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The Swedish Army () is the
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of
Swedish Army regiments are tasked with training conscripts for the operational battalions of the army's rapid reaction organisation. The Gotland Regiment is the only regiment that also trains Home Guard troops. The currently active regiments and their main peacetime subordinate units are:
* Life Guards (LG), in
The army on active service during most of the 20th century only consisted of conscript receiving their basic training (at the most one year for privates), and conscripts called up for refreshers (at the most one month for privates) with intervals of at least 4–6 years. During WWII smaller or larger parts of the wartime establishment were also called up for periodical stand-by duty (up to 6 months). The figures for total strength below refer to the total force which could be mobilised.
Between the introduction of universal conscription in 1902 until the start of World War II, the army was usually maintained at a consistent strength of 100,000 men, with two-thirds of the force being conscripts for two years. From 1942 onwards, the Swedish government embarked upon a massive and ambitious militarisation program in which conscription was strictly enforced and compulsory service was extended. The basic training for privates was set at 12 months, for future conscript sergeants intended to become platoon leaders (mainly sixth form graduates) 18 months, and for future conscript officers 24 months. These periods were gradually reduced, and the ranks were raised, until it was the same period for all conscripts shortly before conscription was suspended in 2009. This combined with propaganda about conscription being a part of social duty and defending the Swedish principle of ''folkhemmet'', led to an army a size of about 700,000 active duty soldiers that could be mobilised in late 1945. Since the late winter of 1945 the size of the army was slowly decreased as entire reserve battalions and brigades were gradually demobilised, and by late 1947 the size of the army was around 170,000 soldiers who could be mobilised and was planned to stabilise at such a quantity of personnel.
However, due to the rise in tensions between the East and West over the political landscape of Europe, the threat from the Soviet Union in 1949 and 1950, coinciding with the start of the Cold War, led to a return to the militaristic policy by the Swedish government. From 1950 until around 1976 the size of the army was at an average of 250,000 soldiers with a peak of 400,000 mobilisable soldiers during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The rules were badly enforced, but dodging the draft was punishable with imprisonment.
During the 1980s the size of the army was around 180,000 soldiers and was slowly increased as time progressed until around 1988. The end of the Cold War led to a massive restructuring of the Swedish Army. Every year after 1988, the Army discharged around 40,000 conscripts and recruited only 20,000, so that by 1995 the size was down to 80,000 soldiers. Around this time the compulsory service obligation was further reduced to 10 months, reserve service became more flexible, and changes made in enforcement so that forceful enforcement became withdrawn as policy. By 2004 the size of the Swedish Army was down to 60,000 soldiers, and in 2013, three years after the end of conscription, the size was at an all-time low of just 16,000 soldiers, though the army plans to reach a level of 50,000 professional soldiers by 2020, mostly through a large media campaigns. A number of previously disbanded regiments will also be re-raised (
Soldf.com
– unofficial weapons, vehicles and equipment page of the Swedish Armed forces
{{Armies in Europe
land force
An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...
of the Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces (, literally ''Defence Force'') are the Military, armed forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. It consists of four separate military branches, the Swedish Army, the Swedish Navy, the Swedish Air Force and the Home Guard (Swed ...
of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years.
History
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna
Dalarna (; ), also referred to by the English exonyms Dalecarlia and the Dales, is a (historical province) in central Sweden.
Dalarna adjoins Härjedalen, Hälsingland, Gästrikland, Västmanland and Värmland. It is also bordered by Nor ...
chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav Vasa in the war against the Union of Kalmar, thus making the present-day Life Guards one of the world's oldest regiments still on active duty.
In 1901, Sweden introduced conscription
Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...
. The conscription system was abolished in 2010 but reinstated in 2017.
Organisation
The peace-time organisation 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 theCold War
The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
in the late 1980s
File:1980s replacement montage02.PNG, 335px, From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, ''Space Shuttle Columbia, Columbia'', lifts off in 1981; US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union, Soviet General Secretary of the Communist Party of ...
. However the Swedish Army has begun to expand once again, due to an increasing threat from the east with a resurgent Russian Federation
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
and its attack on neighboring Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
in 2014 / 2022. Thus resulting in longtime neutral Sweden to become a full-fledged member of the 75 year old Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
/ Central European and North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
democratic and military alliance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental transnational military alliance of 32 member states—30 European and 2 North American. Established in the aftermat ...
(NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
). The regiment forms training organizations that train the various battalions of the army and home guard.
The Swedish Armed Forces recently underwent a transformation from conscription
Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...
-based recruitment to a professional defence organisation increasing to an all-volunteer force. This is part of a larger goal to abandon the mass army from the Cold War
The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
era and develop an army better suited to modern maneuver warfare
Maneuver warfare, or manoeuvre warfare, is a military strategy which emphasizes movement, initiative and surprise to achieve a position of advantage. Maneuver seeks to inflict losses indirectly by envelopment, encirclement and disruption, while ...
and at the same time retain a higher readiness. Since 2014, the Swedish Army has had around 50,000 soldiers in either full-time or part-time duty, with eight mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry are infantry units equipped with Armoured personnel carrier, armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat (see also armoured corps).
As defined by the United States Army, me ...
battalions instantly available at any time and the full force of 71 battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...
s ready to be deployed within one week. The regular army consists of 8 mechanised maneuver battalions, 19 support battalions of different kinds including artillery
Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...
battalions, anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface ( submarine-launched), and air-ba ...
battalions, combat engineer
A combat engineer (also called pioneer or sapper) is a type of soldier who performs military engineering tasks in support of land forces combat operations. Combat engineers perform a variety of military engineering, Tunnel warfare, tunnel and l ...
battalions, rangers, logistics battalions and 4 reserve heavy armoured battalions and 40 territorial defence battalions. The battalion is the core unit but all units are completely modular and can be arranged in combat teams from company
A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...
to brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
level with different units depending on the task. There are a total of 6 permanent staffs under the central command capable of handling large battlegroups, 4 regional staffs, 3 brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
staffs and 1 divisional staff.
Leadership
Until 1937 theKing
King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...
was the formal Head of the Army, and until 1974 of the Armed Forces
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a ...
at large. In 1937, the Chief of the Army position and headquarters staff (, ''CA'') was created to lead the Army in peacetime. Following a larger reorganisation of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1994, CA ceased to exist as an independent agency, and all of the Armed Forces was centralized under the Supreme Commander (''ÖB''). Instead, the post Chief of Army Staff () was created at the then newly instituted Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters (''HKV'').
In 1998, the Swedish Armed Forces was yet again reorganized. Most of the duties of the Chief of Army 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
The Swedish Navy () is the maritime service branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet (), formally sometimes referred to as the Royal Navy () – as well as marine units, the Amph ...
" () and the "Inspector General of the Swedish Air Force" (), later renamed to "Inspector of the Army" (). In 2014, the Chief of Army (, ''AC'') position was reinstated.
Regiments
Swedish Army regiments are tasked with training conscripts for the operational battalions of the army's rapid reaction organisation. The Gotland Regiment is the only regiment that also trains Home Guard troops. The currently active regiments and their main peacetime subordinate units are:
* Life Guards (LG), in Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
**Life Guards Battalion
**1st Motorized Infantry Battalion
**Guards Battalion trains conscripts for the 1st Infantry Brigade
**1st Military Police Battalion
**13th Security Battalion
** Armed Forces Military Police Unit (FM MPE)
** Swedish Armed Forces Music Corps (FöMus)
**Armed Forces International Centre (Swedint)
* Dalarna Regiment
The Dalarna Regiment (), designation I 13, is a Swedish Army infantry unit that traced its origins back to the 16th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Dalarna, where it was later garrisoned. The unit ...
(I 13), in Falun
Falun () is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 37,291 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Dalarna County. Falun forms, together with Borlänge, a metropolitan area with just over 100,000 inhabit ...
** 2x Infantry battalions, in Falun
* Norrbotten Regiment (I 19), in Boden
** Norrbotten Armoured Battalion (Pbat / I 19) trains the troops of the 191st and 192nd mechanized battalions, and 19th brigade reconnaissance company
** Armed Forces Winter Unit (FMVE), in Boden and Arvidsjaur
* Västernorrland Regiment (I 21), in Sollefteå
Sollefteå () is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Sollefteå Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden.
History
The earliest written account on Sollefteå is found in a script dating back to 1270. During this time the name ...
** 2x Infantry battalions, in Sollefteå
** Jämtland Ranger Corps (JFK), in Östersund
Östersund (; ) is an Urban areas in Sweden, urban area (Stad (Sweden), city) in Jämtland in northern Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth-larg ...
* Life Regiment Hussars (K 3), in Karlsborg
** Training companies, train the troops of the 31st Ranger Battalion
The 31st Ranger Battalion (), previously called the 31st Light Infantry Battalion (, 31. LSkbat), is a specialized light infantry unit of the Swedish Army. The unit is part of the Life Regiment Hussars and is based in Karlsborg. It is the primar ...
and 32nd Intelligence Battalion
** Armed Forces Survival School
* Norrland Dragoon Regiment (K 4), in Arvidsjaur
** Training companies, trains the troops of the 193rd Ranger Battalion
* Skaraborg Regiment (P 4), in Skövde
** Training unit (KFE), trains the troops of the 41st and 42nd mechanized battalions, 1st heavy transport company, and 4th brigade reconnaissance company, headquarters of the 1st Divisonal Staff
* South Scanian Regiment (P 7), in Revingehed
Revingehed is a military training area located at Revingeby approximately 20 kilometers east of Lund in southern Sweden. Revingehed is one of the largest military training areas in Sweden. It includes 4,600 hectares of forest land and open water. ...
** Training unit (KFE), trains the troops of the 71st and 72nd Light Mechanised Battalion
* Gotland Regiment
The Gotland Regiment (, P 18) is a Swedish Army armoured warfare, armoured regiment which has been active in various forms between 1963–1994 and 2000–2005, when it was disbanded. The regiment was re-established on 1 January 2018. The regiment ...
(P 18), in Visby
Visby () is an urban areas in Sweden, urban area in Sweden and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County on the island of Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants . Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. The Hanseatic League, ...
** Gotlandsgruppen (GLG), trains and supports the Home Guard on Gotland
Gotland (; ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a Provinces of Sweden, province/Counties of Sweden, county (Swedish län), Municipalities of Sweden, municipality, a ...
*** Gotland Battalion (32nd Home Guard Battalion), in Visby
Visby () is an urban areas in Sweden, urban area in Sweden and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County on the island of Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants . Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. The Hanseatic League, ...
* Boden Artillery Regiment (A 8) in Boden
** Artillery Battalion, trains the troops of the 91st and 92nd artillery battalions
** Artillery Combat School
* Air Defence Regiment (Lv 6), in Halmstad
Halmstad () is a port, university, industrial and recreational urban areas of Sweden, city at the mouth of the Nissan (river), Nissan river, in the provinces of Sweden, province of Halland on the Sweden, Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat ...
** Air Defence Battalion, trains the troops of the 61st and 62nd air defence battalions
* Göta Engineer Regiment (Ing 2), in Eksjö
** Engineer Battalion, trains the troops of the 21st and 22nd engineer battalions
** Field Works School
* Göta Logistic Regiment (T 2), in Skövde
**Training unit, training the troops of the 1st and 2nd logistic battalions
Operational formations
The Swedish Army distinguishes an administrative from an operational structure. The administrative structure includes the peacetime depot units (''depåförband''), which are responsible for the training, equipment and combat readiness of the forces. Depot units are the army regiments, the air force flotillas, the naval flotillas or the armed forces centers. The depot units generate wartime units (''krigsförband''), which are transferred to their respective wartime formations, so normally the Swedish army regiments are composed of administrative and training companies during peacetime and their battalions are only formed for exercises and during wartime. The operational units in their entirety are known as the operational organisation of the armed forces (''Försvarsmaktens Insatsorganisation'' (''FM IO'' or just ''IO'', followed by the year it has been introduced in, as ''IO 2018'' or just ''IO 18'' for example) in Swedish). The operational organisation of the army plans for the training regiments to form two combat brigades (2nd and 3rd Brigades) and a number of independent combat battalions within a few days. This plan, however, was considered by the Supreme Commander to be impossible due to the economic situation at the time. In 2013, the Armed Forces issued a statement saying that the reorganisation would only suffice for a reasonable defence of Swedish territory for one week. The force was to include the following units: As of 2022 the 1st Division was reintroduced as an operational unit. The Division currently contains four brigades; The Norbotten Brigade (''Norbottensbrigaden NMekB 19''), The South Scanian Brigade (''Södra Skånska Brigaden MekB 7'', The Life Guards Brigade (''Livgardesbrigaden IB 1'') and The Skaraborg Brigade (''Skaraborgsbrigaden MekB 4'') As of 2024 the Army's units of the Operational Organisation are: * 1st Division (''1. divisionen - being raised'') ** 1st Division Staff - in Skövde (''1. divisionsstaben'') *** 1st Divisional Staff Battalion (''1. divisionstabsbataljonen'') *** 1st Divisional Electronic Warfare Battalion (''1. divisionstelekrigbataljon'') *** 1st Divisional Support Battalion (''1. divisionsunderhållsbataljonen'') Reduced to company size *** 1st Divisional Engineer Battalion (''1. divisionsingenjörbataljonen'') Reduced to company size * Life Guards (LG), in Kungsängen ** Life Guards Battalion (''Livbataljonen'') *** Staff and support company, life guards company, life guards mounted squadron, cavalry mounted squadron, might be included in the Life Guards Brigade ** 1st Military Police Battalion (''1. militärpolisbataljonen'') *** Personnel protection company, two military police companies, investigation group ** 1st Infantry Brigade or Life Guards Brigade (''1. infanteribrigaden or livgardesbrigaden IB 1)'' *** 1st Motorized Infantry Battalion (''1. motoriserade skyttebataljon'') **** Staff and support company, threePatria AMV
The Patria AMV (Armoured Modular Vehicle) is an Eight-wheel drive, 8×8 multi-role list of military vehicles, military vehicle produced by the Finland, Finnish defence industry company Patria (company), Patria.
The main feature of the AMV is its ...
mechanized companies, support company, signals company
*** 2nd Motorized Infantry Battalion (''2. motoriserade skyttebataljon - being raised'')
** 13th Security Battalion (''13. säkerhetsbataljonen'')
*** Staff and operations squadron, land security squadron, sea security company
* Life Regiment Hussars (K 3), in Karlsborg
** 31st Ranger Battalion
The 31st Ranger Battalion (), previously called the 31st Light Infantry Battalion (, 31. LSkbat), is a specialized light infantry unit of the Swedish Army. The unit is part of the Life Regiment Hussars and is based in Karlsborg. It is the primar ...
*** Staff and support squadron, three ranger squadrons, logistic squadron
** 32nd Intelligence Battalion
*** Functions squadron, two reconnaissance squadrons, parachute ranger company
* Norrland Dragoon Regiment (K 4), in Arvidsjaur
** Norrland Ranger Battalion (''Norrlandsjägarbataljon'')
* Skaraborg Regiment (P 4), in Skövde
** Skaraborg Brigade ('' Skaraborgsbrigaden MekB 4 - parts of the brigade being raised'')
*** 4th Brigade Staff (''4. brigadstaben'')
**** 4th Brigade Headquarters Company (''4. brigadledningskompaniet'') Organized from the 11th Command Battalion
**** 4th Brigade Reconnaissance Company (''4. brigadspaningskompaniet'')
**** 4th Brigade Signals Company (''4. brigadsambandskompaniet'') Organized from the 12th Signals Battalion
**** 4th ''Brigade Air Defence Company (4. brigadluftvärnskompaniet)''
*** 41st Armored Battalion (''41. pansarbataljonen'')
**** Staff and support company, two Stridsvagn 122 tank companies, two CV90 mechanized companies, logistic company
*** 42nd Armored Battalion (''42. Pansarbataljonen'')
**** Staff and support company, two Stridsvagn 122 tank companies, two CV90 mechanized companies, logistic company
*** 43rd Mechanized Battalion (''43. mekaniserade Bataljonen - being raised'')
*** 4th Brigade Support Battalion (''4. brigadunderhållsbataljonen'') Organized from the 1st Logistics Battalion
*** 4th Brigade Engineer Battalion (''4. brigadingenjörbataljonen'') Organized from the 21st Engineer Battalion
*** 4th Brigade Artillery Battalion (''4. brigadartilleribataljonen'') Likely organized from the 82nd Artillery Battalion as the 91st and 92nd are being raised
*** 4th Armored Transport Company (''4. stridsvagnstransportkompaniet'')
**** Organized from the 1st Heavy Transport Company (''1. tungtransportkompaniet'')
* South Scanian Regiment (P 7), in Revingehed
Revingehed is a military training area located at Revingeby approximately 20 kilometers east of Lund in southern Sweden. Revingehed is one of the largest military training areas in Sweden. It includes 4,600 hectares of forest land and open water. ...
** South Skåne Brigade (''Södra kånska brigaden MekB 7'' - parts of the brigade are being raised)
*** 7th Brigade Staff (''7. brigadstaben'')
**** 7th Brigade Headquarters Company (''7. brigadledningskompaniet'')
**** 7th Brigade Reconnaissance Company (''7. brigadspaningskompaniet'')
**** 7th Brigade Signals Company (''7. brigadsambandskompaniet'')
**** 7th ''Brigade Air Defence Company (7. brigadluftvärnskompaniet)''
*** 71st Motorized Infantry Battalion (''71. motoriserade skyttebataljonen'')
**** Staff and support company, three Patria AMV
The Patria AMV (Armoured Modular Vehicle) is an Eight-wheel drive, 8×8 multi-role list of military vehicles, military vehicle produced by the Finland, Finnish defence industry company Patria (company), Patria.
The main feature of the AMV is its ...
mechanized companies, logistic company
*** 72nd Armored Battalion (''72. pansarbataljonen'')
**** Staff and support company, two Stridsvagn 122 tank companies, two CV90 mechanized companies, logistic company
*** 73rd Mechanized Battalion (''73. mekaniserade bataljonen'' - being raised)
*** 7th Brigade Support Battalion (''7. brigadunderhållsbataljonen'')
*** 7th Brigade Engineer Battalion (''7. brigadingenjörbataljonen'')
*** 7th Brigade Artillery Battalion (''7. brigadartilleribataljonen'')
*** 7th Armored Transport Company (''7. stridsvagnstransportkompaniet'')
* Dalarna Regiment
The Dalarna Regiment (), designation I 13, is a Swedish Army infantry unit that traced its origins back to the 16th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Dalarna, where it was later garrisoned. The unit ...
(I 13), in Falun
Falun () is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 37,291 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Dalarna County. Falun forms, together with Borlänge, a metropolitan area with just over 100,000 inhabit ...
** 131st Infantry Battalion (''131. skyttebataljonen'' - being raised)
** 132nd Infantry Battalion (''132. skyttebataljonen'' - being raised)
* Gotland Regiment
The Gotland Regiment (, P 18) is a Swedish Army armoured warfare, armoured regiment which has been active in various forms between 1963–1994 and 2000–2005, when it was disbanded. The regiment was re-established on 1 January 2018. The regiment ...
(P 18), in Visby
Visby () is an urban areas in Sweden, urban area in Sweden and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County on the island of Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants . Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. The Hanseatic League, ...
** 181st Armored Battalion (''181. pansarbataljonen'')
*** Staff and support company, Stridsvagn 122 tank company, CV90 mechanized company, logistic company
* Norrbotten Regiment (I 19), in Boden
** Norbotten Brigade ( ''Norbottensbrigaden NMekB 19'' - parts of the brigade are being raised)
*** 19th Brigade Staff (''19. brigadstaben'')
**** 19th Brigade Headquarters Company (''19. brigadledningskompaniet'') Organized from the 11th Command Battalion
**** 19th Brigade Reconnaissance Company (''19. brigadspaningskompaniet'') equipped with CV90
**** 19th Brigade Signals Company (''19. brigadsambandskompaniet'')
**** 19th Brigade Air Defence Company (''19. brigadluftvärnskompaniet'')
*** 191st Armored Battalion (''191. pansarbataljonen'')
**** Staff and support company, two Stridsvagn 122 tank companies, two CV90 mechanized companies, logistic company
*** 192nd Armored Battalion (''192. pansarbataljonen'')
**** Staff and support company, two Stridsvagn 122 tank companies, two CV90 mechanized companies, logistic company
*** 193 Mechanized Battalion (''193. mekaniserade bataljonen - being raised'')
*** 19th Brigade Support Battalion (''19. brigadunderhållsbataljonen'') Organized from the 2nd Logistics Battalion
*** 19th Brigade Engineer Battalion (''19. brigadingenjörbataljonen'') Organized from the 22nd Engineer Battalion
*** 19th Brigade Artillery Battalion (''19. brigadartilleribataljonen'') Likely organized from the 81st Artillery Battalion as the 91st and 92nd are being raised
*** 19th Armored Transport Company (''19. stridsvagnstransportkompaniet'') Organized from the 1st Heavy Transport Company
* Västernorrland Regiment (I 21), in Sollefteå
Sollefteå () is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Sollefteå Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden.
History
The earliest written account on Sollefteå is found in a script dating back to 1270. During this time the name ...
** 211th Infantry Battalion (''211. skyttebataljonen'' - being raised)
** Jämtland Ranger Corps (''Jämtlands fältjägarkår''), in Östersund
Östersund (; ) is an Urban areas in Sweden, urban area (Stad (Sweden), city) in Jämtland in northern Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth-larg ...
*** 212th Infantry Battalion (''212. skyttebataljonen'' - being raised)
* Boden Artillery Regiment (A 8), in Boden
** 81st Artillery Battalion (''81. artilleribataljon'')
*** Staff and logistic battery, three Archer batteries, sensor battery
** 82nd Artillery Battalion (''82. artilleribataljon'')
*** Staff and logistic battery, three Archer batteries, sensor battery
* Bergslagen Artillery Regiment (A 9), in Kristinehamn
** 91st Artillery Battalion (''91. artilleribataljonen'' - being raised)
*** Staff and logistic battery, three Archer batteries, sensor battery
** 92nd Artillery Battalion (''92. artilleribataljonen'' - being raised)
*** Staff and logistic battery, three Archer batteries, sensor battery
* Göta Engineer Regiment (Ing 2), in Eksjö
** 21st Engineer Battalion (''21. ingenjörbataljon'')
*** Staff and logistic company, two engineer companies, machine/bridging company
** 22nd Engineer Battalion (''22. ingenjörbataljon'')
*** Staff and logistic company, two engineer companies, machine/bridging company
* Air Defence Regiment (Lv 6), in Halmstad
Halmstad () is a port, university, industrial and recreational urban areas of Sweden, city at the mouth of the Nissan (river), Nissan river, in the provinces of Sweden, province of Halland on the Sweden, Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat ...
** 61st Air Defence Battalion (''61. luftvärnsbataljonen'')
** 62nd Air Defence Battalion (''62. luftvärnsbataljonen'')
* Göta Logistic Regiment (T 2), in Skövde
** 1st Logistic Battalion (''1. logistikbataljonen'')
** 2nd Logistic Battalion (''2. logistikbataljonen'')
** 1st Medical Reinforcement Company (''1. sjukvårdsförstärkningskompaniet'')
** 2nd Medical Reinforcement Company (''2. sjukvårdsförstärkningskompaniet'')
** 1st Traffic and Movement Control Company (''1. trafik- och transportledningskompaniet'')
The following Armed Forces' establishments provide additional units for the Rapid Reaction Organisation:
* Command Regiment (LedR), in Enköping
Enköping is a locality and the seat of Enköping Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 30,000 inhabitants in 2018.
Geography
Enköping is situated near Lake Mälaren, about 78 km west of Stockholm.
A comparably large number of S ...
** Command Battalion (''Ledningsplatsbataljonen'')
*** Three Staff companies, public affairs/ interpreter/ combat camera company
** Signal Battalion (''Sambandsbataljonen'')
*** Staff company, two signal companies, signal reinforcement company
** Electronic Warfare Battalion (''Telekrigsbataljonen'')
** Psychological Operations (''Psykologiska operationer'')
** Meteorology and Oceanography Center (''Meteorologi- och oceanograficentrum'')
* Armed Forces Centre for Defence Medicine, in Gothenburg
Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...
** 1st Hospital Company (''1. sjukhuskompaniet'')
** 2nd Hospital Company (''2. sjukhuskompaniet'')
* National CBRN Defence Centre
The National CBRN Defence Centre () is a Sweden, Swedish military unit with expertise regarding CBRN defense, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense used by both the army, marines and the air force. The unit has been existing ...
(SkyddC), in Umeå
Umeå ( , , , locally ; ; ; ; ) is a city in northeast Sweden. It is the seat of Umeå Municipality and the capital of Västerbotten County.
Situated on the Ume River, Umeå is the largest Urban areas in Sweden, locality in Norrland and the t ...
** 1st CBRN defence Company (''1. CBRN-kompaniet'')
* Armed Forces Technical School, in Halmstad
Halmstad () is a port, university, industrial and recreational urban areas of Sweden, city at the mouth of the Nissan (river), Nissan river, in the provinces of Sweden, province of Halland on the Sweden, Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat ...
** 1st Operational Logistics Battalion (''1. Operativa logistikbataljon'')
Graphic overview of operational formations 2022
Equipment
Size
The army on active service during most of the 20th century only consisted of conscript receiving their basic training (at the most one year for privates), and conscripts called up for refreshers (at the most one month for privates) with intervals of at least 4–6 years. During WWII smaller or larger parts of the wartime establishment were also called up for periodical stand-by duty (up to 6 months). The figures for total strength below refer to the total force which could be mobilised.
Between the introduction of universal conscription in 1902 until the start of World War II, the army was usually maintained at a consistent strength of 100,000 men, with two-thirds of the force being conscripts for two years. From 1942 onwards, the Swedish government embarked upon a massive and ambitious militarisation program in which conscription was strictly enforced and compulsory service was extended. The basic training for privates was set at 12 months, for future conscript sergeants intended to become platoon leaders (mainly sixth form graduates) 18 months, and for future conscript officers 24 months. These periods were gradually reduced, and the ranks were raised, until it was the same period for all conscripts shortly before conscription was suspended in 2009. This combined with propaganda about conscription being a part of social duty and defending the Swedish principle of ''folkhemmet'', led to an army a size of about 700,000 active duty soldiers that could be mobilised in late 1945. Since the late winter of 1945 the size of the army was slowly decreased as entire reserve battalions and brigades were gradually demobilised, and by late 1947 the size of the army was around 170,000 soldiers who could be mobilised and was planned to stabilise at such a quantity of personnel.
However, due to the rise in tensions between the East and West over the political landscape of Europe, the threat from the Soviet Union in 1949 and 1950, coinciding with the start of the Cold War, led to a return to the militaristic policy by the Swedish government. From 1950 until around 1976 the size of the army was at an average of 250,000 soldiers with a peak of 400,000 mobilisable soldiers during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The rules were badly enforced, but dodging the draft was punishable with imprisonment.
During the 1980s the size of the army was around 180,000 soldiers and was slowly increased as time progressed until around 1988. The end of the Cold War led to a massive restructuring of the Swedish Army. Every year after 1988, the Army discharged around 40,000 conscripts and recruited only 20,000, so that by 1995 the size was down to 80,000 soldiers. Around this time the compulsory service obligation was further reduced to 10 months, reserve service became more flexible, and changes made in enforcement so that forceful enforcement became withdrawn as policy. By 2004 the size of the Swedish Army was down to 60,000 soldiers, and in 2013, three years after the end of conscription, the size was at an all-time low of just 16,000 soldiers, though the army plans to reach a level of 50,000 professional soldiers by 2020, mostly through a large media campaigns. A number of previously disbanded regiments will also be re-raised (Dalarna Regiment
The Dalarna Regiment (), designation I 13, is a Swedish Army infantry unit that traced its origins back to the 16th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Dalarna, where it was later garrisoned. The unit ...
, Västernorrland Regiment, Norrland Dragoon Regiment, and Bergslagen Artillery Regiment) with the Jämtland Ranger Regiment re-raised as a battalion of Västernorrland Regiment.
Recruitment
From the 17th century until 1901, Swedish Army recruitment was based upon the allotment system. In 1812, conscription was introduced for all males between age 20 and 25 to serve in the armed forces twelve days a year, increased in 1858 to four weeks per two years. The allotment system was abolished in 1901 and replaced with universal conscription for all males. All personnel were drafted as conscripts for a year of conscription, after which the unit the soldier trained with was put in 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 July 2010 until 2017, the Swedish Army was an all-professional fighting force. The government announced on 2 March 2017 that conscription was going to be reinstated. Of a pool of around 13,000 men and women born 1999, 4,000 were going to be selected for conscription starting January 2018. The government stated that the number of conscripts may increase in response to foreign events.Ranks
;Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia ofcommissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
s.
;Other ranks
The rank insignia of
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...
s and enlisted personnel.
See also
* Military ranks of the Swedish Armed Forces * Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences *Swedish Army Museum
The Swedish Army Museum () is a museum of military history located in the district of Östermalm in Stockholm. It reopened in 2002 after a long period of closure, and was awarded the title of the best museum of Stockholm in 2005. Its displays il ...
* List of wars involving Sweden
*List of Swedish field marshals
This is a list of the 77 field marshals () of Sweden, with their years of appointment, from the 16th to the 19th century.
See also
* List of wars involving Sweden
* List of Swedish military commanders
* List of Swedish governors-general
...
*Military district (Sweden)
In Sweden, a military district was a Military subdivisions of Sweden, military subdivision and part of Sweden's military-territorial division. The military districts were established in 1833 and were, after several reorganizations (1847, 1867 and ...
* List of Swedish military commanders
*List of Swedish regiments
This is a list of Sweden, Swedish regiments. Most formations have changed names several times during their existence. Listed here are commonly used names.
Regiments were the highest organized organic units in the Swedish Army from the time of Gu ...
* List of military aircraft of Sweden
* Allotment system
* List of equipment of the Swedish Army
* Swedish military uniforms
*United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (; ), or UNIFIL (; ) is a United Nations peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions United Nations Security Council Resolution 425, 425 and Unit ...
* Swedish intervention in Persia
References
External links
* *Soldf.com
– unofficial weapons, vehicles and equipment page of the Swedish Armed forces
{{Armies in Europe
Army
An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...