Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment

The Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (Swedish: Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente), designation KA 1, was a Swedish Navy coastal artillery regiment of the Swedish Armed Forces which operated between 1902 and 2000. The unit was based at Rindö in the Stockholm archipelago in Uppland.

Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment
Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente
Active	1902–2000
Country	Sweden
Allegiance	Swedish Armed Forces
Branch	Swedish Navy
Type	Coastal artillery
Size	Regiment
Part of	MDO (1933–1957) MKO (1957–1966) Milo Ö (1966–1985) SK/KA 1 (1985–1990) MKO (1990–1994) Milo M (1994–2000)
Garrison/HQ	Rindö
March	"Honnör för Finska Gardet" by R. Arnoldsson (1902–1948) "Gardeskamrater" by S. Rydberg (1948–2000)[note 1]
Commanders
Notable commanders	Håkan Syrén
Insignia
Branch insignia
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Colour

History

On 1 January 1902, the Swedish Coastal Artillery was established as a separate military branch in the Swedish Armed Forces, following a decision taken in May the previous year. The decision meant that Karlskrona Artillery Corps and Vaxholm Artillery Corps was disbanded and that a coastal artillery was established.[2] The Vaxholm Artillery Corps was transferred to the coastal artillery and formed the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 1). The regiment manned the Vaxholm Fortress and Oskar-Fredriksborg Fortress as well as Fårösund's coastal position and Hörningsholm's coastal position.[3]

The regimental buildings, drawn by Erik Josephson, were completed in 1906. The barracks were completed already in 1904 and had three floors unlike the design which had four.[4] Parts of KA 1 was placed at Vaxholm and it was not until the 1940s that the operations were collocated to eastern Rindö next to Oskar-Fredriksborg Fortress. KA 1 consisted of artillery companies, naval mine companies and yrkes (occupational) companies: an organization that was maintained until the 1940s. In 1941, the former buildings of the Vaxholm Grenadier Regiment (I 26) became a part of the KA 1. The part of the KA 1 that has been placed at the Vaxholm Fortress was instead placed in the former barracks of I 26.[4]

In 1981 the regiment became subordinated to the Stockholm Coastal Artillery Defense (Stockholms kustartilleriförsvar, SK/Fo 46) and renamed Stockholm Coastal Artillery Defense with Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (Stockholms kustartilleriförsvar med Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente, SK/KA 1). This organization was retained until SK was merge with the East Coast Naval Command in 1990.[5] The regiment was renamed the Vaxholm Amphibian Regiment (Amf 1) in 2000, when parts of the coastal artillery was converted into the Swedish Amphibious Corps. The Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment was disbanded on 31 October 2000 as a result of the disarmament policies set forward in the Defence Act of 2000.[2]

Organization

In 1956 the organization was as follows:[6]

• Blocking battalion with battalion staff

1. Battalion (staff and military communications training)
2. Battalion (heavy naval artillery)
3. Battalion (light naval artillery)

• Naval mine battalion and battalion staff
• Naval Mine School

1. Minelayer division (mine and dive training)
2. Minelayer division (boat training)

• Close Combat School (Närförsvarsskolan) with school staff

1. Coastal Ranger Company
2. Coastal Ranger Company

Units

1st Coastal Artillery Brigade

The 1st Coastal Artillery Brigade (Första kustartilleribrigaden, KAB 1) was raised in 1956 as a coastal artillery brigade and was in the peace organization under the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment. The brigade consisted initially in the war organization of a staff at Hamnholmen and two barrier battalions (spärrbataljoner based on Arholma and Söderarm and local defense battalions.[7] In 1984, the brigade's war organization consisted of three barrier battalions, the Roten, Arholma and Söderarm, and local defense battalions.[8] On 1 July 1994, the brigade was also separated from the regiment in the peace organization and reorganized into the Roslagen Marine Brigade (RMB).[9]

2nd Coastal Artillery Brigade

The 2nd Coastal Artillery Brigade (Andra kustartilleribrigaden, KAB 2) was raised in 1956 as a coastal artillery brigade and was in the peace and war organization under the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment. The brigade consisted initially in the war organization of a staff at Rindö and barrier battalion based on Korsö and two coastal ranger companies as well as two missile batteries.[7] In 1984, the brigade's war organization consisted of the Korsö barrier battalion, three mobile barrier companies and three coastal ranger companies.[8] On 1 July 1994, the brigade was reorganized into a mobile brigade command with assembly point in the middle of Stockholm archipelago. In 1996, the brigade consisted of, among other things, the Korsö barrier battalion (which is now called marine defense battalion kustförsvarsbataljon), the 1st Amphibious Battalion (1. amfibiebataljonen) and the Battle Group Oxdjupet (submarine security company). The brigade was disbanded on 30 June 2000 and, from 1 July 2000, formed the basis of the Vaxholm Amphibian Regiment (Amf 1).[9]

3rd Coastal Artillery Brigade

The 3rd Coastal Artillery Brigade (Tredje kustartilleribrigaden, KAB 3) was raised in 1956 and was in the peace organization under the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment. The brigade consisted in the war organization of a staff on Järflotta and three barrier battalions, Ornö, Mellsten and Askö.[7] On 1 July 1994, the brigade was also separated from the regiment in the peace organization and reorganized into the Södertörn Marine Brigade (SMB).[9]

Heraldry and traditions

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 1) 1902–1994, the 2nd Coastal Artillery Brigade with Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (KAB 2/KA 1) 1994–2000 and Vaxholm Amphibian Regiment (Amf 1) since 2000. Blazon: "Azure, the Swedish minor coat-of-arms, three open crowns or placed two and one, a cluster of rays or coming from the crown. The shield surmounted two gunbarrels of older pattern in saltire sable between two pyramids of three gunballs sable each in front of a wall embattled as a bastion, coloured brick".[10]

Commanding officers

• 1902–1904: Colonel Oskar Sylvander
• 1904–1914: Colonel Karl Wirgin
• 1914–1924: Colonel Herman Gustaf Mauritz Wrangel
• 1924–1926: Colonel Sam Bolling
• 1926–1929: Colonel Tor Wahlman
• 1929–1935: Colonel Theodor Hasselgren
• 1935–1936: Colonel Harald Engblom
• 1936–1940: Colonel Frej Allbrandt
• 1940–1947: Colonel Allan Cyrus
• 1947–1951: Colonel Emil Cederlöf
• 1951–1957: Colonel Bo Lindeberg
• 1957–1962: Colonel Olof Karlberg
• 1962–1967: Colonel Curt Karlberg
• 1967–1969: Colonel Björn Engwall
• 1969–1974: Colonel Eric Jarneberg
• 1974–1977: Colonel Sven-Åke Adler
• 1977–1981: Colonel Gunnar Fernander
• 1981–1983: Colonel Lars G. Persson
• 1983–1987: Colonel Per Lundbeck
• 1987–1989: Colonel Fredrik Hillelson
• 1990–1992: Colonel Bertil Kristensson
• 1992–1994: Colonel Claes-Göran Hedén
• 1994–1996: Colonel Håkan Syrén
• 1996–2000: Colonel Stefan Jontell

Names, designations and locations

Name	Translation	From		To
Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente	Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment	1902-01-01	–	1984-12-31?
Stockholms kustartilleriförsvar med Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente	Stockholm Coastal Artillery Defence with Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment	1937-07-01	–	1957-03-31
Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente	Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment	1990-07-01	–	1994-06-30
Andra kustartilleribrigaden med Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente	2nd Coastal Artillery Brigade with Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment	1994-07-01	–	1998-06-30
Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente och första kustartilleribrigaden	Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment and the 1st Coastal Artillery Brigade	1998-07-01	–	2000-06-30
Designation		From		To
KA 1		1902-01-01	–	1984-12-31?
SK/KA 1		1985-01-01?	–	1990-06-30
MKO/KA 1		1990-07-01	–	1994-06-30
KAB 2/KA 1		1994-07-01	–	1998-06-30
KA 1/KAB 1		1998-07-01	–	2000-06-30
Location		From		To
Vaxholm Garrison/Rindö		1902-01-01	–	2000-06-30

See also

• Vaxholm Artillery Corps
• Vaxholm Grenadier Regiment
• List of Swedish coastal artillery regiments

Footnotes

1. The march was adopted in 1948 and established on 13 June 1996. It was taken over by the Vaxholm Amphibian Regiment (Amf 1) in 2000.[1]

References

Notes

1. Sandberg 2007, p. 63
2. Lindén 2013, pp. 1, 34
3. Westrin 1915, p. 336
4. "Kulturmiljöinventering av f.d. Kustartilleriregemente KA 1 vid Oscar Fredriksborg på Rindö, Vaxholm" (in Swedish). Vasallen, Nyréns Arkitektkontor. 12 January 2007. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
5. Birke & Braunstein 2011, p. 47
6. Eriksson 2008
7. Kustförsvar 2002, p. 304.
8. Kustförsvar 2002, p. 306.
9. Kustförsvar 2002, pp. 85-86.
10. Braunstein 2006, pp. 52-53

Print

• Birke, Sune; Braunstein, Christian (2011). Sveriges marina förband och skolor under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 13 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 978-91-976220-5-9. SELIBR 12638815.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Braunstein, Christian (2006). Heraldiska vapen inom det svenska försvaret [Heraldry of the Swedish Armed Forces] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 9 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-9-6. SELIBR 10099224.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Sandberg, Bo (2007). Försvarets marscher och signaler förr och nu: marscher antagna av svenska militära förband, skolor och staber samt igenkännings-, tjänstgörings- och exercissignaler (in Swedish) (New ed.). Stockholm: Militärmusiksamfundet med Svenskt marscharkiv. ISBN 978-91-631-8699-8. SELIBR 10413065.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Westrin, Theodor, ed. (1915). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi (in Swedish) (Ny, rev. och rikt ill. uppl. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. SELIBR 8072220.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Kustförsvar: från kustbefästningar till amfibiekår : Kustartilleriet-Amfibiekåren 1902-2002 (in Swedish). Hårsfjärden: Marintaktiska kommandot. 2002. ISBN 91-631-2285-5. SELIBR 8555135.

Web

• Eriksson, Tim (16 February 2008). "Waxholms Kustartilleriregemente KA1". www.kustartilleriet.gearhead.se (in Swedish). Kustartilleriet.se. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2010.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Lindén, Mattias (2013). "Uppförandet av Kustartilleriet som vapengren 1902" [The establishment of the coastal artillery as a military branch in 1902] (PDF) (in Swedish). Linnaeus University. Retrieved 18 October 2016.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading

• Ljungberg, Mauritz C:son (1982). "Kungl. Vaxholms kustartilleriregemente: några anteckningar om dess föregångare". Vaxholms fästnings museum (in Swedish). 1982 (22): 5–44 : ill. ISSN 0349-4802. SELIBR 10256133.