Nordic Battlegroup

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name = Nordic Battlegroup


caption = Coat of arms
dates = 2008-present
country = flagcountry|Sweden flagcountry|Finland flagcountry|Norway flagcountry|Estonia flagcountry|Republic of Ireland [ [http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/9133/a/82276;jsessionid=a1Cr-JF98ROf The EU Battlegroup Concept and the Nordic Battlegroup ] ]
allegiance = flag|European Union
branch = EU Battlegroups
type =
role = Multi (Sea, Air and Land)
size = 2800
command_structure = Swedish Armed Forces
garrison = Enköping, Sweden
garrison_label =
nickname =
patron =
motto = "Ad omnia paratus" ("Prepared for anything")
colors = Grey and yellow
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march =
mascot =
equipment =
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battles =
anniversaries =
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disbanded =
commander1 = Brig-Gen Karl Engelbrektson
commander1_label =
commander2 =
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commander3 =
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notable_commanders =
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aircraft_attack =
aircraft_bomber =
aircraft_electronic =
aircraft_fighter =
aircraft_helicopter =
aircraft_helicopter_attack =
aircraft_helicopter_cargo =
aircraft_helicopter_multirole =
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aircraft_transport =The Nordic Battlegroup (NBG) is one of eighteen European Union Battlegroups. It consists of around 2,800 soldiers including officers with manpower contributed from the five participating countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Ireland and Estonia). The military strategic command of the force is done in cooperation with the United Kingdom. [cite web|url=http://www.mil.se/index.php?lang=E&c=news&id=32771 |title=Inauguration of the Nordic Battle Group Headquarters |accessdate=2006-08-26 |accessmonthday= |accessyear= |author=Ulf K. Rask |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-05-29 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Försvarsmakten |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate=]
Denmark has opted-out of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the EU, hence all battlegroups. Norway has negotiated an opt-in to participate, even though it is not an EU Member State.

The unit is currently being trained and is expected to be ready for deployment in early 2008. It has not taken part in any military operations as of yet.

Order of battle

The unit uses a modular organisation with a mechanised infantry battalion at its core (The 41. Rapid Reaction Battalion), which has been organised around Skaraborgs Regemente (P4). Support and logistics functions are incorporated into the battlegroup and a framework exists for the integration of additional resources. These resources range from artillery, air defence, and intelligence to additional logistical support. Additional support in the form of air, naval and special forces assets will be allocated based on the operational tasks the unit is expected to perform. [cite web|url=http://www.mil.se/attachments/ifokus04_nr1.pdf |title=I FOKUS 2004: Fortsatt reformering av försvaret |accessdate=2006-08-26 |accessmonthday= |accessyear= |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2004 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Försvarsmakten |pages= |language=Swedish |archiveurl= |archivedate=]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Battlegroup depicts a heraldic lion holding a sword and an olive branch. The lion is a national symbol of many former and present European kingdoms and the sword and the branch signifies the ambition to impose peace - with or without the use of violence.

In 2007, after complaints from female soldiers, the commander ruled that the lion's penis had to be removed. Since civilian women are often sexually abused in the war zones of the world, he did not consider the depiction of a penis appropriate on a uniform worn into battle. However, Sweden's state heraldist argues that in former times coats of arms containing lions without penis were given to those who had betrayed the Swedish Crown, so the decision is harshly questioned by a great number of people. [ [http://www.thelocal.se/10064/ Heraldists want penis reinstated on military badge] ]

Force

The Nordic Battlegroup consists of around 2,800 soldiers: [cite web|url=http://www2.mil.se/en/About-the-Armed-Forces/Organisation/Units-on-standby2/Nordic-Battle-Group/ |title= Nordic Battlegroup | accessdate=2008-02-14]
*Sweden: 2,300
*Finland: 200
*Norway: 150
*Ireland: 100
*Estonia: ~50

Equipment

Vehicles

*CV 90 (Combat Vehicle 90)
*Mowag Piranha (Armoured Personnel carrier)
*BV 309 (Personnel carrier 309)
*RG 32 "Galten" (High Mobility Wheeled Vehicle)
*Sisu Pasi (Armoured Personnel carrier)

Helicopters

*CH-46 Sea Knight (HKP 4)
*Eurocopter Super Puma (HKP 10)

Aircraft

* JAS 39 Gripen - (Fighter aircraft)
* C-130 Hercules - (Military transport aircraft)

mall arms

*Ak 5 - assault rifle
*Ak 4 - battle rifle
*Rk 95 TP - assault rifle
*Steyr AUG - assault rifle
*Psg 90 - sniper rifle
*Ksp 58 - general purpose machine gun
*Bofors AT4 - light anti-tank weapon
*Carl Gustav - recoilless rifle
*Glock 17 - Pistol

References

External links

* [http://www.mil.se/index.php?lang=E&c=news&id=32771 Inauguration of the Nordic Battle Group Headquarters] HQ NBG
* [http://www.mil.se/article.php?id=12793 Nordic Battlegroup - svenskledd styrka till EU:s snabbinsatsförmåga] (NBG - Swedish led force for EU rapid deployment capability)
* [http://www.mil.se/index.php?lang=S&c=news&id=32374 Karl Engelbrektson blir chef för Nordic Battlegroup] (Karl Engelbrektson becomes chief of Nordic Battlegroup)
* [http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?a=404306 EU:s insatsstyrka bäddar för svensk yrkesarmé] (EU deployment force enables possibility for Swedish professional army)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP4i_OfMukk&mode=related&search= Swedish Nordic Battlegroup recruitment video]
* [http://www.thelocal.se/9310/20071205/ News article on death of NBG member during exercise] , TheLocal.se