The Swedish Army Service Troops ( sv, Trängtrupperna, T or ''Underhållstrupperna'', before 1942 called ''Trängen'') is the
military logistics (or
train
In rail transport, a train (from Old French , from Latin , "to pull, to draw") is a series of connected vehicles that run along a railway track and transport people or freight. Trains are typically pulled or pushed by locomotives (often k ...
) branch of the
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska armén) is the land force of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History
Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gusta ...
. The task of the troops is to train personnel for maintenance units, provide supplies, repair damaged equipment, retract and care for sick personnel as well as in the event of war mobilizing them. The troops are today fully motorized.
History

In 1885, the first army service unit was established, the Logistic Battalion (''Trängbataljonen'') in
Marieberg,
Stockholm. It was divided into the
Svea Logistic Battalion Svea may refer to:
Name
* Svea (name), Swedish female given name meaning "Swede"
* Mother Svea, personification of Sweden
* Svea (singer) (Svea Virginia KÃ¥gemark, born 1999), a Swedish singer
Places
* United States
** Svea, Florida, unincorpor ...
(T 1) and the
Göta Logistic Battalion (T 2) in 1891, the latter being placed in
Karlsborg
Karlsborg (, outdatedly ) is a locality and the seat of Karlsborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 3,551 inhabitants in 2010. This garrison town lies at the shore of lake Vättern in Västergötland.
History
The town of K ...
. According to the Defence Act of 1892, two new logistic battalions,
Norrland Logistic Battalion
The Norrland Logistic Battalion ( sv, Norrlands trängbataljon, Trängbat/I 5), previously Norrland Logistic Corps ( sv, Norrlands trängkår, T 3) was a Swedish Army logistic unit operating between 1893 and 2004. The unit was first based in St ...
(T 3) in
Sollefteå
Sollefteå () is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Sollefteå Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 8,562 inhabitants in 2010.
The earliest written account on Sollefteå is found in a script dating back to 1270. Duri ...
and
Wendes Logistic Battalion (T 4) in
Landskrona
Landskrona (old da, Landskrone) is a town in Scania, Sweden. Located on the shores of the Öresund, it occupies a natural port, which has lent the town at first military and subsequent commercial significance. Ferries operate from Landskrona t ...
were established. Through the Defence Act of 1901, two further logistic units (now called
corps
Corps (; plural ''corps'' ; from French , from the Latin "body") is a term used for several different kinds of organization. A military innovation by Napoleon I, the formation was first named as such in 1805. The size of a corps varies great ...
) were established, so that there would be one logistic unit for each army division.
These were the
2nd Svea Logistic Corps (T 5) and
2nd Göta Logistic Corps (T 6), which were placed in
Sala (1906), and in
Linköping
Linköping () is a city in southern Sweden, with around 105,000 inhabitants as of 2021. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Chu ...
(1911) respectively. They changed names in 1904 to
Västmanland Logistic Corps (T 5), and
Östgöta Logistic Corps (T 6). Meanwhile,
Wendes Logistic Corps changed name to
Scanian Logistic Corps. In 1905,
Göta Logistic Corps
Göta is a Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the offic ...
moved to
Skövde
Skövde () is a locality and urban centre in Skövde Municipality and Västra Götaland County, in the Västergötland (Western Gothland region) in central Southern Sweden.
Skövde is situated some 150 km northeast of Gothenburg, between ...
and in 1907
Svea Logistic Corps moved to
Örebro
Örebro ( , ) is the sixth-largest city in Sweden, the seat of Örebro Municipality, and capital of the Örebro County. It is situated by the Närke Plain, near the lake Hjälmaren, a few kilometers inland along the small river Svartån, an ...
and Scanian Logistic Corps moved to
Hässleholm.

In the Defence Act of 1914, an inspector (colonel) became the highest guardian of the army service corps. By now it occupied 87 officers plus 6 regimental physicians and 6 battalion physicians, 6 battalion veterinarians and regimental pastors. According to the
Defence Act of 1925, Västmanland and Östgöta Logistic Corps were disbanded, while Svea Logistic Corps was placed in Linköping.
The Swedish Army Service Troops now consisted of the Inspector of the Swedish Army Service Troops with staff as well as four corps'. In each corps, a train, an automobile and a medical company were organized. In the Defence Act of 1942, the Swedish Army Service Troops were significantly expanded and an independent logistic company was established in
Nora (T 2 N), disbanded in 1952. After the independent
commissariat
A commissariat is a department or organization commanded by a commissary or by a corps of commissaries.
In many countries, commissary is a police rank. In those countries, a commissariat is a police station commanded by a commissary.
In some ar ...
and ordnance companies were transferred to the army service troops, the corps became regiments (1949). In 1954 there were
Svea Logistic Regiment (T 1) in Linköping,
Göta Logistic Regiment (T 2) in Skövde,
Norrland Logistic Regiment
Norrland (, "Northland", originally ''Norrlanden'' or "the Northlands") is the northernmost, largest and least populated of the three traditional lands of Sweden, consisting of nine provinces. Although Norrland does not serve any adminis ...
(T 3) in Sollefteå and
Scanian Logistic Regiment (T 4) in Hässleholm.
Officers where trained at the Swedish Army Service Troops Cadet School (''Trängtruppernas kadettskola'', TrängKS) 1942–1961, the Swedish Army Service Troops Cadet and Officer Candidate School (''Trängtruppernas kadett- och aspirantskola'', TrängKAS) 1961–1981, the Swedish Army Service Troops Officers College (''Trängtruppernas officershögskola'', TrängOHS) 1981–1991 and the Swedish Army Maintenance Center (''Arméns underhållscentrum'', UhC) 1991–1997.
Since 2004, the only remaining unit of the Swedish Army Service Troops is the
Logistic Regiment (TrängR) in
Skövde
Skövde () is a locality and urban centre in Skövde Municipality and Västra Götaland County, in the Västergötland (Western Gothland region) in central Southern Sweden.
Skövde is situated some 150 km northeast of Gothenburg, between ...
. It consists, among other units, of the 1st and the 2nd Logistics Battalions, which has the tasks of supplying
materiel
Materiel (; ) refers to supplies, equipment, and weapons in military supply-chain management, and typically supplies and equipment in a commercial supply chain context.
In a military context, the term ''materiel'' refers either to the spec ...
such as fuel, ammunition, food, water and other equipment to the units of the Swedish Armed Forces. The battalions are organized with one battalion staff, one command company and three logistics companies. In peacetime, the battalions has one medical reinforcement company each.
Uniforms
Miscellaneous
In 1885 the first uniform of the new army branch was approved. The model was based on the dragoon uniform. The
tunic
A tunic is a garment for the body, usually simple in style, reaching from the shoulders to a length somewhere between the hips and the knees. The name derives from the Latin ''tunica'', the basic garment worn by both men and women in Ancient Rom ...
was of dark blue
broadcloth
Broadcloth is a dense, plain woven cloth, historically made of wool. The defining characteristic of broadcloth is not its finished width but the fact that it was woven much wider (typically 50 to 75% wider than its finished width) and then he ...
, double-buttoned with
shoulder strap
A shoulder strap is a strap over a shoulder. They are often affixed to women's dresses to support its weight or as part of its style. The term is also applied to carrying bags.
Dress shoulder strap
Image:Camisole.png, Camisole
Image:Preprom.jpg, ...
s and medium blue facing fastened with seven silver-coloured buttons of corps model on each side and medium blue
piping
Within industry, piping is a system of pipes used to convey fluids (liquids and gases) from one location to another. The engineering discipline of piping design studies the efficient transport of fluid.
Industrial process piping (and accomp ...
along the bottom edge.
The Prussian
collar
Collar may refer to:
Human neckwear
*Clerical collar (informally ''dog collar''), a distinctive collar used by the clergy of some Christian religious denominations
*Collar (clothing), the part of a garment that fastens around or frames the neck
...
and
cuff
A cuff is a layer of fabric at the lower edge of the sleeve of a garment (shirt, coat, jacket, etc.) at the wrist, or at the ankle end of a trouser leg. The function of turned-back cuffs is to protect the cloth of the garment from fraying, ...
s were medium blue and decorated with two white
buttonhole
Buttonholes are reinforced holes in fabric that buttons pass through, allowing one piece of fabric to be secured to another. The raw edges of a buttonhole are usually finished with stitching. This may be done either by hand or by a sewing machine. ...
s. The long trousers and the
riding breeches
Breeches ( ) are an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item of Western men's cl ...
were of dark blue broadcloth and had medium blue piping on the outer seams. Officers had silver-coloured
epaulette
Epaulette (; also spelled epaulet) is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. Flexible metal epaulettes (usually made from brass) are referred to as ''shoulder scales ...
s with medium blue lining.
Headgear was a dark blue cap m/1865 of infantry model or a
casque of black leather with plate and chinstrap of silver-plated metal. On parade the point could be exchanged for a drooping
plume of black horsehair. A belt of brown leather or, for officers, a blue and yellow
sash
A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else running around the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, bu ...
were worn when needed. For footgear, black boots or riding boots with
spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...
s.
In 1895 a dark blue single-buttoned tunic with medium blue collar and piping along the front and lower edge and on the rear pockets. A white buttonhole with a button on each cuff. Cap m/1865 was replaced by cap m/1886. The casque was kept but from 1895 was called helmet. In 1900 a stable jacket of dark blue broadcloth was introduced for officers and NCOs.
Arms and strappings
The officer's sabre m/1891 was replaced by sabre m/1872 for all personnel. Hand-held firearms were carbine m/1870 and m/1894 while officers had revolver m/1871 and m/1887.
File:Vapenrock m1895 typ II manskap trängen.jpg, Tunic m/1895 type II for privates.
File:Kollett m1871 trängen.jpg, Stable jacket m/1871 for a lieutenant in the Svea Logistic Corps (T 1).
File:Ridbyxor m1895 officer trängen.jpg, Riding breeches m/1895 for privates.
File:Långbyxor m1895 officer trängen.jpg, Long trousers m/1895 for officers.
File:Hjälm m1885 2.jpg, Helmet m/1885 for privates.
File:Hjälm m1885 med plym m1885 2.jpg, Helmet m/1885 with plume m/1885 for officers.
File:Hjälm m1885 för officer 2.jpg, Helmet m/1885 for officers.
File:Axelklaff m1895 överste trängen.jpg, Shoulder strap m/1895 for colonel.
File:Överste vid trängen modell 10 AM.001297.jpg, Shoulder mark m/1910 for colonel.
File:Kragspegel trängen.jpg, Collar patch m/1958.
Inspector of the Swedish Army Service Troops
The head was called Inspector of the Swedish Army Service Troops (''Tränginspektören'', Trinsp).
The Inspector, who also has regimental commander's power and authority of the branch's officers and non-commissioned officers with similarities, had the rank of colonel. In his capacity as branch inspector, and regarding the training of the army service troops, he had the same duties and responsibilities as other inspectors.
The Inspector was assisted by a staff, the Army Service Troops Inspectorate (''Tränginspektionen''). The Inspector was from 1991 to 1997 the head of the Swedish Army Maintenance Center (''Arméns underhållscentrum'', UhC).

*1887–1888:
Hemming Gadd
General Hemming Gadd (6 November 1837 – 14 January 1915) was a Swedish Army officer. His senior commands included regimental commander of the 2nd Life Grenadier Regiment and Svea Life Guards, as well as commander of the 4th Army Division. Gadd ...
(acting)
*1888–1889: Emil Adolf Malmborg (acting)
*1889–1892:
Ernst von der Lancken
*1892–1896: Gustaf Anton Bråkenhielm
*1896–1903: Malcolm Hamilton
*1903–1906: Carl Wilhelm Ericson
*1906–1915: ?
*1915–1915:
Gustaf Uggla (acting)
*1916–1926: John Améen
*1927–1931:
Eric Virgin
*1931–1933:
Olof Thörnell
General Olof Gerhard Thörnell (19 October 1877 – 25 July 1977) was a Swedish Army officer. He was Sweden's first Supreme Commander from 8 December 1939 until 1944. Before 1939 that had been the role of the King.
Early life
Thörnell was bor ...
*1933–1942:
Axel Bredberg
Lieutenant General Axel Bredberg (24 February 1884 – 5 February 1960) was a Swedish Army officer. His senior commands include Inspector of the Swedish Army Service Troops from 1933 to 1942, Chief of the Defence Staff from 1942 to 1944 and mili ...
*1942–1946:
Ivar Gewert
*1946–1949:
Gottfrid Björck
Major General Karl Gottfrid Björck (31 May 1893 – 8 July 1981) was a Swedish Army officer. He served as Inspector of the Swedish Army Service Troops from 1946 to 1949, and as such, was chief of transportation of the White Buses operation to re ...
*1949–1956: Knut Hagberg
*1956–1960: Adolf Norberg
*1960–1965: Birger Hasselrot
*1965–1972: Magnus Bruzelius
*1972–1974: Dag Nordenskiöld
*1974–1983:
Börje Wallberg
*1983–1987:
Curt Sjöö
*1987–1991: Claes Tamm
*1991–1993: Ragnar Söderberg
*1993–1997: Lars Nordmark
See also
*
Swedish Armoured Troops
The Swedish Armoured Troops ( sv, Pansartrupperna, P) is the armoured branch of the Swedish Army. Since 2005, the Armoured Troops include the South Scanian Regiment (P 7) in Revingehed, Skaraborg Regiment (P 4) in Skövde, Norrbotten Armoured B ...
*
Swedish Engineer Troops
The Swedish Engineer Troops ( sv, Ingenjörtrupperna, I) is the engineer branch of the Swedish Army. The Troops were formed after the Defence Act of 1936. Today, it consists of a single unit, the Göta Engineer Regiment (Ing 2) and two schools, ...
*
Swedish Army Signal Troops
Swedish Army Signal Troops ( sv, Signaltrupperna, S) is the signal branch of the Swedish Army.
History
The Swedish Army Signal Troops were organized in accordance with the Defence Act of 1936 as a special branch of the field telegraph troops wh ...
*
List of Swedish logistic regiments
This is a list of Swedish logistic regiments, battalions, corps and companies that have existed in the Swedish Army. They are listed in three ways, first by the actual units that have existed, then by the various names these units have had, and ...
Footnotes
References
Notes
Print
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Further reading
*{{cite book , title=Trängtrupperna 100 år 1885-1985 , year=1984 , publisher=Militärhistoriska förl. , location=Stockholm , language=sv , isbn=91-85266-30-2 , id={{LIBRIS, 7747340
Military units and formations of the Swedish Army
Military logistics units and formations of Sweden
1885 establishments in Sweden
Military units and formations established in 1885