The Skaraborg Regiment ( sv, Skaraborgs regemente), designation P 4, is a

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 ...

armoured Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

that traces its origins back to the 16th century. It was converted from an infantry regiment in 1942. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from

Skaraborg County Skaraborg County ( sv, Skaraborgs län ) was a county of Sweden from 1634 until 1997. It was disestablished at the end of 1997 when it was merged with the counties of Gothenburg and Bohus and Älvsborg to form Västra Götaland County. The count ...

, and it is currently garrisoned in

Skövde Skövde () is a locality and urban centre in Skövde Municipality and Västra Götaland County, in the Västergötland (Western Gothland region) in central Southern Sweden. Skövde is situated some 150 km northeast of Gothenburg, between Swe ...

, in the former Skaraborg County.

History

The regiment was converted from an infantry regiment to an armored regiment in 1942 and was given the name Skaraborg Armoured Regiment. The regiment was given the designation P 4 (4th Armoured Regiment) and was garrisoned in

. On 1 April 1963, it regained its old name of the Royal Skaraborg Regiment. In 1974, the regiment gained the new designation P 4/Fo 35 as a consequence of a merge with the local

defence district A defence district ( sv, Försvarsområde, Fo) was a military subdivision of the Swedish Armed Forces created in 1914. It was a lower regional level subdivision, usually corresponding to a Swedish county. The commander of a defence district was ...

Fo 35. For a short time in the 1990s, the unit was then merged with the wartime organised

Skaraborg Brigade Skaraborg Brigade ( sv, Skaraborgsbrigaden), designation PB 9 and MekB9, was a Swedish Army armoured brigade. It was set up in infantry regiment in 1942, as one of Sweden's first armoured brigades. The brigade's soldiers were mostly trained in ...

(MekB 9). In accordance with that year's

Defence Act Defence Act is a stock short title used in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom for legislation relating to territorial defence. List Australia *The Defence (Citizen Military Forces) Act 1943 New Zealand *The Defence Act 1886 ...

, the unit was reorganised once again in 2000, and was designated P 4 once again. Its name was also changed back to Skaraborg Regiment.

Campaigns

*None

Organisation

In peacetime Skaraborg Regiment trains conscripts for the Swedish wartime organisation. Skaraborg Regiment trains armoured troops and use the Swedish modified Leopard 2A5 IS, Strv 122, and vehicles from the CV90 family. The peacetime organisation trains one battalion per year with around 600 troops. The main garrison is situated in

Västergötland Västergötland (), also known as West Gothland or the Latinized version Westrogothia in older literature, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish), situated in the southwest of Sweden. Väs ...

and most of the training grounds can be found around Skövde, the regiment also has a smaller detachment in Kvarn in

Östergötland Östergötland (; English exonym: East Gothland) is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (''landskap'' in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland and the Baltic Sea. In older English li ...

where its Grenadier Company is trained. * Skaraborg Regiment ** 2nd Brigade Staff ** 41st Mechanized Battalion *** Staff and Support Company, 2x Tank Companies Strv 122, 2x Mechanized Companies

CV90 The Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90; Sw. ''Stridsfordon'' 90, Strf90) is a family of Swedish tracked combat vehicles designed by Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (''Försvarets Materielverk'', FMV), Hägglunds and Bofors during the mid-1980s to ea ...

, Logistic Company ** 42nd Mechanized Battalion *** Staff and Support Company, 2x Tank Companies Strv 122, 2x Mechanized Companies

, Logistic Company ** Gotland Battle Group *** Staff and Support Company, Tank Company Strv 122, Mechanized Company

, Logistic Company ** 1st Heavy Transport Company ** 2nd Brigade Reconnaissance Company * Bohusdal Group, which trains the 40th

Home Guard Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense. The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting wi ...

Battalion (Light infantry) * Skaraborg Group, which trains the 38th, and 39th

battalions (Light infantry) Training Companies in peacetime: * Skaraborg Regiment **

Life Company A Life Company ( sv, Livkompani, but usually written in its definite form; ''Livkompaniet'') is a Swedish military term of several centuries' standing. It is the first company of a regiment in the Swedish Army The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska arm� ...

: training staff and support companies, and engineer platoons of the 41st and 42nd mechanized battalions ** Skånings Company: training mechanized infantry companies of the 41st and 42nd mechanized battalions ** Wilska Company: training mechanized infantry companies of the 41st and 42nd mechanized battalions ** Wartofta Company: training tank companies of the 41st and 42nd mechanized battalions, and Gotland Battle Group ** Grenadier Company: training brigade reconnaissance company ** Kåkind Company: basic training ** Wadsbo Company: training logistics companies of the 41st and 42nd mechanized battalions, and the 1st Heavy Transport Company Other vehicles used by the regiment: TGB 11, 13 & 20, Bv 206.

Heraldry and traditions

Colours, standards and guidons

When the regiment was reorganized into an armoured unit, the colour from the time as an infantry unit was kept. The colour was of the 1844 model, and had been presented on 24 June 1858 by Crown Prince Carl Ludvig Eugen (later

Charles XV Charles XV also Carl (''Carl Ludvig Eugen''); Swedish: ''Karl XV'' and Norwegian: ''Karl IV'' (3 May 1826 – 18 September 1872) was King of Sweden (''Charles XV'') and Norway, there often referred to as Charles IV, from 8 July 1859 until his dea ...

), then in the form of two battalion colours. The colour originally had only two battle honours, Lützen (1632) and Malatitze (1708). After further investigations, the regiment was admitted in 1929 on the colour of the 2nd Battalion, to add six battle honours; Varberg (1565), Narva (1581), Leipzig (1642), Warsaw (1656), Lund (1676) and Landskrona (1677). Until 1994, the regimental colour was the oldest in use when it was replaced by a new colour. The new colour was presented to the regiment at the regimental barracks in Skövde by His Majesty the King

Carl XVI Gustaf Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. He ascended the throne on the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, on 15 September 1973. He is the youngest child and only son of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Du ...

on 22 September 1995. The colour is drawn by Ingrid Lamby and embroidered by machine in insertion technique by Maj-Britt Salander/company Blå Kusten.

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 ...

: "On a cloth bended sinister in black and yellow the provincial badge of Västergötland; a double-tailed rampant lion counterchanged, armed red, between two white estoiles in the black field. On a yellow border at the upper side of the colour, battle honours in black."

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Skaraborg Regiment (P 4/Fo 35) 1977–1994, the Skaraborg Brigade (PB 9/MekB 9) 1994–2000 and Skaraborg Regiment (P 4) since 2000.

: "The provincial badge of Västergötland, per bend sinister sable and or charged with a double-tailed lion rampant counterchanged, armed and langued gules between two estoiles argent in the first field. The shield surmounted two arms in fess, embowed and vambraced, the hands holding swords in saltire, or". The coat of arms of the Skaraborg Regiment (P 4/Fo 35) 1994–2000 and the Skaraborg Group () since 2000. Blazon: "The provincial badge of Västergötland, per bend sinister sable and or charged with a double-tailed lion rampant counter-changed, armed and langued gules between two estoiles argent in the first field. The shield surmounted two swords in saltire, or". File:Skaraborgs regemente vapen.svg, Coat of arms of the Skaraborg Regiment (P 4/Fo 35) 1977–1994, the Skaraborg Brigade (PB 9/MekB 9) 1994–2000 and Skaraborg Regiment (P 4) 2000–present. File:Skaraborgsgruppen vapen.svg, Coat of the arms of the Skaraborg Regiment (P 4/Fo 35) 1994–2000 and the Skaraborg Group () 2000–present.

Medals

In 1942, the ("Royal Skaraborg Regiment (P 4) Medal of Merit") in gold (SkarabregGM) was established. When the Skaraborg Brigade was disbanded in 2000, the ("Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit") in gold and silver (SkarabregbrigGM/SM) of the 8th size was established in 1999. 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 divided in black and yellow moiré with a white stripe on the middle followed on both sides by a red stripe. File:AM.019808.jpg, Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit. File:AM.019811.jpg, Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit. File:AM.019810.jpg, Ribbon of the Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit.

Other

The regimental march is "Geschwindmarsch" by C A Herrmann and it was adopted in the 19th century. It was first played during

Gustav IV Adolf Gustav IV Adolf or Gustav IV Adolph (1 November 1778 – 7 February 1837) was King of Sweden from 1792 until he was deposed in a coup in 1809. He was also the last Swedish monarch to be the ruler of Finland. The occupation of Finland in 1808–09 ...

's reign. The oldest preserved score is from 1833. It was established as regimental march in 1953 by Army Order 33/1953. The march was used by the

the years 1994–2000, and since 2000 by Skaraborg Group (). The regimental motto, ("The heritage obligates"), originates from

Västgöta Regiment The Västgöta Regiment ( sv, Västgöta regemente), also I 6, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was converted from a cavalry regiment in 1811 and disbanded in 1927. The regiment's soldiers ...

(I 6) and was adopted in 1981 by the then regimental commander colonel Norderup in connection with the 350-year anniversary of the Skaraborg Regiment. Since 1 January 1928, the regiment are continuing the traditions of

(I 6). The traditions of

Bohuslän Regiment The Bohuslän Regiment ( sv, Bohusläns regemente), designation I 17, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traces its origins back 1661. It was disbanded in 1992. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the provinces of Bohu ...

(I 17) is continued by the Bohus Battalion (40th Home Guard Battalion) in the Bohusdal Group ().

Commanding officers

Regimental commanders active from when the regiment was organized as an armored unit. For regimental commanders before 1942, see

Skaraborg Regiment (infantry) The Skaraborg Regiment ( sv, Skaraborgs regemente), designation I 9, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 16th century. It was converted to an armoured regiment in 1942. The regiment's soldiers were recruited f ...

. For the years 1998–2000, see Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade.

Commanders

*1942–1946: Birger Pontén *1946–1948:

Nils Björk Lieutenant General Nils Axel Hjalmar Björk (25 February 1898 – 15 April 1989) was a senior Swedish Army officer. He served as Commanding General of the VI Military District from 1951 to 1963. Early life Björk was born on 25 February 1898 in ...

*1949–1954: Per Arvid Christian Ahlgren *1954–1966: Hans Waldemar Malmgren *1966–1967: Hugo Cederschiöld *1967–1968: Gustaf Peyron *1968–1976: Per Anton Björkman *1976–1980: Per-Gunnar Brissman *1980–1984: Carl-Gösta Norderup *1984–1987: Bror Gustaf Arne Lindblom *1987–1992: Lars Jerker Löfberg *1992–1993:

Alf Sandqvist Major General Alf Robert Sandqvist (born 27 May 1945) is a retired Swedish Army officer. Sandqvist's senior commands include the Chief of Home Guard and Inspector eneralof the Swedish Army. Early life Sandqvist was born on 27 May 1945 in Oth ...

*1993–1995: Björn Anderson *1995–1997: Arne Hedman *1998–2000: ''See Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade'' *2000–2004: Anders Lindberg *2004–2007: Håkan Swedin *2007–2012: Ronald Månsson *2012–2017:

Fredrik Ståhlberg Major General Nils Fredrik Adam Ståhlberg (born 24 August 1966) is a Swedish Army officer. He currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations from 1 January 2023. Prior to that, Ståhlberg served as commanding officer of the Western M ...

*2017–2021: Bengt Alexandersson *2021–20xx: Stefan Pettersson

Deputy commanders

*2015–2018: Colonel

Stefan Sandborg Carl Nils ''Stefan'' Sandborg né Johansson (born 25 March 1970) is a senior Swedish Army officer. He currently serves as the Chief of Home Guard since 2018. Early life Sandborg was born on 25 March 1970 in Linköping Saint Lawrence Parish (''Lin ...

*2018–2019: Colonel Lennart Widerström

Names, designations and locations

Footnotes

References

Notes

Print

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Web

External links

* {{coord, 58, 22, 46, N, 13, 50, 43, E, type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki, display=title Armored regiments of the Swedish Army Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1997 Military units and formations established in 2000 1942 establishments in Sweden 1997 disestablishments in Sweden 2000 establishments in Sweden Skövde Garrison