Gotland Battlegroup

Last updated
Gotland Battlegroup
Stridsgrupp Gotland
Gotlands regemente vapen.svg
Active2017–present
CountryFlag of Sweden.svg Sweden
BranchNaval Ensign of Sweden.svg  Swedish Army
Size Brigade
Part of Gotland Regiment (peacetime)
Army Staff (wartime)
HeadquartersVisby Garrison, Gotland
Beret colour  Black
Commanders
Commander Col Dan Rasmussen

The Gotland Battlegroup [a] or the 18th Battlegroup is a reduced Swedish Army mechanised brigade based in Gotland County. It has been active since 2017. The battlegroup is headquartered at Visby Garrison.

Contents

History

Policies introduced under the Defence Act of 2015 mandated the remilitarisation of Gotland by 2018. [1] However, in direct response to Russian aggression and the deteriorating geopolitical situation in the Baltic Sea, the battlegroup was established in 2017, one year earlier than planned. [2]

The decision to remilitarise the island and establish a unit comparable to a reduced brigade [3] was primarily intended to deter potential small-scale attacks and to delay larger assaults long enough for reinforcements and additional units to arrive. [4]

Given the battlegroup’s specialised role, it is not intended for deployment outside the island and will maintain a permanent presence to deter any attempts at occupation. [5]

Stridsfordon 90 of the 181st Mechanised Battalion U S Marines with 2d AABN conduct combined arms ranges with Swedish Forces on Gotland Island (8480741).jpg
Stridsfordon 90 of the 181st Mechanised Battalion

Organisation

As of 2022, the planned wartime organisation of Battlegroup Gotland at full operational capacity is as follows, with full capability expected to be reached by 2028: [6]

  • 18th Battlegroup
    • 18th Battlegroup Staff
      • 18th Headquarters Company
      • 18th Air Defence Unit
    • 181st Mechanised Battalion
    • 18th Engineer Company
    • 18th Artillery Company
    • 18th Support Company

Commanders

The commanders of the brigade throughout its history are as follows:

Attributes

NameTranslationFromTo
Strids­grupp GotlandGotland Battlegroup2017-07-01
DesignationFromTo
SG GTL2017-07-01
LocationFromTo
Visby Garrison2017-07-01

See also

Footnotes

  1. Swedish: Stridsgrupp Gotland, "Battlegroup Gotland"

References

Sources