The Organisation 63 Armoured Brigades were deployed to the south of Sweden where they were concentrated in the
13. Fördelningen. (
Fördelning = a division size formation”), sometimes known as
Pansarfördelningen (The Armoured Division).
(A
Fördelning did not have the same fixed structure as a foreign division, the Swedish brigades could be exchanged depending on how the “Red Invsion” developed – compare Israeli Ugdah). Generally a Fördelning was larger and did not have the same mobility as that of foreign divisions.
13. Fördelningen included:
PB7 (7th Arm Bde),
PB8 (8th Arm Bde),
PB26 (26th Arm Bde),
4.
Fördelningsartilleribataljon (”Divisional Artillery Bn”)
5.
Fördelningsartilleribataljon (”Divisional Artillery Bn”)
1. Coastal Artillery Bn.
3. Coastal Artillery Bn.
31. Anti Aircraft Bn
33. Anti Aircraft Bn
Engineer and Service/Support Elements.
PB9 (9th Arm Bde),
IB46 (46th Inf Bde)
In numbers if fielded about 30 000 men, between 210-280 tanks, 500 APCs and between 120-150 artillery guns.
The primary task of this armoured
fördelning was to beat back a seaborne invasion of the southern parts of Sweden.
Once the main Soviet invasion had been identified it would be committed into attack with two armoured brigades abreast. The third and fourth armoured brigade would reinforce the brigade in the first wave that met with the most success. The ambition was to as quickly as possible reach the beach area. The first 60 hours were considered to be crucial. If the Soviets managed to establish a solid bridgehead their weight of numbers would eventually tell.
Swedish local defence and infantry units were deployed in defensive positions and resistance nests along the coast but were only allowed to mine between the so called “beach road” and the sea. Other than that mines were forbidden in the extreme south of Sweden. Bridge and road demolitions could not be carried out without authorisation from higher command levels. Nothing must stop the armoured counter strike. “Get up and attack” was drummed into lower commanders. If lower commanders were for some reason not given orders they were still to attack.
The defence and the counterattack in the south rested on many uncertain factors.
Against a fully mobilised and deployed Swedish defence it was expected that the Soviets would need one to two weeks to soften the landing area and secure air supremacy – necessary ingredients for a successful seaborne invasion. But would the orders to mobilise have been issued in time?
Furthermore it was assumed that an invasion of Sweden would be a sideshow, where the Soviets deployed only a limited number of troops. Against a massive Soviet invasion across Finland into Sweden and with landings on six or more points along the eastern coast, Sweden would not have managed without massive help from the West.
The main battle tank of most Swedish Armoured Brigades was the Stridsvagn 103 aka S-tank – untested in combat it could potentially have some serious drawbacks in offensive warfare which was the intended role of the Swedish armoured brigades.
Horror Scenario:
Re: OOB 066 Sweden [WIP]
Hybrid Mode
