The Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment ( sv, Gotlands kustartilleriregemente), designation KA 3, was a
Swedish Navy
The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) 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 Amphibious Corps ().
In Swedish, vessels o ...
coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of the armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications.
From the Middle Ages until World War II, coastal artillery and naval artillery in the form of c ...
regiment of the
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces ( sv, Försvarsmakten, "the Defense Force") is the government agency that forms the armed forces of Sweden, tasked with the defense of the country as well as with promoting Sweden's wider interests, supporting internati ...
which operated between 1937 and 2000. The unit was based in
Fårösund
Fårösund is a locality situated on the Swedish island of Gotland with 800 inhabitants in 2014. The village can be reached by car from Visby. The island of Fårö can be reached by ferry from Fårösund.
Fårösund is the northernmost town in th ...
in
Gotland
Gotland (, ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a province, county, municipality, and diocese. The province includes the islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to the ...
.
History
The military presence in the areas around northern
Gotland
Gotland (, ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a province, county, municipality, and diocese. The province includes the islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to the ...
began in connection with the
Crimean War
The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia.
Geopolitical causes of the war included the de ...
. Fårösund became a strategically important place. English and French fleets used the sound as a base, stage station and observation point during the war against Russia.
In 1885 there was a new concern between Russia and England. New ships were expected. Both
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
and
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
demanded that Fårösund be fortified if the
Swedish neutrality
Swedish neutrality refers to Sweden's former policy of neutrality in armed conflicts, which was in effect from the early 19th century to 2009, when Sweden entered into various mutual defence treaties with the European Union (EU), and other Nordic ...
was to be recognized and respected.
It was the start of the
Swedish Coastal Artillery
The Swedish Coastal Artillery ( sv, Kustartilleriet, KA) has its origin in the Archipelago Artillery that was raised in 1866. The Coastal Artillery was formed from the Archipelago Artillery, the Marine Regiment and parts of the Artillery in 1902 ...
, which was established in the early 1900s. The
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces ( sv, Försvarsmakten, "the Defense Force") is the government agency that forms the armed forces of Sweden, tasked with the defense of the country as well as with promoting Sweden's wider interests, supporting internati ...
bought land and buildings and hired people.
In 1885 work began on fortifications in
Slite
Slite is a locality situated in Gotland Municipality, Gotland County, on the island of Gotland, Sweden with 1,500 inhabitants in 2014.
Geography
Slite is situated on the northern east coast of Gotland. The town is divided by the Sjuströmmar inl ...
and Fårösund where artillerymen from
Gotland National Conscription
The Gotland National Conscription ( sv, Gotlands nationalbeväring) was a Swedish Army infantry unit that traced its origins back to the 19th century. It was split into two new regiments in 1887. The regiment's soldiers were recruited on the islan ...
and
Göta Artillery Regiment
The Göta Artillery Regiment ( sv, Göta artilleriregemente), designation A 2, was a Swedish Army artillery regiment that traced its origins back to the 17th century. It was disbanded in 1962. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited fro ...
were brought. The facility and its crew had varying names: ''Flottans batterier och minpositioner i Fårösund'' ("Navy's Batteries and Mine Positions in Fårösund") and ''Fårösunds kustartilleriposition och Fårösunds kustartilleridetachement'' ("Fårösund Coastal Position and Fårösund Coastal Artillery Detachment"). In 1919 the facility was disbanded.
Through the
Defence Act of 1936, the
Riksdag
The Riksdag (, ; also sv, riksdagen or ''Sveriges riksdag'' ) is the legislature and the supreme decision-making body of Sweden. Since 1971, the Riksdag has been a unicameral legislature with 349 members (), elected proportionally and se ...
decided that a new coastal artillery unit would be raised and based in Fårösund. The 1930 Defense Commission proposed that the unit be called Fårösund Coastal Artillery Corps. When the unit was raised on 1 July 1937, however, it was named Gotland Coastal Artillery Corps (KA 3).
Four companies under the command of a major were organized. The entire area was 110 hectares. On 6 June 1939, at 08:00 in the morning, the flag was raised in front of the chancellery for the first time. In December of the same year, the coastal artillery was mobilized and the force was about 1,000 men. In May 1938, the Riksdag decided that SEK 669,000 would be allocated to the construction of service housing at Gotland Coastal Artillery Corps in Fårösund.
Through the Defence Act of 1948, a new organization was established in 1949 for the Swedish Coastal Artillery. For Gotland Coastal Artillery Corps, the new organization meant that the training of air defense guns was transferred to the newly formed air defense forces within the
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska armén) is the land force of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav Vas ...
.
On 1 April 1960 in a
letters patent
Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, titl ...
, it was decided that Gotland Coastal Artillery Defense and Gotland Coastal Artillery Corps from 1 July 1961 were to have a joint commanding officer and joint staff and administrative bodies during peace time.
Prior to the
Defence Act of 2000, the
Swedish Government
The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden ( sv, Konungariket Sveriges regering) is the national cabinet of Sweden, and the country's executive authority.
The Government consists of the Prime Ministerappointed and dismissed by the Speaker of the R ...
proposed that the future basic organization should contain two coastal artillery units where one of the two coastal artillery units would constitute a main unit, where the government considered that
Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment and the 1st Coastal Artillery Brigade (KA 1) would constitute the main unit. The reason for the fact that the unit had a very good proximity to the
Stockholm archipelago, with practice and
training areas with designed terrain types. None of the other regiments were considered to have terrain conditions and infrastructure to constitute a main unit. Which regiment that would remain besides KA 1, stood between
Karlskrona Coastal Artillery Regiment and the 2nd Coastal Artillery Brigade (KA 2), Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 3) and
Älvsborg Coastal Artillery Regiment
The Älvsborg Coastal Artillery Regiment ( sv, Älvsborgs kustartilleriregemente), designation KA 4, was a Swedish Navy coastal artillery regiment of the Swedish Armed Forces which operated between 1942 and 2000. The unit was based in Gothenburg ...
(KA 4). KA 3, however, quickly fell away in the process, as the operations was considered limited and that the unit lacked sufficient and appropriate training areas. Regarding KA 4, it was also considered to have limited exercise conditions. KA 2 was considered to have the best conditions for acting as a second unit alongside KA 1. However, the Government considered that it was of great importance that
Gothenburg
Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...
, as Sweden's second biggest city, also had a military presence. Furthermore, the Government considered retaining KA 4 as giving the
Swedish Navy
The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) 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 Amphibious Corps ().
In Swedish, vessels o ...
the opportunity to continue operations for the naval warfare units in Gothenburg. Hence, the government tried to keep KA 1 and KA 4 in the new basic organization.
Through the Defence Act of 2000, it was decided at the same time that the Swedish Coastal Artillery would be disbanded and the remaining units would have a different focus. Hence, the Government considered that the units would be called amphibious regiments (or marine regiments), and that the service branch would be changed from the Swedish Coastal Artillery to the
Swedish Amphibious Corps
The Amphibious Corps ( sv, Amfibiekåren, Amf) is the maritime land force arm of the Swedish Navy, with an emphasis on coastal defence. Until 2000 it was known as the Coastal Artillery ( sv, Kustartilleriet), but the name was changed to reflect i ...
. Hence, Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment and the 1st Coastal Artillery Brigade (KA 1) and Älvsborg Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 4) came to be disbanded as coastal artillery units on 30 June 2000. On 1 July 2000, the amphibian unit
Vaxholm Amphibian Regiment (Amf 1) and
Älvsborg Amphibian Regiment (Amf 4) were formed in its place.
The Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment, together with Karlskrona Coastal Artillery Regiment, were the two units that were disbanded last of all the units that were disbanded through the Defence Act of 2000, when the others were disbanded on 30 June 2000. The fact that the two regiments were disbanded so late was due to the fact that they completed the basic education of the last round of conscripts. From 1 November 2000, the operations were transferred to a decommissioning organization, until the disbandment would be completed no later than 31 December 2001. The decommissioning organization was in turn dissolved on 30 June 2001, when the disbandment of the unit was considered completed.
Operations
During 1994/1995, the Fårösund Marine Brigade (FMB) trained its first amphibious company (with
green beret
The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos of the Second World War. It is still worn by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course, and personnel from other units of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF wh ...
). In February, they were given the honorary assignment to be the honor guard at the launch of the submarine . The company's main armament was
Robot 17 and naval mines were assigned, but, despite the name, had no sea transport. During 1996/1997, the first archipelago rifle company that were assigned the
Bandvagn 206
Bandvagn 206 (Bv 206) (meaning ''"Tracked Vehicle 206"'' in English) is a tracked articulated, all-terrain carrier developed by Hägglunds (now part of BAE Systems Platforms & Services) for the Swedish Army. It consists of two units, with all f ...
(on trial) and
12.7 mm machine guns. On 30 September 2000, the last conscripts in the regiment were discharged.
Units
1937 Peacetime Organisation
The organization in 1937 consisted of the following:
*1st Company, fixed naval artillery
*2nd Company, fixed anti-aircraft artillery
*5th Company, mobile naval artillery
*8th Company, naval mine, signal and boat service. At the 8th Company financial and assistance personnel were also placed.
In the late 1940s, the name of the companies changed to:
*3rd Company, heavy naval artillery
*14th Company, anti-aircraft and light naval artillery, naval mine, signal and boat service.
1949 War Organisation
The
VII Military District's 1949 War Organisation for GK/KA 3:
*Staff + tank platoon (5 x
Stridsvagn m/37
''Stridsvagn'' m/37 (Strv m/37) was a Swedish-built version of the Czechoslovak ÄŒKD AH-IV tankette.
History
The AH-IV was popular with Romania and Iran, and after a successful demonstration to Swedish authorities, during winter conditions in ...
)
*Barrier Battalion TG:
**3 x 15 cm gun m/98-36
**4 x 57 mm Battery Vialms (VA), at Notviken in the northern inlet to the Fårösund basin)
**
AA section (40 + 20 mm)
*Barrier Battalion BN:
**3 x 15 cm gun m/98-36
**3 x 57 mm Battery Hällrevet (HR), at the southern inlet to the Fårösund basin at Bungenäs Peninsula)
**3 x 57 mm Battery Österklint (ÖK), at the southern inlet to the Fårösund basin at Bungenäs Peninsula)
**2 x 57 mm Battery Kalkbruket (KB), at the western shore of Bungenäs)
**AA section (40 + 20 mm)
*Barrier Battalion SE:
**3 x (later 5) 12 cm gun m/94
**4 x 57 mm Battery Asunden (AN), at Asunden outside
Slite
Slite is a locality situated in Gotland Municipality, Gotland County, on the island of Gotland, Sweden with 1,500 inhabitants in 2014.
Geography
Slite is situated on the northern east coast of Gotland. The town is divided by the Sjuströmmar inl ...
)
**AA section (40 + 20 mm)
*Battery Hultungs (HG), at Hultungs gård, southeast of
Bunge Church):
**3 x 21 cm gun m/98
**AA section (40 + 20 mm)
*Battery Bläse (BL), in Bläse at the northern shore of Kappelshamnsviken)
**4 x 57 mm gun m/89B
*7th Coastal Artillery Battery:
**3 x 15,2 cm gun m/37
**AA section (40 + 20 mm), mobile
*1st Anti-Aircraft Battery:
**3 x
7,5 cm anti-aircraft gun m/36, fixed
*aid station etc.
*depot
Barracks and training areas
The Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment was based in Fårösund, about 55 km north of
Visby
Visby () is an 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 city of Visby is arguably th ...
. Initially, in 1904, a warehouse was rebuilt into a barracks. During the years 1939-1944, the majority of the barracks area was built which constituted the Fårösund Garrison. During the 1980s, among other things, a school building was added. In 2000, the government decided that the garrison area with airfield (
Bunge Airfield) should be
listed
Listed may refer to:
* Listed, Bornholm, a fishing village on the Danish island of Bornholm
* Listed (MMM program), a television show on MuchMoreMusic
* Endangered species in biology
* Listed building, in architecture, designation of a historicall ...
. Four disbanded regiments in Sweden have received this legal protection. Thus, KA 3 became a national cultural heritage.
After the disbandment, the state administration company Vasallen took over the area, with the task of selling or renting the premises to entrepreneurs. Among other things, there is today a film studio, Kustateljén, where a number of well-known Swedish films have been recorded. On 15 January 2018, the
Swedish Fortifications Agency
The Swedish Fortifications Agency ( sv, Fortifikationsverket, FortV) is a Swedish government agency under the Ministry of Finance , tasked with managing government-owned defense-related buildings and land. The agency functions as the landlord fo ...
entered into an acquisition agreement with Fastighets AB Bunge Kronhagen, with the purchase of the naval port in Fårösund for SEK 20 million. On 30 April 2018, the naval port of Fårösund was transferred to state property, which included the three properties Gotland Bunge Kronhagen 3:69, Bunge Kronhagen 3:70 and Bunge Kronhagen 3:71.
File:KA 3 - Kasern Ankaret.JPG, Barracks ''Ankaret'' ("Anchor")
File:KA 3 - Kasern Kanonen.JPG, Barracks ''Kanonen'' ("Cannon")
File:KA 3 - Kanslihuset (1).JPG, Chancellery
File:KA 3 - Sjukhuset.JPG, Hospital
File:KA 3 - Skolbyggnaden (2).JPG, School building. Built in 1984.
File:KA 3 - Matsalen.JPG, Restaurant
File:KA 3 - vakten (2).JPG, Guardhouse
Heraldry and traditions
Colours, standards and guidons
On 1 June 1945, the first colour was presented at
Stockholm Palace
Stockholm Palace or the Royal Palace ( sv, Stockholms slott or ) is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch (King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia use Drottningholm Palace as their usual residence). Stockholm Palac ...
by His Majesty the King
Gustaf V
Gustaf V (Oscar Gustaf Adolf; 16 June 1858 – 29 October 1950) was King of Sweden from 8 December 1907 until his death in 1950. He was the eldest son of King Oscar II of Sweden and Sophia of Nassau, a half-sister of Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxem ...
. On the 60th anniversary of the regiment on 6 June 1998, major general B-A Johansson presented a new colour.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 3) from 1938 to 2000.
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vis ...
: "Azure, the provincial badge of Gotland, a ram passant argent armed or, crosstaff and banner gules with edging and five flaps or. The shield surmounted two gunbarrels of older pattern in saltire above a flaming grenade and waves, all of the last colour".
Medals
In 2000, the ''Gotlands kustartilleriregementes (KA 3) minnesmedalj'' ("Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 3) Commemorative Medal") in silver (GotlkaregSMM) of the 8th size was established. The
medal ribbon
A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...
is of red
moiré with two yellow lines on each side and a yellow line on the middle.
File:AM.019803.jpg, Commemorative Medal m/2000
File:AM.019804.jpg, Miniature Commemorative Medal m/2000
File:AM.019805.jpg, Medal ribbon
Other
In 1953, the Gotland Coastal Artillery Regiment adopted "Nordergutarna" by Ã…ke Dohlin as regimental march, which was established on 13 June 1996.
Commanding officers
Commanding officers of Fårösund Coastal Position/Fortress, KA 3, GK/KA 3, FMB and KA 3:
* 1904-05-14 – 1908-03-31:
CPT Nils Vilhelm Bille
* 1908-04-01 – 1910-04-30: CPT Olof Wilhelm Brogren
* 1910-05-01 – 1912-04-30: CPT Theodor Hasselgren
* 1912-05-01 – 1914-04-30: CPT Nils Gustaf Henrik Wennerström
* 1914-05-01 – 1915-01-31: CPT John Gustaf Johansson-Carell
* 1915-02-01 – 1919-09-30: CPT Erik Ekström
* 1938-07-01 – 1941-06-30:
LTC/
COL Gösta Möller
* 1941-07-01 – 1947-09-30: COL Emil Cederlöf
* 1947-10-01 – 1951-09-30: COL Bo Lindeberg
* 1951-10-01 – 1954-03-31: COL Sven Haglund
* 1954-04-01 – 1957-09-30: COL Stig Stade
* 1957-10-01 – 1961-09-30: COL Carl-Fredrik Gillberg
* 1961-10-01 – 1962-09-30: COL Birger Ehnrot
* 1962-10-01 – 1964-09-30: COL
Gunnar Eklund
Lieutenant General Carl ''Gunnar'' Eklund (21 March 1920 – 11 January 2010) was a senior Swedish Coastal Artillery officer. His senior commands include Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the Defence Staff, military commander of the Eastern Mi ...
* 1964-10-01 – 1966-09-30: COL
Bo Varenius
Generalmajor (Sweden), Major General Bo Gerhard Otto Varenius (3 November 1918 – 23 July 1996) was a senior Swedish Coastal Artillery officer. Varenius served as Chief of the Naval Staff (Sweden), Chief of the Naval Staff from 1972 to 1984.
Ea ...
* 1966-10-01 – 1971-09-30: COL Erik Lyth
* 1971-10-01 – 1974-09-30: COL Jean-Carlos Danckwardt
* 1974-10-01 – 1976-09-30: COL Arne Lundell
* 1980-10-01 – 1982-09-30: COL
Torsten Engberg
Lieutenant General Torsten Reinhold Engberg (28May 1934 – 7February 2018) was a senior Swedish Coastal Artillery officer. Engberg was Chief of the Naval Staff from 1984 to 1987 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1987 to 1991 as well ...
* 1982-10-01 – 1985-09-30: COL Urban Sobéus
* 1985-10-01 – 1987-09-30: COL Håkan Söderlindh
* 1987-10-01 – 1993-05-31: COL Anders Hammarskjöld
* 1993-06-01 – 1996-12-31: COL Krister Arweström
* 1997-01-01 – 2000-06-30: COL Tommy Jonsson
Names, designations and locations
See also
*
List of Swedish coastal artillery regiments
This is a list of Swedish coastal artillery regiments, battalions, corps and companies that have existed in the Swedish Navy.
By unit
*KA 1 Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (1902–2000)
*KA 2 Karlskrona Coastal Artillery Regiment (1902†...
Footnotes
References
Notes
Print
*
*
*
*
*
Web
*
Further reading
*
*
*{{cite book , title=KA-nytt från Gotlands kustartilleriregemente: information om och från GK/KA 3 (Gotlands kustartilleriförsvar med Gotlands kustartilleriregemente) , year=1981–1984 , publisher=GK/KA 3 , location=Fårösund , id={{LIBRIS, 346230 , language=Swedish
Regiments of the Swedish Navy
Military units and formations established in 1934
Military units and formations disestablished in 2000
Disbanded units and formations of Sweden