Gotland Artillery Regiment

57°37′59″N 18°18′3″E / 57.63306°N 18.30083°E / 57.63306; 18.30083

Gotland Artillery Regiment
Gotlands artilleriregemente
Active	1811–1982, 1994–2000
Country	Sweden
Branch	Swedish Army
Type	Artillery
Size	Regiment
Part of	VII milo (1942–1966) Milo Ö (1966–1982) MKG (1982–1994) Milo M (1994–2000)
Garrison/HQ	Visby
Patron	Saint Barbara
Colors	Light grey
March	"Gotlands artilleriregementets marsch" (Wilhelm Löfdahl)[note 1]
Anniversaries	4 December
Insignia
Branch insignia
Cap badge
Shoulder sleeve insignia m/1906

The Gotland Artillery Regiment (Swedish: Gotlands artilleriregemente, designation A 7) was a Swedish Army artillery regiment that was in active service between 1811 and 2000. The regiment was based in Visby as part of the Gotland Garrison.

The regiment origins from the Artillery Conscripts of the Gotland National Conscription (Gotlands nationalbevärings artilleribeväring), which were organized in 1811 as a result of the Russian occupation of Gotland in 1808 and by a convention adopted by the islanders in December 1810, which was ratified by King Charles XIII on 5 February 1811. It consisted then of two artillery batteries and a fortification company with a squad of 100 men, located in Visby.^[2] The unit was reorganized in 1861 into Gotland National Conscription Artillery Corps (Gotlands nationalbevärings artillerikår) and was given the designation No 4. In 1887 the corps changed its name to Gotland Artillery Corps (No 4). The Gotland Artillery Corps was redesignated No 7 in 1892 so that the planned Norrland Artillery Regiment could become No 4. In 1914 the name was changed to A 7. In conjunction with the so called OLLI reform, which was carried out by the Swedish Armed Forces in 1973 and in 1975, A units and B units were created. The A units were regiments responsible for a defence district, and the B units were training regiments. In Gotland's case, it distinguished itself from the allotment on the mainland. This when the VII. Military Area was reorganized into Gotland Military Command (MKG) in 1966. The military command constituted a special command and control organization within the Eastern Military District, but did not have the overall responsibility for the administration of the island. Furthermore, the professional mobilization was led on a unit level. Through the reform, the full mobilization and material responsibility within the military command was added, regardless of military branch. This meant that the Gotland Artillery Corps which was included in the Gotland Military Command (MKG) came to be a B unit (training regiment). By the reform, the corps adopted the new name Gotland Artillery Regiment on 1 July 1975.^[3]

Prior to the Defence Act of 1977 and 1982, the Gotland Artillery Regiment was exempted from the investigation carried out by the National Institute of Defence Organization and Management (Försvarets rationaliseringsinstitut). In the Defence Act of 1977, the Gotland Artillery Regiment was exempted because of regional political conditions. Instead the National Institute of Defence Organization and Management believed that the Småland Artillery Regiment (A 6) with the Artillery Cadet and Aspirant School (Artilleriets kadett- och aspirantskola, ArtKAS) as well as the Miloverkstaden in Jönköping would be disbanded. The Supreme Commander and the Chief of the Army, however, believed that no artillery regiment would be disbanded. However, the National Institute of Defence Organization and Management suggested in their investigation to give the Supreme Commander the task of examining the further development of the OLLI organization. In a further development, it wanted to merge Gotland Regiment (P 18), Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) and Gotland Anti-Aircraft Battalion (Lv 2) into an army regiment.^[4] Prior to the Defence Act of 1982, the Boden Artillery Regiment, Gotland Artillery Regiment, Norrland Artillery Regiment, Wendes Artillery Regiment and the Bergslagen Artillery Regiment were exempted from the review of finding a cost reduction within the artillery. The Gotland Artillery Regiment were exempted from the investigation of disbandment, partly because of regional policy considerations but also demands for the war organization's preparedness and mobilization. The merger proposed by the government to the Riksdag in the previous act had not been implemented. This meant that the government once again proposed to the Riksdag to merge the staffs of the Gotland Regiment, Gotland Artillery Regiment and the Gotland Anti-Aircraft Battalion with the staff of the Gotland Military Command, and form an authority from 1 July 1982.^[5][6]

Through the Defence Act of 1992, the Gotland Military Command was separated from the Gotland Regiment, Gotland Artillery Regiment and the Gotland Anti-Aircraft Corps, and formed independent units from 1 July 1994. The military command came to only lead all operations on Gotland, which on the mainland were solved by the defense area staffs, division staffs and naval command staffs. Prior to the Defence Act of 2000, the government proposed in its Bill 1999/2000:30 that only one artillery regiment would remain in the basic organization. The regiments which the government wanted to disband included Gotland Artillery Regiment. This in the light that the government considered it unsuitable to centralize the artillery training to Gotland, not least due to the investment needs and the limited opportunities for long-term manpower. Remaining in the artillery of the new basic organization was the Bergslagen Artillery Regiment, this because the government considered that to be the regiment which had the best conditions for long-term training and practice of artillery units. On 30 June 2000, the Gotland Artillery Regiment was disbanded.^[7] On 1 July 2000, the Bergslagen Artillery Regiment took the new name, the Artillery Regiment.

In 1901 the corps was reorganized, and was increased so that it amounted to three batteries and a position company with a strength of 21 officers, 14 non-commissioned officers, four civilian servicemen and 156 male permanent workers.^[2] In the 1990s, the regiment was responsible for training of divisions artillery staff and battalions and brigade artillery battalions and armored artillery battalion included in the Gotland Military Command (MKG). When the Svea Artillery Regiment was disbanded, primary weapon systems of the regiment, Haubits 77B, were transferred to Gotland Artillery Regiment.

• Wisborgs Company (21st)
• Stålhatts Company (22nd)
• Carlswärds Company (23rd)

The units first barracks were located at S:t Hansgatan 19 in Visby, where it was located from 8 November 1839. On 8 June 1893 some parts of the unit were relocated to Grahams Mechanical Workshop at Hamnplan 1 In 1902, some parts of the unit were relocated to Strandgatan 12-14. On 13 April 1909, the unit moved into newly built barracks at Östra Hansegatan 28. The unit was located at Östra Hansegatan until 30 June 1986, when it was from 1 July 1986 colocalized with the Gotland Regiment at Langs väg 4. On 24 May 1986 a closing ceremony was held at Östra Hansegatan. At the Gotland Regiment, the unit moved into the Barracks 1, which was highlighted by a ceremony on 7 October 1988.^[8]

• 
  Barracks at Hamnplan 1
• 
  Chancery building and barracks I (from south)
• 
  Chancery building and barracks I (from north)
• 
  Riding/artillery piece hall
• 
  Ordnance workshop
• 
  Gym
• 
  1970s aerial view

The regiment's first training area was located 18 km northeast of Visby at Martebo mire. From 1 August 1898 it used Tofta firing range, located about 6 km south of Visby.^[8]

The regimental colour was presented by His Majesty the King Gustaf V on his birthday on 16 June 1938. After the Svea Artillery Regiment was disbanded on 31 December 1997, its colours and traditions was transferred to the Gotland Artillery Regiment. Gotland Artillery Regiment carried the colours to the side of its own until it was disbanded on 30 June 2000. The colours of the Svea Artillery Regiment was taken over by the Artillery Regiment.^[9]

• 
  The colour of the Gotland Artillery Regiment.

The coat of the arms of the Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) 1977–2000. Blazon: "Azure, the provincial badge of Gotland, a ram passant argent armed or, banner gules with crosstaff, edging and five flaps or. The shield surmounted two gunbarrels of older pattern in saltire or. The gunbarrels may be sable".^[10]

In 1947, the Gotlands artilleriregementes (A 7) förtjänstmedalj ("Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) Medal of Merit") in gold and silver (GotartregGM/SM) of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is divided in green, red and green moiré.^[11]

In 2000, the Gotlands artilleriregementes (A 7) minnesmedalj ("Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) Commemorative Merit") in silver (GotlartregSMM) of the 8th size was established. The medal ribbon is divided in red, green and red moiré.^[12]

• 
  Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) Medal of Merit in gold.
• 
  Gotland Artillery Regiment (A 7) Commemorative Medal in silver.

The traditions of the Gotland Artillery Regiment are preserved since 1 July 2000 by the Artillery Regiment. The traditions were preserved from 2000 to 2005 by the Gotland Regiment (P 18). A special manifestation on the day of the disbandment took place and a march was conducted through Visby with visits to a number of "A 7 places". The closing ceremony took place in the Donnershage which included the handover of the A 7's colours to the Artillery Regiment. At tattoo, the unveiling of the memorial stone placed in front of chancellery of the Gotland Regiment took place.^[13]

Commanding officers of the artillery on Gotland from 1860 to 2000. The commanding officer was referred to as kårchef ("corps commander") between 1860 and 1975 and regementschef ("regimental commander") between 1975 and 1982 and 1994 to 2000. During the years 1982–1994, the commanding officer was subordinate to the commanding officer of the Gotland Military Command (MKG).

• 1860–1868: LtCol Christer d'Albedyhll
• 1868–1879: LtCol Carl Edvard E af Chapman
• 1879–1884: LtCol Thiodolf Bernhard Borgh
• 1884–1886: LtCol Frans Thomas Schartau

Commanding officers 1887–2000:^[14]

• Military on Gotland
• Gotland Brigade
• Gotland Regiment
• Gotland Infantry Regiment
• List of Swedish artillery regiments

• Braunstein, Christian (2003). Sveriges arméförband under 1900-talet. Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 5. Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 91-971584-4-5. SELIBR 8902928.
• 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
• Braunstein, Christian (2007). Utmärkelsetecken på militära uniformer [Decorations on Swedish military uniforms] (PDF). Skrift / Statens försvarshistoriska museer, 1101-7023 ; 12 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Statens försvarshistoriska museer. ISBN 978-91-976220-2-8. SELIBR 10423295. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
• Hansson, Bo (2000). "C A 7 har sitt "sista" ord" (PDF). Gotlandsartilleristen (in Swedish) (12). Visby: Gotlands artilleriregemente. SELIBR 3136300. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
• Hammarhjelm, Bengt (1999). Beredskap på Gotland 175 år: 1811-1986 (in Swedish) (2nd, ext., plus complementary to 2000 ed.). Visby: Ödin. ISBN 91-85716-84-7. SELIBR 7751982.
• Holmberg, Björn (1993). Arméns regementen, skolor och staber: [en uppslagsbok] : en sammanställning (in Swedish). Arvidsjaur: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek (SMB). ISBN 91-972209-0-6. SELIBR 7796532.
• 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.
• Westrin, Theodor, ed. (1909). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi. Bd 10 (in Swedish) (New, rev. and richly ill. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. SELIBR 8072220.

• Bjurström, Olle. "Artilleriet på Gotland 1711-2000" (.doc). www.a7kamratforening.se (in Swedish). A 7 Kamratförening. Retrieved 23 April 2014.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gotland Artillery Regiment.

• Bjurström, Olle, ed. (2000). Artilleriet på Visborgs slätt (in Swedish). Visby: A 7 kamratfören. SELIBR 8238170.
• Gavel, Peter; Gavel, Margareta (1987). Korsbetningen 1986: fotografisk dokumentation (in Swedish). [Visby]. SELIBR 656837.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Mosséen, Ulf, ed. (1986). Artilleriet vid Korsbetningen: [minnesskrift i anledning av Kungl. Gotlands artilleriregementes flyttning från Korsbetningen till Visborgs slätt den 1 juli 1986] (in Swedish). Visby: Regementet. SELIBR 626155.

• Website about Gotland Artillery Regiment Archived 2016-03-23 at the Wayback Machine (in Swedish)
• Association of Gotland Artillery Regiment (in Swedish)