Gotland Brigade

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.

Gotland Brigade
Gotlandsbrigaden
Active1949–2000
CountrySweden
AllegianceSwedish Armed Forces
BranchSwedish Army
TypeInfantry (1949–1966)
Armoured (1966–2000)
RoleInfantry brigade (1949–1966)
Armored Brigade (1966–1994)
Mechanized brigade (1994–2000)
SizeBrigade
Part ofGotland Infantry Regiment (1949–1963)
Gotland Regiment (1963–1982)
MKG (1982–1994)
Milo M (1994–2000)
Garrison/HQVisby
Motto(s)Regementet för framtiden ("The regiment of the future")
ColorsBlue and white
March"In Treue Fest" (Teike)[note 1]
Insignia
Branch insignia
Unit insignia
Unit tab

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 in Gotland (P 1 G), would be amalgamated with the Gotland Infantry Regiment (I 18). Through the amalgamation, 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 as a result of the Defence Act of 1992.

The Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade (MekB 18) were 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]

Order of battle

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:
    • Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company
    • 1st Armoured Battalion with a headquarters 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 logistics company
    • 2nd Armoured Battalion with a headquarters 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 logistics company
    • 3rd Armoured Battalion with a headquarters 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 logistics company
    • Artillery Battalion with 12x 155mm Haubits m/F towed howitzers
    • 18th Armoured 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 Carl Gustaf 8.4cm 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]

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade (MekB 18) 1994–2000. It was also used by the Gotland Regiment (P 18) 1977–1994 and 2000–2004. Blazon: "Azure, a ram passant argent, armed or, banner gules with crosstaff, edging and five flaps or. The shield surmounted two arms in fess, embowed and vambraced, the hands holding swords in saltire, or".[4]

Commanding officers

Commanding officers:[5]

  • 1983-10-01 – 1988-09-30: COL Stig Barke
  • 1988-10-01 – 1992-06-30: COL Anders Sifvertsson
  • 1992-07-01 – 1994-12-31: LTC/COL Karlis Neretnieks
  • 1995-01-01 – 1999-05-31: COL Sven-Olof "Olle" Broman
  • 1999-06-01 – 2000-06-30: COL Peter Molin

Names, designations and locations
Escutcheon of Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade.
Name Translation From To
Gotlandsbrigaden Gotland Brigade 1949-10-01 – 1994-06-30
Gotlands regemente och Gotlandsbrigaden Gotland Regiment and Gotland Brigade 1994-07-01 – 2000-06-30
Designation From To
IB 18 1949-10-01 – 1966-??-??
PB 18 1966-??-?? – 1994-06-30
MekB 18 1994-07-01 – 2000-06-30
Location From To
Visby Garrison 1949-10-01 – 2000-06-30

See also

Footnotes
  1. The march was adopted in 1994.[1]

References

Notes
  1. Sandberg 2007, p. 77
  2. "Omorganisering av armén till brigader". www.brigadmuseum.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  3. Braunstein 2003, p. 334
  4. Braunstein 2006, p. 31
  5. Hammarhjelm 1999, p. 311

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. SELIBR 8902928.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Braunstein, Christian (2006). Heraldiska vapen inom det svenska försvaret [Heraldry of the Swedish Armed Forces] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 9 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-9-6. SELIBR 10099224.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Hammarhjelm, Bengt (1999). Beredskap på Gotland 175 år: 1811-1986 (in Swedish) (2nd, ext., plus complementary to 2000 ed.). Visby: Ödin. ISBN 91-85716-84-7. SELIBR 7751982.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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. SELIBR 10413065.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading
  • Kjellander, Bo, ed. (2005). Gotlands nationalbeväring och regemente. Bd 1, Historik, befästningar, Visborgsslätt, verksamhet, regementets särart (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-79-6. SELIBR 9997590.
  • Kjellander, Bo, ed. (2005). Gotlands nationalbeväring och regemente. Bd 2, Personer och traditioner (in Swedish). Stockholm: Probus. ISBN 91-87184-80-X. SELIBR 10002196.
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