Active 1887–1963 Branch Swedish Army Size Regiment | Country Sweden Type Infantry | |
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Colours Red and white (−1953)
Blue and white (1954–1963) | ||
The Gotland Infantry Regiment (Swedish: Gotlands infanteriregemente), designations I 27 and I 18, was a Swedish Army infantry regiment that traced its origins back to the 19th century. It was reorganized into an armoured regiment in 1963. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited on the island of Gotland, and it was later garrisoned there.
Contents
History
The regiment has its origins in the unit Gotland National Conscription which was created in 1811. By a parliamentary decision in 1866 the Gotland National Conscription was transformed into an infantry regiment and an artillery corps (I 27 and A 4). A colonel was made regimental commander who also acted as the commander of Gotland's troops. The lieutenant colonel of the regiment came actually to serve as regimental commander until 1937. As of 1 January 1887 the regiment's name was Royal Gotland Infantry Regiment with the designation I 27. The regiment got a similar organization to other infantry regiments. The National Conscription's company area division remained until 1900 as the registration authority.
In 1892 the agreement that Gotland's troops may not be called for military service outside the island was repealed. At the same time the name Gotland National Conscription was dropped. In 1915 the regiment got Visborg Kungsladugård's land as training area and all the buildings as storehouses. In 1925 came a new parliamentary decision on the new defense arrangement, which meant the end of the regiment. The regiment was downgraded to a corps which took over Västmanland Regiment designation I 18. The officers corps was reduced by 2/3. The mainland contingent of conscripts was also reduced substantially.
In 1936 the Royal Swedish Gotland Infantry Corps was upgraded to a regiment with the name Royal Gotland Infantry Regiment, I 18. From 1944, a detachment from the Göta pansarlivgarde (P 1) was located in Visby under the name P 1 Gotland. On 1 April 1963 the detachment was merged with Gotland Infantry Regiment (I 18) and formed the Gotland Regiment (P 18) and was simultaneously transferred to the armored forces.
Campaigns
Organisation
Commanders
Commanders of I 27 and I 18: