Norrbotten Regiment


The Norrbotten Regiment, designation I 19, is a Swedish Army arctic armoured, light infantry and commando regiment that traces its origins back to the 19th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Norrbotten, and it is currently garrisoned in Boden, Norrbotten. The regiment has the responsibility for training two armoured and one special recon battalion, as well as number of Arctic light infantry battalions from the home guard as well as running the army's winter unit.
As of 2018, the Norrbotten Regiment employs 489 professional officers, 402 full-time soldiers, 512 part-time soldiers, 116 civilians and 683 reserve officers.

History

The regiment was created in 1841 when Västerbotten Field Jäger Regiment was split into two corps units of battalion size, one of them being Norrbotten Field Jäger Corps. The unit was upgraded to regimental size and renamed to Norrbottens regemente in 1892. The regiment had its training grounds at various places in Norrbotten, but was eventually garrisoned in Boden in 1907. A skiing battalion was created in 1910, and in 1943 this ski battalion was split off from the regiment to later becoming The Army Ranger School and in 1975 as Lapland Ranger Regiment.
The regiment merged with Norrbotten Armoured Battalion in 1975 to form Norrbotten Regiment with Norrbotten Armoured Battalion, and the unit gained the designation I 19/P 5. For a short time in the 1990s, the unit was then merged with the wartime-organised Norrbotten Brigade, designation MekB 19. In 2000, the unit was reorganised once again, and was redesignated back to its old designation I 19 despite being an armoured regiment, the name was also changed back to Norrbotten Regiment.

Organisation

;1841
;2000
;2007
The current organisation of the regiment includes:

Colours, standards and guidons

The Norrbotten Regiment presents one regimental colour, three battalion colours and two battalion standards:

Colour of Norrbotten Regiment

On 31 August 1974, the regiment was presented with a new colour by His Majesty the King Gustaf VI Adolf in connection with the 350th anniversary of the regiment. When the Norrbotten Armoured Battalion was amalgamated with the regiment, its standard was carried to the side of the regimental colour. The standard is carried again by the Norrbotten Armoured Battalion since 1 July 2000.
A new colour was presented to the regiment in Boden by His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf on 27 August 2001. The colour is drawn by Kristina Holmgård-Åkerberg and embroidered by machine and hand in insertion technique by Maj-Britt Salander/company Blå Kusten. Blazon: "On blue cloth powdered with yellow estoiles, the provincial badge of Västerbotten; a white reindeer at speed, armed and langued red. On a white border at the upper side of the colour, battle honours in blue and close to the staff the provincial badge of Lappland; a red savage with green garlands on head and around loins, clutching a yellow club on right shoulder.
A new colour was presented to the regiment in Boden by His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf on 7 September 2019. The colour is drawn by Henrik Dahlström, heraldic artist and graphic designer at the State Herald at the National Archives of Sweden. The colour was made by Friends of Handicraft in Stockholm, which is a subcontractor to the Swedish Army Museum. Pre- and post-work as well as embroidery work were done by Viola Edin and Anna Eriksson at company Konstbrodöserna. The wild man in red that was to the left of the battle honours in the old colour has been removed, as the Västerbotten Group, that carry those traditions, from 2020 belongs to Northern Military Region with the Västerbotten Group in Umeå.

Colour of Norrland Artillery Battalion

The colour is drawn by Kristina Holmgård-Åkerberg and embroidered by machine in insertion technique by Sofie Thorburn. The colour was presented to the battalion in Kristinehamn by His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf on 15 April 2002. The colour may be used according to the decisions of CO I 19. Blazon: "On blue cloth in the centre Swedish minor national coat-of-arms, three yellow crowns placed two and one. In the first corner the town badge of Boden; a white wall with a gatetower embattled, in the second corner two crossed yellow gunbarrels of older pattern, in the third corner the provincial badge of Västerbotten, a white reindeer at speed, armed red and in the fourth corner the provincial badge of Jämtland, a white elk passant, attacked on its back by a rising falcon and in the front by a rampant dog, both yellow; all animals armed red."

Colour of Norrland Engineer Battalion

The colour is drawn by Kristina Holmgård-Åkerberg and embroidered by machine and hand in insertion technique by the company Libraria. The colour was presented to the then Norrland Engineer Battalion in Boden by His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf on 27 August 2001. The colour may be used according to the decisions of CO I 19. Blazon: "On blue cloth in the centre Swedish minor national coat-of arms, three yellow crowns placed two and one. In the first corner a mullet with a cluster of rays, all in yellow. In the lower part of this the coat of arms of the unit; argent, throughout a wall with a gatetower both embattled gules ; on a chief azure three open crowns in fess or. The shield ensigned with a royal crown proper.

Colour of Norrland Signal Battalion

The colour is drawn by Brita Grep and embroidered by hand in insertion technique by the company Libraria. The colour was presented to the then Royal Norrland Signal Battalion in Boden by His Majesty King Gustaf VI Adolf on 7 July 1961. It was used as regimental colour by S 3 until 1 July 2000. The colour may be used according to the decisions of CO I 19. Blazon: "On blue cloth in the centre the Swedish minor national coat-of-arms, three yellow crowns placed two and one. In the first corner a mullet with a cluster of rays, all yellow. In the lower part of this placed upon a cluster of yellow bolts, the provincial coat of arms of Västerbotten; azure powdered with estoiles or, a reindeer at speed argent armed and langued gules. The shield ensigned with a royal crown proper."

Standard of Norrland Air Defence Battalion

The standard is drawn by Brita Grep and embroidered by hand in insertion technique by the Kedja studio, Heraldica. The standard was presented to the then Royal Luleå Air Defence Corps in Luleå by the military commander of the VI Military District, major general Nils Rosenblad in 1943. It was used as regimental standard by Lv 7 until 1 July 2000. The standard may be used according to the decisions of CO I 19. Blazon: "On blue cloth in the centre Swedish minor national coat-ofarms, three open yellow crowns placed two and one. In the first corner the town badge of Luleå ; two white keys, the left inverted. In the other corners two winged yellow gunbarrels of older pattern in saltire. Yellow fringe."

Standard of Norrbotten Armoured Battalion

The standard is drawn by Brita Grep and embroidered by hand in insertion technique by Libraria. The standard was presented to the former Royal Norrbotten Armoured Battalion in Boden by His Majesty the King Gustaf VI Adolf on 28 July 1961. It was used as battalion standard until 1975 and then as a traditional standard at I 19 up to 1 July 2000. The standard may be used according to the decisions of CO I 19. Blazon: "On blue cloth powdered with yellow estoiles the provincial badge of Västerbotten; a white reindeer at speed, armed and langued red. Blue fringe."

Coat of arms

The coat of the arms of the Norrbotten Regiment 1977–1994. Blazon: "Azure, powdered with estoiles or, the provincial badge of Västerbotten, a reindeer courant argent, armed and langued gules. The shield surmounted two muskets in saltire or." The coat of arms of the Norrbotten Armoured Battalion 1957–1975 and the Norrbotten Regiment and Norrbotten Brigade 1994–2000. 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". The coat of the arms of the Norrbotten Regiment since 2000. Blazon: "Azure, powdered with estoiles or, the provincial badge of Västerbotten, a reindeer courant argent, armed gules".

Medals

In 1967, the Norrbottens regementes förtjänstmedalj in gold/silver/bronze of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is of blue moiré with a yellow stripe on the middle followed on each side by a black line and a white stripe.

Other

When the Lapland Brigade was disbanded on 31 December 1997, Norrbotten Regiment took over its traditions and colour, which should not be mixed with the colour and traditions of Västerbotten Regiment, which were transferred on 1 July 2000 to the Västerbotten Group. In addition to the traditional heritage of the Lapland Brigade, the regiment also has primarily traditional heritage from Norrbotten Regiment with Norrbotten Armoured Battalion, Norrbotten Regiment and Norrbotten Brigade, Norrbotten Armoured Battalion and Norrland Dragoon Regiment.

Commanding officers

Regimental commanders active from 1900. For regimental commanders active from 1994 to 2000, see Norrbotten Regiment and Norrbotten Brigade
NameTranslationFromTo
Kungl. Norrbottens fältjägarkårRoyal Norrbotten Ranger Corps1841-??-??–1892-12-11
Kungl. Norrbottens regementeRoyal Norrbotten Regiment1892-12-12–1974-12-31
Norrbottens regementeNorrbotten Regiment1975-01-01–1975-06-30
Norrbottens regemente med Norrbottens pansarbataljonNorrbotten Regiment with Norrbotten Armoured Battalion1975-07-01–1994-06-30
Norrbottens regementeNorrbotten Regiment2000-07-01–
DesignationFromTo
No. 191841-??-??–1914-09-30
I 191914-10-01–1975-06-30
I 19/P 51975-07-01–1994-06-30
I 192000-07-01–
LocationFromTo
Pitholms hed1841-??-??–1907-09-30
Näsby hed1841-??-??–1907-09-30
Notvikens lägerplats1883-05-02–1907-09-30
Boden Garrison1907-10-01–

Footnotes

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