Defenders of Gotland

Defenders of Gotland By John Lee During the Cold War, Sweden maintained that the Soviet Union was the biggest military threat to its sovereignty and kept a mass conscription system in place to ensure it could respond quickly if invaded. The island of Gotland occupies a strategic location in the Baltic Sea and is thus considered to have a permanent garrison assigned.  The Gotland Military Command in Visby had the Gotland Brigade, an Artillery Regiment, a Coastal Artillery Regiment and an Anti-Aircraft Battalion (RBS, 20mm AA, Bofors 40mm).

The Gotland Brigade consisted of five Armoured Battalions (2 independent), each made up of one tank company, two infantry companies and an artillery battery.  Equipment-wise, the brigade used Centurions, wheeled APCs, 90mm recoilless rifles, and towed howitzers.  There is also an Artillery Battalion (towed 155mm howitzers), Armoured Reconnaissance Company (Wheeled APCs, Jeeps, 90mm recoilless rifles), Anti-tank Company (Carl Gustavs and Bantam missiles), and Engineer Company.

We can represent this force in two ways – An infantry-based force (numerically more companies) and a tank-based force.  Starting with the infantry-based force, we are going to have to substitute where we can.  For example, using the PBV 302 instead of wheeled APCs, Bandkanons for towed howitzers, Lrvbv 701 instead of man pads and Pvpjtgb RBS instead of Bantam missiles.

The PBV 302 Armoured Rifle Formation consists of the following units: 1 Pbv 302 Armoured Rifle Company HQ 2-3 PBV 302 Armoured Rifle Platoon 0-1 STRV 103 S-Tank Platoon or STRV 104 Centurion Tank Platoon 0-1 IKV 91 Tracked Anti-Tank Platoon 0-1 PBV 302 Armoured Recon Platoon 0-1 PVRBV 551 Anti-Tank Missile Platoon or PVPJTGB RBS Anti-Tank Missile Platoon 0-1 PVPJTGB 90mm Anti-Tank Missile Platoon

To properly represent this at 100pts, we will field a dual formation.  The air force would also operate from the island using airfields as well as semi-prepared sites including highways, so we will include the Viggens in the list as well.

Both formations use what would be along the equipment lines (with substitutions) and end up with six units for the formation count.  This force will be difficult to break with four infantry platoons in total.  Two units of 90mm recoilless rifles to take on light units or look to remove enemy artillery and AA units.  Two units for spearhead to get your Centurions (with their ERA armour!) and infantry into assault positions where the missions allow it.  Artillery unit that has Autoloader making it easier to hit units under the template once ranged in – easier to dig out infantry (and now mortar teams).  Pvpjtgb RBS-56 provide sniping AT22 goodness at long range or also taking out enemy AA for the Viggens to come screaming on with their AT27 Mavericks!

The second option to run is the STRV 104 Centurion Tank Company.  The formation is comprised of the following units: 1 STRV 104 Centurion Tank Company HQ 2-3 STRV 104 Centurion Tank Platoon 0-2 PBV 302 Armoured Infantry Platoon 0-1 PBV 302 Armoured Recon Platoon

One of the unique designs for the Swedes is that they have two infantry slots in the formation which is unusual but very useful.  We can max out the formation and add artillery, AA, and air assets.  Looking at a 100pt list:

Seven units for the formation break.  Two infantry units to anchor the formation and a unit for spearhead.  The Centurions have ERA so good for assaulting whilst the infantry guard the objectives.  The tanks also have brutal, so can dig out infantry and mortar teams alongside the artillery template from the Bandkanons.  The HKP 9s can take out the enemy AA units to make way for the Viggens to come on to drop enemy tank units.  Finally, the Pvpjtgb RBS-55 can also be used to snipe enemy AA units or high-value targets.

Some food for thought on a couple of different options to run to represent a part of the Swedish army tasked with defending the vital island against the Soviet Union!  Enjoy! ~ John