The Skaraborg Brigade (), or the 4th Mechanized Brigade (MekB 4), is a

Swedish Army The Swedish Army () is the army, land force of the Swedish Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden. Beginning with its service in 1521, the Swedish Army has been active for more than 500 years. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1 ...

mechanized

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

located in the county of Västra Götaland, active since 2022. It was previously active 1942–2000. The brigade is located at

Skövde garrison Skövde garrison () is a Swedish Army garrison located in the county of Västra Götaland County, Västra Götaland, active since 1905. It is among the absolute oldest and largest Swedish garrisons. History Foundation In the Army Order of 1 ...

with the Skaraborg Regiment.

History

The brigade was established in 1943 under the name of the 9th Armoured Brigade and was one of the very first Swedish army brigades. In the Defence Act of 1992, the government proposed that the wartime organization should reflect the peacetime organization. As a result, in 1994, the Skaraborg Brigade was cadre-organized within the

Southern Military District The Order of the Red Banner Southern Military District () is a military district of Russia. It is one of the five military districts of the Russian Armed Forces, with its jurisdiction primarily within the North Caucasus region of the country ...

but wartime-organized within the

Western Army Division The Western Army Division (, 3. förd), was a division of the Swedish Army that operated in various forms from 1941 to 1997. Its staff was located in Skövde garrison in Skövde. Heraldry and traditions Coat of arms The coat of arms of the Weste ...

. The division's wartime organization was reorganized once again in 1996, becoming subordinate to the

Southern Army Division The Southern Army Division (, 13. förd), was a division of the Swedish Army that operated in various forms from 1941 until 2000. Its staff was located in Kristianstad Garrison in Kristianstad. The unit was disbanded as a result of the disarmame ...

. 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, which significantly reorganized the army, the 2nd Brigade was disbanded, and its equipment was transferred to the Skaraborg Brigade, which was set to be re-established in 2022. Upon the re-establishment of the brigade, its wartime organization would be within the 1st Division along with the rest of the Swedish Army's active brigades.

Organization

As of 2022, the planned wartime organization of the Skaraborg Brigade at full operational capacity is as follows, with full capability expected to be reached by 2027: * 4th Mechanized Brigade ** 4th Brigade Staff *** 4th Brigade Headquarters Company *** 4th Brigade Reconnaissance Company *** 4th Brigade Air Defence Company *** 4th Brigade Signals Company ** 41st Mechanized Battalion ** 42nd Mechanized Battalion ** 43rd Mechanized Battalion ** 4th Brigade Artillery Battalion ** 4th Brigade Engineer Battalion ** 4th Brigade Support Battalion ** 4th Tank Transport Company

Heraldry and traditions

The Skaraborg Brigade shared heraldry and traditions with the Skaraborg Regiment. In the years 1998–2000, the brigade managed the traditions of the regiment. The most commonly used

beret A beret ( , ; ; ; ) is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap made of hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, wool felt, or acrylic fibre. Mass production of berets began in the 19th century in Southern France and the north of History of Spain (1808 ...

colour is black, worn by all light and mechanized infantry units. When the Skaraborg Brigade was disbanded in 2000, the ''Skaraborgs regementes och Skaraborgsbrigadens (MekB 9) förtjänstmedalj'' ("Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit") in gold and silver (SkarabregbrigGM/SM) of the 8th size was established in 1999. The

medal ribbon A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each cou ...

is divided in black and yellow moiré with a white stripe on the middle followed on both sides by a red stripe. File:AM.019808.jpg, Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit. File:AM.019811.jpg, Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit. File:AM.019810.jpg, Ribbon of the Skaraborg Regiment and Skaraborg Brigade (MekB 9) Medal of Merit.

Commanders

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

Attributes

Footnotes

References

Notes

Print

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Web

* * * * * {{Commons category, Skaraborgsbrigaden, Skaraborg Brigade Brigades of the Swedish Army Military units and formations established in 1949 Military units and formations disestablished in 2000 Military units and formations established in 2022 1949 establishments in Sweden 2000 disestablishments in Sweden 2022 establishments in Sweden Skövde Garrison 20th-century establishments in Skaraborg County