Structure of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1989

The following article depicts the structure of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1989 by service branch. In wartime units would come under six multi-service military area commands. These area commands, as well as their wartime structure, can be found in their respective articles listed at Swedish military areas.

Armed Forces Defense Staff

The Defense Staff of the Swedish Armed Forces commanded the staffs of its three services Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as the Home Guard. It also commanded the multi-service military areas and various universities, schools and logistic establishments.

Military Areas

Swedish military areas and military area command locations in 1989

The territory of Sweden was divided into six multi-service military commands. These six military areas (Swedish: Militärområde, usually abbreviated to Milo) were further subdivided in defense areas (Swedish: Försvarsområde, usually abbreviated to Fo). In peacetime each military area commanded all units within its area of responsibility and in wartime they would also command and control of all reserve units and reinforcements in their area.

The Military Area Commander (Swedish: Militärområdesbefälhavare also militärbefälhavare), would command Swedish Army, Swedish Navy and Swedish Air Force units operating in his area and direct the commanders of the defense areas in the defense of their areas. Defense Area Commanders (Swedish: Försvarsområdesbefälhavare commanded Swedish Home Guard units in their area, which usually compromised a mix of infantry, engineers, air defense and light artillery. Unlike the military areas the defense areas were managed in peacetime by various training units of army, navy or air force.

Two geographically exposed defense areas were organized differently:

In 1989 the Swedish military areas and their subordinate defense areas were the following.

Army

Sweden's Army had only one active brigade in peacetime. All other brigades, combat support and combat service support units, would have been activated in wartime only. Recruits for the wartime units were trained by the army's regiments dispersed all over the nation. These regiments were under administrative control of the Amy Staff in Stockholm, which oversaw training, doctrine and procurement.

Army in 1989

In 1989 the following regiments were active and trained recruits for the Army's wartime organization:

Number Name Location Training Battalions Military Area Associated
Defense Area
K 3 Life Regiment Hussars Karlsborg Airborne Units/Special Forces
Signal Units 		Parachute Jäger Battalion
S 2 - Göta Signal Battalion		 Milo V
K 4 Norrland Dragoon Regiment Arvidsjaur Norrland Jägers Milo ÖN
P 2 Scania Dragoon Regiment Hässleholm PB 8 - Göinge Brigade Milo S
P 4 Skaraborg Regiment Skövde PB 9 - Skaraborg Brigade Milo V Fo 35
P 6 North Scania Regiment Kristianstad PB 26 - Kristianstad Brigade Milo S Fo 14
P 7 South Scania Regiment Ystad PB 7 - Malmö Brigade Milo S Fo 11
P 10 Södermanland Regiment Strängnäs MekB 10 - Södermanland Brigade Milo Ö Fo 43
P 18 Gotland Regiment Visby PB 18 - Gotland Brigade MKG
I 1 Svea Life Guards Regiment Kungsängen IB 1 - Gula Brigade K 1 - Life Guard Dragoons Battalion Milo Ö Fo 44
I 2 Värmland Regiment Karlstad IB 2 - Värmland Brigade Milo B Fo 52
I 3 Life Regiment Grenadiers Örebro IB 3 - Life Brigade
IB 33 - Närke Brigade		 Milo B Fo 51
I 4 Life Grenadier Regiment Linköping IB 4 - Grenadier Brigade T 1 - Svea Logistic Battalion Milo Ö Fo 41
I 5 Jämtland Jäger Regiment Östersund NB 35 - Field Jäger Brigade Milo NN Fo 22
I 11 Kronoberg Regiment Växjö IB 11 - Kronoberg Brigade
IB 41 - Blekinge Brigade		 Milo S Fo 16
Fo 18
I 12 North Småland Regiment Eksjö IB 12 - Jönköping Brigade
IB 42 - Kalmar Brigade		 Milo S Fo 17
I 13 Dalarna Regiment Falun NB 13 - Dalarna Brigade
IB 43 - Kopparberg Brigade		 Milo B Fo 53
I 14 Hälsingland Regiment Gävle IB 14 - Gästrikeleden Brigade
IB 44 - Hälsinge Brigade		 Milo NN Fo 21
I 15 Älvsborg Regiment Borås IB 15 - Västgöta Brigade
IB 45 - Älvsborg Brigade		 Milo V Fo 34
I 16 Halland Regiment Halmstad IB 46 - Halland Brigade Milo V Fo 31
I 17 Bohuslän Regiment Uddevalla IB 17 - Bohus Brigade
IB 47 - Göteborg Brigade		 Milo V
I 19 Norrbotten Regiment Boden NB 19 - Norrbotten Brigade P 5 - Norrbotten Tank Battalion Milo ÖN
I 20 Västerbotten Regiment Umeå NB 50 - Lapland Brigade Milo ÖN Fo 61
I 21 Västernorrland Regiment Sollefteå IB 21 - Ådal Brigade
NB 51 - Ångermanland Brigade		 Milo NN Fo 23
I 22 Lapland Jäger Regiment Kiruna Arctic Rangers Milo ÖN Fo 66
A 1 Svea Artillery Regiment Linköping Field Artillery Milo Ö
A 3 Wendish Artillery Regiment Kristianstad Field Artillery Milo S
A 4 Norrland Artillery Regiment Östersund Field Artillery Milo NN
A 7 Gotland Artillery Regiment Visby Field Artillery MKG
A 8 Boden Artillery Regiment Boden Field Artillery
3x Bandkanon 1 battalions		 Milo ÖN Fo 63
A 9 Bergslagen Artillery Regiment Kristinehamn Field Artillery Milo B
lv 2 Gotland Air Defense Battalion Visby Active Air Defense Unit MKG
Lv 3 Roslagen Air Defense Regiment Norrtälje Air Defense Units Milo Ö
Lv 4 Scania Air Defense Regiment Ystad Air Defense Units Milo S
Lv 6 Göta Air Defense Regiment Göteborg Air Defense Units Milo V
Lv 7 Luleå Air Defense Regiment Luleå Air Defense Units Milo ÖN
Ing 1 Svea Engineer Regiment Södertälje Engineer Units Milo Ö
Ing 2 Göta Engineer Regiment Eksjö Engineer Units Milo S
Ing 3 Boden Engineer Regiment Boden Engineer Units Milo ÖN
S 1 Uppland Signal Regiment Uppsala Signal Units Milo Ö Fo 47
Fo 48
S 3 Norrland Signal Regiment Boden Signal Units Milo ÖN
T 2 Göta Logistic Regiment Skövde Logistic Units Milo V
T 3 Norrland Logistic Regiment Sollefteå Logistic Units Milo NN
T 4 Scania Logistic Regiment Hässleholm Logistic Units Milo S

Army Aviation

Swedish Army Aviation Bell 204C in 1984

The Army Aviation consisted of two battalions with 79 helicopters and two planes. Additionally the army had 11 FPL 61 observation planes, which were transferred to the air force in 1989.

In 1989 the army aviation's inventory consisted of:

Army Equipment

Wartime Organization

Almost all units of the Swedish Army were not manned during peacetime. The only exception was the PB -18 Gotland Brigade, which was fully manned at all times. Usually brigades recruited their personnel in the county where they were based, with the exception of the Gotland Brigade, whose men came from all of Sweden.

The 1987 Swedish Defense bills lists the following wartime strength for the Swedish Army:[1]

Divisions

Besides 29 brigades the military areas would also have activated seven divisional commands to take tactical command of the ground forces in their respective military district. There were three exceptions:

  1. Milo B would not activate a divisional command as its brigades were the army's reserve and would have been assigned to other military districts as needed.
  2. Milo S would activate the 13th Division to take command of the four armoured brigades in Southern Sweden and then act as the army's mobile armoured reserve force.
  3. Milo Ö would activate two division commands to handle reinforcements arriving to defend the Stockholm

The seven divisions were:

Besides two to four brigades each division would also have commanded a variety of combat support and combat service support units.

Brigades
Number Name Location Affiliated Regiment Military Area Recruiting Area Type
IB 1 Yellow Brigade Kungsangen I 1 - Svea Life Guards Regiment Milo Ö Stockholm County Infantry Type 77
IB 2 Värmland Brigade Karlstad I 2 - Värmland Regiment Milo B Värmland County Infantry Type 77
IB 3 Life Brigade Örebro I 3 - Life Regiment Grenadiers Milo B Örebro County Infantry Type 66M
IB 4 Grenadier Brigade Linköping I 4 - Life Grenadier Regiment Milo Ö Östergötland County Infantry Type 77
PB 7 Malmö Brigade Revingehed P 7 - South Scania Regiment Milo S Malmöhus County Armoured Type 63M
PB 8 Göinge Brigade Hässleholm P 2 - Scania Dragoon Regiment Milo S Kristianstad County Armoured Type 63M
PB 9 Skaraborg Brigade Skövde P 4 - Skaraborg Regiment Milo V Skaraborg County Armoured Type 63M
MekB 10 Södermanland Brigade Strängnäs P 10 - Södermanland Regiment Milo Ö Södermanland County Mechanized Type 85
IB 11 Kronoberg Brigade Växjö I 11 - Kronoberg Regiment Milo S Kronoberg County Infantry Type 77
IB 12 Jönköping Brigade Eksjö I 12 - North Småland Regiment Milo S Jönköping County Infantry Type 66M
NB 13 Dalarna Brigade Falun I 13 - Dalarna Regiment Milo B Dalarna County Norrland Type 85
IB 14 Gästrikeleden Brigade Gävle I 14 - Hälsingland Regiment Milo NN Gävleborg County Infantry Type 77
IB 15 Västgöta Brigade Borås I 15 - Älvsborg Regiment Milo V Älvsborg County Infantry Type 66M
IB 17 Bohus Brigade Uddevalla I 17 - Bohuslän Regiment Milo V Gothenburg and Bohus County Infantry Type 66M
PB 18 Gotland Brigade Visby P 18 - Gotland Regiment MKG Sweden Armoured Type Gotland
NB 19 Norrbotten Brigade Boden I 19/P 5 - Norrbotten Regiment Milo ÖN Norrbotten County Norrland Type 85
IB 21 Ådal Brigade Sollefteå I 21 - Västernorrland Regiment Milo NN Västernorrland County Infantry Type 66M
PB 26 Kristianstad Brigade Kristianstad P 6 - North Scania Regiment Milo S Kristianstad County Armoured Type 63M
IB 33 Närke Brigade Örebro I 3 - Life Regiment Grenadiers Milo B Örebro County Infantry Type 77
NB 35 Field Jäger Brigade Östersund I 5 - Jämtland Jäger Regiment Milo NN Jämtland County Norrland Type 85
IB 41 Blekinge Brigade Växjö I 11 - Kronoberg Regiment Milo NN Blekinge County Infantry Type 66M
IB 42 Kalmar Brigade Eksjö I 12 - North Småland Regiment Milo NN Kalmar County Infantry Type 77
IB 43 Kopparberg Brigade Falun I 13 - Dalarna Regiment Milo B Dalarna County Infantry Type 66M
IB 44 Hälsinge Brigade Gävle I 14 - Hälsingland Regiment Milo NN Gävleborg County Infantry Type 66M
IB 45 Älvsborg Brigade Borås I 15 - Älvsborg Regiment Milo V Älvsborg County Infantry Type 77
IB 46 Halland Brigade Halmstad I 16 - Halland Regiment Milo V Halland County Infantry Type 77
IB 47 Göteborg Brigade Uddevalla I 17 - Bohuslän Regiment Milo V Gothenburg and Bohus County Infantry Type 77
NB 50 Lapland Brigade Umeå I 20 - Västerbotten Regiment Milo ÖN Västerbotten County Norrland Type 85
NB 51 Ångermanland Brigade Sollefteå I 21 - Västernorrland Regiment Milo NN Västernorrland County Norrland Type 85

Brigade Structures

The Swedish Army had four brigade types in 1989. Two types of infantry brigade, one type of armoured brigade and the type Norrland brigade. Two brigades had unique structures, as their tasks differed from all other brigades:

Unlike all other brigades PB 18 - Gotland Brigade was fully manned even in peacetime.

Armoured Brigade 63
Armoured Brigade Type 63M Structure (click to enlarge)

Sweden fielded four Type 63 armoured brigades. Each brigade had around 5,600 men and they were concentrated in the country's South.

The Howitzer, Engineer and Logistic Battalion had the same number as the brigade. The same applies to the Reconnaissance and Air Defense companies, and the companies of the Logistic Battalion. The two anti-tank companies combined the brigades number with 1 and 2: e.g. the PB 8's anti-tank companies were numbered 81st and 82nd. The companies of the Engineer Battalion carried the same number as the brigade, with the exception of the 2nd Armoured Engineer Company, which had the brigade's number +100: e.g. the PB 8's armoured engineer companies were numbered 8th and 108th.

Infantry Brigade 66
Infantry Brigade Type 66M Structure (click to enlarge)

Sweden fielded eight Type 66M infantry brigades. Each brigade had around 6,000 men. Type 66M brigades were second-line brigades equipped with older equipment. All of the Type 66M brigades were disbanded at the end of the Cold War. The difference between the original Type 66 and later Type 66M brigades was the addition of one Bandvagn 202 per infantry platoon.

Infantry Brigade 77
Infantry Brigade Type 77 Structure (click to enlarge)

Sweden fielded ten Type 77 infantry brigades. Each brigade had around 5,200 men. Type 77 brigades were first-line brigades equipped with the newest equipment.

Norrland Brigade 85
Norrland Brigade Type 85 Structure (click to enlarge)

Sweden fielded five Type 85 Norrland brigades. Each Norrland had around 5,500 men. Type 85 brigades were first-line units equipped with the newest equipment and trained specifically for ski, arctic and winter warfare, as well as partisan tactics. The entire infantry of the brigade was transported with Bandvagn 202 vehicles, providing the brigade with off-road mobility and Sweden's North. The brigades were based in Norrland and the adjoining Dalarna County.

Air Force

JA 37 Viggen fighters of the 132nd Fighter Squadron of the Bråvalla Wing in 1981

The only unit under direct command of the Air Force's Air Staff was the E 1 - 1st Attack Group (E 1 - Attackeskadern), which fielded the air force's strike aircraft. All other wings were under command of the four air defense sectors. The air force's wartime strength as approved the Swedish Parliament in 1987 was:[5]

By 1989 the air force had deactivated one J 35J Draken squadron because of the age of the Draken fighters, while adding another JA 37 Viggen squadron in its stead. The four squadrons of the Royal Combat Flight School would have become the four light attack squadrons in case of war.

Air Force in 1989

In 1989 the air force fielded the following operational units and commands:

Air Force Schools

In 1989 the air force trained its pilots and ground personnel at the following schools:

Air Force Inventory

JA 37 Viggen fighters of the Bråvalla Wing in 1982

In 1989 the air force's inventory consisted of:

Additionally the air force kept nearly 500 Draken jets as operational reserve in storage. In wartime the air force would have fielded 11x Command and Surveillance battalions, and 33x Ground Support and Maintenance battalions, some of which would have activated Highway strip reserve air bases all over Sweden.

Swedish main naval bases and coastal artillery locations in 1989
Swedish Navy HSwMS Älvsborg (M02), command ship and minelayer
Swedish Navy HSwMS Orion (A201), ELINT-collection ship

The only unit under direct command of the Swedish Navy's Naval Staff was the 1. Ubflj - 1st Submarine Flotilla (1.ubåtsflottiljen), which fielded the navy's entire submarine fleet. All other naval units and naval aviation would have come in wartime under the command of the five military areas with sea access, and the Gotland Military Command. The navy's wartime strength as approved the Swedish Parliament in 1987 was:[6]

By 1989 the navy had begun to reduce the number of divisions and combined the eight small helicopter divisions in three larger helicopter groups. The coastal corvette/missile boat divisions were reduced to three and the minelaying and minesweeping divisions were reduced to four.

In 1989 the navy fielded the following operational units and commands:

Additional vessels included the following lightly armed coastal patrol vessels: HSwMS Arild (V03), HSwMS Viken (V04), HSwMS Öregrund (V05), HSwMS Slite (V06), HSwMS Marstrand (V07), HSwMS Lysekil (V08), HSwMS Dalarö (V09), HSwMS Sandhamn (V10) and HSwMS Östhammar (V11).

In wartime the Swedish Navy would activate the Fiske-class coastal minesweeping trawlers: HSwMS Gåssten (M31), HSwMS Norsten (M32), HSwMS Viksten (M33, HSwMS Orust (M41), HSwMS Tjörn (M42), HSwMS Hisingen (M43), HSwMS Blackan (M44), HSwMS Dämman (M45), HSwMS Galten (M46), HSwMS Gillöga (M47), HSwMS Rödlöga (M48) and HSwMS Svartlöga (M49).

Coastal Artillery

Coastal Artillery 105mm Tornautomatpjäs m/50 automatic gun on Arholma
Coastal Artillery 120mm Tornautomatpjäs m/70 automatic gun on Landsort
Coastal Artillery twin 152mm Kustartilleripjäs m/51 heavy gun on Gotland

Sweden's coastal artillery was tasked with preventing amphibious landings of enemy forces on Sweden's coast. To fulfill its mission the coastal artillery would have fielded in wartime a varied mix of units:

In peacetime troops destined for the coastal artillery units were trained by five coastal artillery regiments:

Swedish Naval Aviation CH-46B Sea Knight in 1984

In 1989 the naval aviation's inventory consisted of:

Home Guard

The Swedish Home Guard provided troops for local defense. Home Guard units were under command of the Defense Area Commanders and usually were a mix of infantry, engineers, air defense and light artillery. In 1989 the Home Guard could field 85 battalions with 100,000 men.

References

  1. ↑ http://data.riksdagen.se/fil/296bb46c-db54-40e8-9b82-a401ca498bd3 Swedish Parliament Resolution: Five Year Defense Plan 1987
  2. ↑ "Arméhandbok del 1 Organisation Pansarbrigadensförband" (AH1 1977). Swedish Army. 28 April 1977.
  3. ↑ "Arméhandbok del 1 Organisation Infanteribrigadförband AH1:IB 77" (AH1 1977). Swedish Army. 10 March 1991.
  4. ↑ "Arméhandbok del 1 Organisation Norrlandsbrigadensförband AH1:NB 85" (AH1 1990). Swedish Army. 8 June 1990.
  5. ↑ http://data.riksdagen.se/fil/296bb46c-db54-40e8-9b82-a401ca498bd3 Swedish Parliament Resolution: Five Year Defense Plan 1987
  6. ↑ http://data.riksdagen.se/fil/296bb46c-db54-40e8-9b82-a401ca498bd3 Swedish Parliament Resolution: Five Year Defense Plan 1987
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