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 district commands. These district commands, as well as their wartime structure, can be found in their respective articles listed at Swedish military districts.
The article was created by combining the Swedish government's 1987 request to parliament to approve a new defense structure and the adjoined five year defense plan ( Link), the same request to parliament 1992, which listed the changes undertaken between 1988 and 1992, the various handbooks of the Swedish Army about its units for recruits found on this site ( Link), and the Swedish Wikipedia articles about Swedish units histories.
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 districts and various universities, schools and logistic establishments.
The territory of Sweden was divided into six multi-service military commands. These six military districts ( Swedish: Militärområde, usually abbreviated to Milo) were further subdivided in defence districts ( Swedish: Försvarsområde, usually abbreviated to Fo). In peacetime each military district 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 district.
The Military District Commander ( Swedish: Militärområdesbefälhavare also militärbefälhavare), would command Swedish Army, Swedish Navy and Swedish Air Force units operating in his district and direct the commanders of the defense districts in the defense of their districts. Defence District Commanders commanded Home Guard units in their district, which usually compromised a mix of infantry, engineers, air defense and light artillery. Unlike the military districts the defense districts were managed in peacetime by various training units of army, navy or air force.
Two geographically exposed defense districts were organized differently:
In 1989 the Swedish military districts and their subordinate defense districts were the following.
In peacetime Sweden's Army had only one active brigade. All other brigades, combat support, and combat service support units would have been activated in wartime. 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 Army Staff in Stockholm, which oversaw training, doctrine and procurement.
In 1989 the following regiments were active and trained recruits for the Army's wartime organization:
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: [1]
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: [2]
Besides 29 brigades the military districts would also have activated seven divisional commands to take tactical command of the ground forces in their respective military district. There were three exceptions:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: [6]
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 Swedish Air Force Flying School would have become the four light attack squadrons in case of war.
In 1989 the air force fielded the following operational units and commands:
In 1989 the air force trained its pilots and ground personnel at the following schools:
In 1989 the air force's inventory consisted of: [1]
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, which would have manned air bases in the Bas 60 and Bas 90 air base system.
The only unit under direct command of the Swedish Navy's Naval Staff was the 1st Submarine Flotilla (1. Ubflj), 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 districts with sea access, and the Gotland Military Command. The navy's wartime strength as approved the Swedish Parliament in 1987 was: [7]
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).
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:
In 1989 the naval aviation's inventory consisted of: [1]
The Swedish Home Guard provided troops for local defense. Home Guard units were under command of the Defense District 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.
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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 district commands. These district commands, as well as their wartime structure, can be found in their respective articles listed at Swedish military districts.
The article was created by combining the Swedish government's 1987 request to parliament to approve a new defense structure and the adjoined five year defense plan ( Link), the same request to parliament 1992, which listed the changes undertaken between 1988 and 1992, the various handbooks of the Swedish Army about its units for recruits found on this site ( Link), and the Swedish Wikipedia articles about Swedish units histories.
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 districts and various universities, schools and logistic establishments.
The territory of Sweden was divided into six multi-service military commands. These six military districts ( Swedish: Militärområde, usually abbreviated to Milo) were further subdivided in defence districts ( Swedish: Försvarsområde, usually abbreviated to Fo). In peacetime each military district 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 district.
The Military District Commander ( Swedish: Militärområdesbefälhavare also militärbefälhavare), would command Swedish Army, Swedish Navy and Swedish Air Force units operating in his district and direct the commanders of the defense districts in the defense of their districts. Defence District Commanders commanded Home Guard units in their district, which usually compromised a mix of infantry, engineers, air defense and light artillery. Unlike the military districts the defense districts were managed in peacetime by various training units of army, navy or air force.
Two geographically exposed defense districts were organized differently:
In 1989 the Swedish military districts and their subordinate defense districts were the following.
In peacetime Sweden's Army had only one active brigade. All other brigades, combat support, and combat service support units would have been activated in wartime. 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 Army Staff in Stockholm, which oversaw training, doctrine and procurement.
In 1989 the following regiments were active and trained recruits for the Army's wartime organization:
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: [1]
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: [2]
Besides 29 brigades the military districts would also have activated seven divisional commands to take tactical command of the ground forces in their respective military district. There were three exceptions:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: [6]
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 Swedish Air Force Flying School would have become the four light attack squadrons in case of war.
In 1989 the air force fielded the following operational units and commands:
In 1989 the air force trained its pilots and ground personnel at the following schools:
In 1989 the air force's inventory consisted of: [1]
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, which would have manned air bases in the Bas 60 and Bas 90 air base system.
The only unit under direct command of the Swedish Navy's Naval Staff was the 1st Submarine Flotilla (1. Ubflj), 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 districts with sea access, and the Gotland Military Command. The navy's wartime strength as approved the Swedish Parliament in 1987 was: [7]
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).
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:
In 1989 the naval aviation's inventory consisted of: [1]
The Swedish Home Guard provided troops for local defense. Home Guard units were under command of the Defense District 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.
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