Country Finland Type Heavy armoured | Branch Finnish Army Garrison Parolannummi, Hattula | |
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Active 1942–1944 Panssaridivisioona (Armoured Division)
1946–1952: Kevyt Prikaati (Light Brigade)
1952–: Panssariprikaati (Armoured Brigade) Size 1,700 conscripts, 600 career personnel | ||
The Armoured Brigade (Finnish: Panssariprikaati) is a Finnish Army training unit located in Parolannummi, near Hämeenlinna, in southern Finland. The brigade specialises in training armoured and anti-aircraft troops. In case of mobilization, the Finnish Defence Forces would field one armoured brigade. The war-time armoured brigade has a strength of around 5,700 men, and fields 63 main battle tanks, 110 infantry fighting vehicles, circa 100 armoured personnel carriers, mainly of Soviet origin, and roughly 70 other armoured vehicles. However, the remaining war-time armoured brigade is being phased out and replaced by smaller mechanized battle groups. The new mechanized battle groups will field the Leopard 2 MBTs that are not included in the organization of the contemporary war-time armoured brigades.
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Organisation
Since Finnish Defence Forces reform in 2015, the structure of the Armoured Brigade is the following:
The Armoured Band (Panssarisoittokunta) was disbanded in 2013 as part of the FDF reform. After disbandment of Military Music School and Häme Regiment, the Conscript band was attached under Armored Brigade's command. Following the disbandment of Signals Regiment in 2014, the Center of Electronic Warfare was attached to the brigade. After disbandment of Military Music School and Häme Regiment, the Conscript band was attached under Armored Brigade's command. Armoured School, which trains reserve officers and career personnel was attached to Army Academy in 2015.