSverker GöransonSverker John Olof Göranson, born 3 May 1954 in Lund, is a General of the Swedish Army with an armoured forces background and is the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces since 25 March 2009, when he succeeded Håkan Syrén. Göranson was Inspector General of the Swedish Army from 2005 to...
, 2005–2007 - Berndt Grundevik, 2007–present
Infantry
One regiment of infantryInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
- Livgardet (LG) stationed in StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Cavalry
One regiment and two battalions of cavalryCavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
:
- Livregementets husarer (K 3) stationed in KarlsborgKarlsborgKarlsborg is a locality and the seat of Karlsborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 3,574 inhabitants in 2005. This garrison town lies at the shore of lake Vättern in Västergötland.-History:...
(Air Assault Ranger battalion, long range reconnaissance Ranger battalion and ISTAR) - Arméns Jägarbataljon (AJB, former K 4Norrlands dragonregementeNorrlands dragonregemente , also K 4 or K 8, was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment located in the province of Lappland that traces its origins back to the 17th century. It is still in active service.- History :...
) (part of I 19) in ArvidsjaurArvidsjaurArvidsjaur is a locality and the seat of Arvidsjaur Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 4,644 inhabitants in 2005.Arvidsjaur is a large centre for the European car industry. During the winter months major car-manufacturers perform arctic trials in the Arvidsjaur Municipality area...
(Ranger Battalion/ISTAR) - Livgardet (LG) (one battalion) stationed in StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
(King's mounted Lifeguards and Military police)
- Note that the Swedish army's cavalry primarily trains light infantry, ranger units and military police.
CBRN-defence
One company of Chemical, Biological, Radiation, Nuclear defence-trained personnel- Totalförsvarets Skyddscentrum (SkyddC) UmeåUmeå- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
http://www.skyddc.mil.se/
Armoured Corps
Three regiments of armoured/mechanizedArmoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
troops:
- Skaraborgs regementeSkaraborgs regemente (armoured)Skaraborgs regemente , designation P 4, is a Swedish Army armoured regiment that traces its origins back to the 16th century. It was converted from an infantry regiment in 1942...
(P 4) SkövdeSkövdeSkövde is a locality and the seat of Skövde Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 34 446 inhabitants .Skövde is situated some 150 km northeast of Gothenburg, between Sweden's two largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern. It sits on the eastern slope of a low mountain ridge Billingen ,... - Södra skånska regementetSödra skånska regementetSödra skånska regementet , designation P 7, is a Swedish Army armoured regiment that traces its origins back 1811. It was converted from an infantry regiment in 1963 and renamed from Södra skånska infanteriregementet...
(P 7) Revingehed - Norrbottens regementeNorrbottens regementeNorrbottens regemente , designation I 19, is a Swedish Army arctic armoured, light infantry and ranger regiment that traces its origins back to the 19th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Norrbotten, and it is currently garrisoned in Boden, Norrbotten...
(I 19) (While designated as infantry, the regiment is responsible for the training of most army branches in the Northern Sweden ) BodenBoden, SwedenBoden is a locality and the seat of Boden Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 18,680 inhabitants in 2005.- History :The town of Boden started as a railway junction where the Northern Line met with the Ore Line from the rich iron ore fields in northern Sweden.The town experienced...
Artillery
One regiment of artilleryArtillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
:
- ArtilleriregementetArtilleriregementetArtilleriregementet is a Swedish regimental name that has been used by the following units:*Artilleriregementet , artillery regiment *Artilleriregementet , artillery regiment...
(A 9) BodenBoden, SwedenBoden is a locality and the seat of Boden Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 18,680 inhabitants in 2005.- History :The town of Boden started as a railway junction where the Northern Line met with the Ore Line from the rich iron ore fields in northern Sweden.The town experienced...
Anti-Aircraft Artillery
One regiment of anti-aircraft troops:- LuftvärnsregementetLuftvärnsregementetLuftvärnsregementet , formerly Göta luftvärnskår , is the only air defence regiment in the Swedish Armed Forces. Its new organisation was introduced in 2000, when all other air defence units in Sweden were disbanded...
(Lv 6) HalmstadHalmstadHalmstad is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of Nissan in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County...
Engineers
One regiment of engineeringEngineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
troops:
- Göta ingenjörregementeGöta ingenjörregementeGöta ingenjörregemente , designation Ing 2, is a Swedish Army engineer regiment that traces its origins back to the 19th century. It is still in active service, and is currently garrisoned in Eksjö....
(Ing 2) EksjöEksjöEksjö is a locality and the seat of Eksjö Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 9,676 inhabitants in 2005.-History:The city of Eksjö most likely appeared sometime in the medieval ages when it was the centre for the thing, a regional council. Its first mentioned is from the 14th century...
Logistic Corps
One regiment of logistical troops:- TrängregementetTrängregementetTrängregementet , formerly Göta trängregemente , is the only logistic regiment in the Swedish Armed Forces. Its new organisation was laid down in 2000, when the regiment became the only logistic regiment in Sweden. The regiment is located to Skövde....
(TrängR) SkövdeSkövdeSkövde is a locality and the seat of Skövde Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 34 446 inhabitants .Skövde is situated some 150 km northeast of Gothenburg, between Sweden's two largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern. It sits on the eastern slope of a low mountain ridge Billingen ,...
Insatsorganisation (Rapid Reaction Force)
The Swedish army will form a Rapid Reaction Organisation (Insatsorganisation in Swedish) in 2014 with the following units.| Army Unit | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| War Units | Training Unit | Area | Comments |
| 1. Tekniska Bataljon | Försvarsmaktens tekniska skola (FMTS) | Halmstad | 1 Technical battalion |
| 2. Brigadstaben | Skaraborgs regemente (P 4) | Skövde | 2 Brigade staff |
| 3. Brigadstaben | Norrbottens regemente Norrbottens regemente Norrbottens regemente , designation I 19, is a Swedish Army arctic armoured, light infantry and ranger regiment that traces its origins back to the 19th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Norrbotten, and it is currently garrisoned in Boden, Norrbotten... (I 19) |
Boden | 3 Brigade staff |
| Livbataljonen | Livgardet (LG) | Kungsängen | Life battalion |
| 13. Säkerhetsbataljon | Livgardet (LG) | Kungsängen | 13 Security battalion |
| 21. Ingenjörsbataljonen | Göta ingenjörregemente Göta ingenjörregemente Göta ingenjörregemente , designation Ing 2, is a Swedish Army engineer regiment that traces its origins back to the 19th century. It is still in active service, and is currently garrisoned in Eksjö.... (Ing 2) |
Eksjö | 21 Engineering battalion |
| 22. Ingenjörsbataljonen | Göta ingenjörregemente (Ing 2) | Eksjö | 22 Engineering battalion |
| 31. Luftburna bataljonen | Livgardet (LG) | Kungsängen | 31 Airborne (7. Modular) battalion (light). Trained with K 3 |
| 31. Luftburna bataljonen | Livregementets husarer (K 3) | Karlsborg | 31 Airborne (7. Modular) battalion (light). Trained with LG |
| 32. Underrättelsebataljonen | Livregementets husarer (K 3) | Karlsborg | 32 Reconnaissance (light) (inc. a company of paratroopers) |
| 41. Mekaniserade bataljonen | Skaraborgs regemente (P 4) | Skövde | 41 Mechanised (1. modular) battalion (mechanised) |
| 42. Mekaniserade bataljonen | Skaraborgs regemente (P 4) | Skövde | 42. Mechanised (2. modular) battalion (mechanised) |
| 61. Luftvärnsbataljonen | Luftvärnsregementet Luftvärnsregementet Luftvärnsregementet , formerly Göta luftvärnskår , is the only air defence regiment in the Swedish Armed Forces. Its new organisation was introduced in 2000, when all other air defence units in Sweden were disbanded... (Lv 6) |
Halmstad | 61 Air defence battalion |
| 62. Luftvärnsbataljonen | Luftvärnsregementet (Lv 6) | Halmstad | 62 Air defence battalion |
| 71. Mekaniserade bataljonen | Södra skånska regementet Södra skånska regementet Södra skånska regementet , designation P 7, is a Swedish Army armoured regiment that traces its origins back 1811. It was converted from an infantry regiment in 1963 and renamed from Södra skånska infanteriregementet... (P 7) |
Revingehed | 71 Mechanised (5. modular) battalion (mechanised) |
| 72. Mekaniserade bataljonen | Södra skånska regementet (P 7) | Revingehed | 72 Mechanised (6. modular) battalion (mechanised) |
| 91. Artilleribataljon | Artilleriregementet (A 9) | Boden | 91 Artillery battalion |
| 92. Artilleribataljon | Artilleriregementet (A 9) | Boden | 92 Artillery battalion |
| 191. Mekaniserade bataljonen | Norrbottens regemente (I 19) | Boden | 191 Mechanised (3. modular) battalion (mechanised) |
| 192. Mekaniserade bataljonen | Norrbottens regemente (I 19) | Boden | 192 Mechanised (4. modular) battalion (mechanised) |
| 193. Jägarbataljonen | Norrbottens regemente (I 19) | Arvidsjaur | Army Rangers (light) |
| 1. CBRN-kompaniet | Totalförsvarets skyddscentrum | Umeå | CBRN CBRN CBRN is an initialism for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. It is used to refer to situations in which any of these four hazards have presented themselves. The term CBRN is a replacement for the cold war term NBC , which had replaced the term ABC that was used in the fifties... |
| 1. Transportkompaniet | Trängregementet Trängregementet Trängregementet , formerly Göta trängregemente , is the only logistic regiment in the Swedish Armed Forces. Its new organisation was laid down in 2000, when the regiment became the only logistic regiment in Sweden. The regiment is located to Skövde.... (TrängR) |
Skövde | 1 Logistics company |
| 1. Stridsvagnskompaniet | Skaraborgs regemente (P 4) | Skövde | 1 Tank company |
| 2. Stridsvagnskompaniet | Skaraborgs regemente (P 4) | Skövde | 2 Tank company |
| 3. Stridsvagnskompaniet | Norrbottens regemente (I 19) | Boden | 3 Tank company |
| 14. Militärpoliskompaniet | Livgardet (LG) | Kungsängen | 14 Military police company |
| 15. Militärpoliskompaniet | Livgardet (LG) | Kungsängen | 15 Military police company |
In addition, the force will include a number of personnel from the Territorial Defence Force.
Territorial Defence Forces
The Territorial Defence Forces (Hemvärnet) consists of 40 battalions with a total of 22,000 men. Many of the soldiers have served abroad in the various missions of the regular army. All soldiers are former conscripts who volunteered for the Territorial Defence.Recruitment
Until 2010 the Swedish army recruitment was based on conscription German style. All personnel were called up as conscripts for a year of national service, after which, the unit he/she trained with was put in the war reserve. Upon completion of conscript service with sufficient service marks, conscripts are eligible to apply for commissioned officer training, NCO/Warrant Officer or from 2007 stay in the Army as a professional private, mainly to be employed in the Nordic Battle Group. The army has employed soldiers for UN service on short time contracts since the 1950s for service abroad. From the first of July 2010 the conscription-based system was abandoned and a professional army is being developed.See also
- Military ranks of the Swedish armed forces
- Royal Swedish Academy of War SciencesRoyal Swedish Academy of War SciencesThe Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences or Kungl. Krigsvetenskapsakademin, founded in 1739 by King Frederick I, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. The Academy is an independent organization and a forum for military and defense issues. Membership is limited to 160 chairs under the age of...
- Swedish Army Museum
- List of Swedish wars
- List of Swedish Field Marshals
- List of Swedish military areas
- List of Swedish military commanders
- List of Swedish monarchs
- List of Swedish regiments
- List of military aircraft of Sweden
- 91:an (comic strip)91:an (comic strip)91:an is a popular Swedish comic strip, first created in 1932 with the title En beväringsmans upplevelser och äventyr. This name soon changed to 91:an Karlsson, by Rudolf Petersson...
- Swedish allotment systemSwedish allotment systemThe allotment system was a system used in Sweden for keeping a trained army at all times. This system came into use in around 1640, and was replaced in the early 1900s by the Swedish Armed Forces conscription system...
- Equipment of the Swedish ArmyEquipment of the Swedish Army- Armour :*Strv 122A/B main battle tank *Strv 121A/B main battle tank *Strf 90 infantry fighting vehicle in versions:**Strf 9040**Strf 9040B**Strf 9040C**Bgbv 90**Stripbv 90...
- Swedish Military UniformSwedish Military Uniformthumb|300px|right|Swedish soldier wearing M90 in Bosnia-Herzegovina.M90 is the standard combat and field uniform worn by the Military of Sweden.- M90 :The M90 uniform consists of:* Field jacket * Field trousers...
External links
- Swedish Army – Official site
- Swedish Army – Official site
- Soldf.com Unofficial Weapons, vehicles and equipment page of the Swedish Armed forces.
- Nordic military vehicles site
- Scandinavian Armour by Roy Haaland
- Svante Wendel's Unofficial Royal Swedish Army Page