Karelia Brigade

Karelian Brigade
Insignia of the Karelia Brigade
Country  Finland
Branch Finnish Army
Type Combined arms
Role Readiness brigade
Size Wartime size unknown, peacetime size 600 career personnel,[1] 2,400 conscripts[2]
Garrison/HQ Vekaranjärvi, Finland
Commanders
Brigadier General Pasi Välimäki
Notable
commanders		 Jari Kallio
Insignia
Headdress Green beret with lion's head pin

Karelia Brigade (Finnish: Karjalan Prikaati) is one of the three Finnish Army readiness brigades. It is currently based at Valkeala. With some three thousand soldiers it is the second largest brigade in Finland. The brigade is currently commanded by Brigadier General Pasi Välimäki after Jari Kallio who served as commander until December 2016.

History

The Karelia Brigade was founded on January 1, 1957 when the 5th Brigade was renamed, itself the successor of Infantry Regiment 8, which became famous due to Väinö Linna's novel The Unknown Soldier. The Karelia Brigade maintains the traditions of the Karelia Guard Regiment, which used to be based in Vyborg. Its anniversary day is on May 6, as on that day in 1618 the king of Sweden, Gustav II Adolf, gave the order to renew the Finnish military and the Karelia Regiment founded.

Composition

  • Kymi Jaeger Battalion (Kymen Jääkäripataljoona)
    • 1st Mechanized Jaeger Company (1. Panssarijääkärikomppania)
    • 2nd Mechanized Jaeger Company (2. Panssarijääkärikomppania)
    • 3rd Mechanized Jaeger Company (3. Panssarijääkärikomppania)
  • Karelia Artillery Regiment (Karjalan Tykistörykmentti)
    • 1st Field Artillery Battery (1. Kenttätykistöpatteri)
    • 2nd Field Artillery Battery (2. Kenttätykistöpatteri)
    • 3rd Field Artillery Battery (3. Kenttätykistöpatteri)
    • Artillery NCO School (Tykistöaliupseerikoulu)
  • Salpausselkä Air Defense Battalion (Salpausselän Ilmatorjuntapatteristo)
    • 1st Air Defense Battery (1. Ilmatorjuntapatteri)
    • 2nd Air Defense Battery (2. Ilmatorjuntapatteri)
    • 3rd Air Defense Battery (3. Ilmatorjuntapatteri)
  • Kymi Engineer Battalion (Kymen Pioneeripataljoona)
    • 1st Engineer Company (1. Pioneerikomppania)
    • 2nd Engineer Company (2. Pioneerikomppania)
  • East Finland Signal Battalion (Itä-Suomen Viestipataljoona)
    • HQ Company (Esikuntakomppania)
    • 1st Signals Company (1. Viestikomppania)
    • 2nd Signals Company (2. Viestikomppania)
  • Karelia Logistics Battalion (Karjalan Huoltopataljoona)[3]
    • 1st Supply Company (1. Huoltokomppania)
    • 2nd Supply Company 2. Huoltokomppania)
    • Materiel Centre (Materiaalikeskus)
    • Maintenance Centre (Kunnossapitokeskus)
    • Transportation Centre (Kuljetuskeskus)
    • Driving School (Autokoulu)

References

  1. ↑ Karjalan Prikaati. Finnish Defence Forces 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2015-08-06.(in Finnish).
  2. ↑ Vekaranjärven varuskunnassa ruokitaan yli 2400 varusmiestä päivittäin. Ruotuväki 14/2015, citing newspaper Etelä-Saimaa 27 July 2015. P. 5. (in Finnish)
  3. ↑ Karjalan Huoltopataljoona. Finnish Defence Forces. 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2015-08-06. (in Finnish)


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