Gotland Brigade

Gotland Brigade
Gotlandsbrigaden
Active 1949–2000
Country Sweden
Allegiance Swedish Armed Forces
Branch Swedish Army
Type Infantry Brigade (1949–1966)
Armored Brigade (1966–1994)
Mechanized brigade (1994–2000)
Size Brigade
Part of Gotland Infantry Regiment (1949–1963)
Gotland Regiment (1963–1982)
MKG (1982–1994)
Milo M (1994–2000)
Garrison/HQ Visby
Colors Blue and white
March "In Treue Fest" (Teike)[1]
Insignia
Unit insignia m/1960
Shoulder sleeve insignia

Gotland Brigade (MekB 18) (Swedish: Gotlandsbrigaden), was a Swedish Army armoured brigade within the Swedish Armed Forces and acted in different forms between 1949 and 2000. The main parts of the basic training were held at the Gotland Regiment (P 18) within the Gotland Garrison in Visby, Gotland.

History

The Gotland Brigade was raised as an infantry brigade during the years 1949–1951 under the name, Gotland Brigade (IB 18). This was organized through the Defence Act of 1948, where Gotland Infantry Regiment (I 18) was converted into a brigade.[2]

In 1963, when the reorganization into the Pansarbrigad 63 ("Armoured Brigade 63) was commenced within the Swedish Army, it was decided that Göta Life Guards' (P 1) detachment, the Göta Armoured Life Guards Company on Gotland (Göta pansarlivgardes kompani på Gotland, P 1 G), would be merge with the Gotland Infantry Regiment (I 18). Through the merger, Gotland Regiment (P 18) was formed and the Gotland Brigade was converted from an infantry brigade into an armoured brigade. The brigade became a model-type of the Armoured Brigade Gotland (Pansarbrigad Gotland, PB Gotland) in 1966, while the other active Swedish armoured brigades became a model-type of the Armoured Brigade 63 (Pansarbrigad 63, PB 63). The brigade also received its new designation, PB 18.

In 1982, the brigade together with the other units on Gotland was amalgamated into the Gotland Military Command (MKG). In 1994, the brigade was separated along with the regiment from the command and became a cadre-organized war unit in the Middle Military Area (Milo M) from 1 July, under the new name Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade (MekB 18). In the same year the brigade was supplied with Pansarbandvagn 302 and Stridsvagn 104 from Kristianstad Brigade (Kristianstadsbrigaden, PB 26), which was disbanded in connection with the Defence Act of 1992.

The Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade (MekB 18) was disbanded as a result of the disarmament policies set forward in the Defence Act of 2000 and on 1 July 2000 it adopted the name, Gotland Regiment (P 18).[3]

Structure in case of war

The Gotland Brigade did not control any units during peacetime. All units assigned to it in war were trained and maintained by the Gotland Regiment and Gotland Artillery Regiment in Visby.

  • PB 18 - Gotland Brigade (Gotlandsbrigaden) in Visby:
    • Headquarters and Staff Company
    • 1st Armored Battalion with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company
    • 2nd Armored Battalion with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company
    • 3rd Armored Battalion with a staff company, 12x Stridsvagn 102R tanks in one company, 28x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers and 24x Rifle Squads with 8x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles in two companies, 4x M/40 105mm howitzers in an artillery battery and a logistic company
    • Artillery Battalion with 12x 155mm Haubits m/F towed howitzers
    • 18th Armored Reconnaissance Company with 6x KP-car m/42 wheeled armoured personnel carriers, 12x Jeeps, 12x Recon Teams, 2x Rifle Squads and 4x Pvpj 1110 90mm recoilless rifles
    • 18th Anti-tank Company with 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles and Bantam anti-tank missiles
    • 18th Engineer Company
    • Logistic Battalion

Heraldry and traditions

The Gotland Brigade shared heraldry and traditions with Gotland Regiment. In 1994-2000, the brigade managed the traditions of the regiment.[3]

Commanding officers

  • 1949–1992: ?
  • 1992–1995: Karlis Neretnieks
  • 1995–1999: Sven-Olof "Olle" Broman
  • 1999–2000: Peter Molin

Name and designation

Escutcheon of Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade.
DesignationNameTranslation of nameUsedNotes
IB 18GotlandsbrigadenGotland Brigade1949–1963
PB 18GotlandsbrigadenGotland Brigade1963–1994
MekB 18Gotlands regemente och GotlandsbrigadenGotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade1994–2000

Brigade commanders

PeriodNameRankComment
1992-1995Karlis NeretnieksColonel
1995-1999Sven-Olof "Olle" BromanColonelCommander of Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Sandberg 2007, p. 201
  2. ↑ "Omorganisering av armén till brigader". www.brigadmuseum.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  3. 1 2 Braunstein 2003, p. 334

Print

  • Braunstein, Christian (2003). Sveriges arméförband under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 5 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-4-5. LIBRIS 8902928.
  • Sandberg, Bo (2007). Försvarets marscher och signaler förr och nu: marscher antagna av svenska militära förband, skolor och staber samt igenkännings-, tjänstgörings- och exercissignaler (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Militärmusiksamfundet med Svenskt marscharkiv. ISBN 978-91-631-8699-8. LIBRIS 10413065.
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