The Norrbotten Brigade, also known as the 19th Arctic Mechanised Brigade (NMekB 19), is a mechanised brigade of the Swedish Army based in Norrbotten County. It has been active since 2022, having previously served between 1949 and 2000. It is headquartered at Boden Garrison.

History

Norrbotten Brigade was originally an infantry brigade which in 1964 became the second of a total of five brigades, which was organised as an arctic brigade.

In 1994, the brigade, along with the regiment (I 19/P 5) formed the Norrland Mechanised Brigade (MekB 19). The brigade consisted of two tank battalions equipped with Leopard 2s and Combat Vehicle 90s, and two mechanised battalions equipped with CV90.

The unit was disbanded as a result of the disarmament policies set forward in the Defence Act of 2000. In 2021, following the Defence Act of 2020, the 3rd Brigade was disbanded and the equipment was transferred to the Norrbotten Brigade which would be re-established in 2022 with the task of defending the Swedish north.

Organisation

As of 2022, the planned wartime organisation of the Norrbotten Brigade at full operational capacity is as follows, with full capability expected to be reached by 2028:

19th Arctic Mechanised Brigade

19th Brigade Staff

• 19th Brigade Command Company

• 19th Brigade Reconnaissance Company

• 19th Brigade Air Defence Company

• 19th Brigade Signals Company

• 191st Mechanised Battalion

• 192nd Mechanised Battalion

• 193rd Mechanised Battalion

• 19th Brigade Artillery Battalion

• 19th Brigade Engineer Battalion

• 19th Brigade Support Battalion

• 19th Tank Transport Company

Heraldry and traditions

The Norrbotten Regiment and Norrbotten Brigade inherited heraldry and traditions from the Norrbotten Regiment.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Norrbotten Regiment and Norrbotten Brigade (MekB 19) 1994–2000 was also used by the Norrbotten Armoured Battalion (P 5) 1957–1975. Blazon: "Azure, powdered with estoiles or, the provincial badge of Västerbotten, a reindeer courant argent, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two arms in fess, embowed and vambraced, the hands holding swords in saltire, or".

March

By the end of the 1800s, Norrbotten Regiment adopted the march "" (Sundgrén). In 1916 it adopted the march "" which was used from 1916 to 1927 together with Karlskrona Grenadier Regiment (I 7). Karlskrona Grenadier Regiment used the march as an inheritance from the Småland Hussar Regiment (, K 4). After the regiment was amalgamated into a brigade in 1994, the brigade came to use the march. From 2000 it is used again by the regiment.

Commanders

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

• 1949–1993: ?

• 1993–1994: Col

• 1994–1999: Col

• 1999–2000: Col

• 2000–2022: Inactive

• 2022–2023: Col

• 2023–2024: Col

• 2024–present: Col Daniel Rydberg

Attributes

See also

• Norrbotten Regiment

• List of Swedish Army brigades

Footnotes

References

Sources

Further reading