Central Intelligence Agency

“ The Commander in Chief of the Army is not an operational commander; his responsibilities are limited to organizational, training, equipment, and personnel matters. Operational control is the responsibility of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, effected through the commanders of the six regional joint military commands. It is the task of the Commander in Chief of the Army to put a combat-effective army at the disposal of the Supreme Commander. The Army Staff under the Commander in Chief of the Army exists in peacetime only. ”

“ The Home Guard, a reserve force comprised of the Voluntary Home Guard (volunteers aged 16-18 and ex-conscripts aged 47-60) and the Conscripted Home Guard (mostly men still liable for service, 18-47 years old, but who are in exempted occupations) , would be deployed to protect key installations and cover mobilization. The total strength of the Home Guard is estimated at 150,000. Most of the personnel keep their small arms in their homes, and only 20 hours of training a year are required. The effectiveness of the Home Guard would be minimal at best. ”

“ Universal military service in Sweden has been in effect since 1812; all male citizens are liable for service in the armed forces or in other service of national interest in time of emergency. In wartime, the Women's Auxiliary Corps (Lotta) and a well-planned civil defense organization would augment the defense effort. The active armed forces consist largely of conscripts undergoing training for their role in the mobilizable armed forces. Conscripts are allotted to the various services in accordance with budgetary allocations and service requirements. ”

“ Designed for the annual conscript class, training is mainly defensive in nature. Since Sweden has no plans for fighting on foreign soil, stress is placed on conducting training for operations in the difficult Swedish terrain. Techniques of winter combat are emphasized for units in northern Sweden, and coastal defense and utilization of the numerous streams as defensive barriers is stressed for units in southern Sweden. ”

“ It is doubtful that the mobilization plan could be accomplished during an emergency. In the event that it could, the force would be poorly organized, ill-trained, and inadequately equipped. A delaying action is the best that could be expected from it, although by guerrilla activities it could harass and pin down a considerable number of occupying troops. Operationally, the Swedish army could not be expected to perform effectively without 6 months to 1 year of intensive training with experienced, trained advisers. ”

“ The coast artillery is a special part of the naval forces, contributing much to force effectiveness. Combat terrain requirements have resulted in three principal types of coast artillery units: artillery and missile, mine warfare, and coastal rangers. The artillery and mine warfare units represent integrated components for the direct defense of harbor and sea approaches. Most fixed artillery installations have been blasted out of solid rock in areas surrounding important harbors. Each unit is self-supporting. ”

“ The units of the active army are actually training elements engaged in conducting recruit training for conscripts. They should not be equated with mobilization units; however, many provide the nuclei for such units. The 49 conscript training centers comprise 39 regiments (15 infantry, seven armored, six field artillery, three air defense artillery, two combat engineer, two signal, and four service) ; six karen (one field artillery, two air defense artillery, two cavalry, and one combat engineer) ”

“ A. Defense Establishment Untested in combat since the Napoleonic Wars, Sweden has long followed a policy of non alliance with major powers in time of peace and of neutrality during war. To support this policy, the Swedes have maintained a relatively large military establishment consisting of a regular army of about 11,000 officers and noncommissioned officers plus an annual conscript input of 39,000 men; a 9,800-man navy (including the coast artillery and the naval helicopter service) with 35 principal combatant ships, 33 patrol ships, 37 mine warfare ships, and 83 other vessels ”

“ Personnel are well trained to carry out their mission, but their capability is restricted by the small number of helicopters and other equipment and by the number of ships designed to accommodate them. Effectiveness in support of coastal ASW operations is negligible, but support of coast artillery operations is good. Search and rescue operations are conducted effectively.
Helicopter pilots are procured from volunteer petty and junior officers of the navy and coast artillery. Basic helicopter training is given by Helicopter Division I at Berga naval helicopter base ”

“ Sweden ranks foremost among the smaller maritime nations capable of designing and constructing its own naval ships. With the exception of 11 motor torpedo boats built in West Germany during the late 1950s and the new experimental Norwegian gunboat, all of Sweden's combatant ships have been constructed domestically. Sweden is also able to manufacture almost all components required in the construction of naval units. Domestic naval repair facilities are modern and capable of all types of hull and engine repairs on ships. ”

“ Because of the excess of manpower, the personnel selection system can afford to be highly selective and reject and exempt a higher proportion of men than could otherwise be expected.
3. Training (C) Training is concentrated on defense of the homeland. Training method generally follow those used by the British and the United States. Officers are eager to have the chance to receive US training in modern methods of warfare. Although Swedish forces are not equipped with nuclear weapons, current training stresses defense against nuclear as well as chemical and biological weapons. ”

“ Upon completion of the conscription term, personnel have a reserve obligation until 47 years of age. Flying personnel of the air force and a large part of the navy personnel are regulars; these two services, particularly the air force, have a high peacetime readiness for action. However, conscripts are necessary for full air and naval defense as well as for base services in wartime.
The armed forces reserves total approximately 867,000. About 360,000 of these would be formed into Field Army units and 240,000 are in an organized reserve element. ”

“ Conscription is universal; personnel are eligible for military service upon reaching the age of 18, but they re not inducted until they reach 19 or 20. A small proportion of those entering military service are volunteers who may enlist at age 17. An average of 10 months' active duty service is required. In order to become an officer, noncommissioned officer (NCO) , or technician, the conscript or volunteer must serve beyond the initial 10-month commitment. ”

“ The logistic support system is inadequate to support Sweden's proposed mobilization plan. There are some 1,500 supply depots throughout the country, but these are unguarded, susceptible to theft, and uncared for. The irregular terrain and numerous streams are a handicap. Many bridges are unable to support the load required for an armored vehicle. The logistic system is to some extent an extension of the mobilization system. ”

“ Army Aviation The Swedish Army Flying Corps is controlled by an aviation office of the artillery arm -- in the Troops Inspectorate of the Army Staff. The mission of the corps is to provide support for army combat units; tasks in support of this mission are observation, reconnaissance, liaison, transport, and medical evacuation. The corps comprises two sections; the Artillery Flight Section, which controls the fixed-wing light aircraft, and the Helicopter Section, which controls the helicopters. ”

“ In addition, the Air Force employs about 4,600 civilians. Upon mobilization, an immediate air force reserve of 1,855 personnel would be assigned to active duty units and would be able to function without further training. An additional 40,000 to 45,000 conscripts who have completed their active duty could be mobilized to augment the immediate air force reserve force. A 72-hour mobilization plan provides sufficient personnel to accomplish assigned wartime missions. Mobilization provides enough pilots and navigators to man operational aircraft on a 1-to-1 basis. ”

“ Following basic training, officer cadets attend the Royal Swedish Naval Academy at Nasbypark. After a period of sea duty, and prior to promotion, they must go to the Officers Weapons School at Berga for specialized training. Selected senior officers attend the inter-service schools.
Recruits receive thorough training in basic seamanship, often followed by some technical training prior to sea duty. Career enlisted personnel can receive considerable advanced technical training as petty officers. After 3 years of service, well-qualified men are eligible to become warrant officer candidates. ”

“ Fleet training is conducted by the Commander, Coastal Fleet. The winter is spent in team training, utilizing facilities afloat and ashore, and elementary single ship exercises. In the spring, the Coastal Fleet begins more advanced single ship exercises, builds up to multi-ship exercises, and concludes its training cycle with the annual fall maneuvers. ”

“ Minelaying units are capable of laying extensive minefields along the coat and in potential landing areas. All mines are of the controlled type. Ranger units, utilizing fast amphibious craft, have received amphibious training and can conduct small-scale raid and reconnaissance missions.
Coast artillery officers and NCOs are principally drawn from regular naval personnel. Other personnel are selected from conscripts who volunteer for coast artillery duties and from reserve officers and NCOs. ”

“ Military attire of the Swedish armed forces conforms in style and tailoring to the conventional US military uniform types. Synthetic fabrics of the polyester type are replacing woolen materials because of their durability, lightness, quick drying, and retention of shape after exposure to snow and rain. Winter clothing of heavy gauge material is worn most of the year and uniforms of lightweight material are worn only during the short summer season. ”

“ Selected military and civilian personnel are trained in the United States, and Swedish naval schools provide sonar and electronic training. Pilots are eligible to attend the Royal Armed Forces Staff College and the Royal National Defense College.
E. Air Force The Royal Swedish Air Force (RSAF) is organized to maintain air defense of Sweden, perform tactical operations in conjunction with ground and naval forces, and provide reconnaissance for surface forces. (S)
The air force lacks combat experience and the logistic and personnel support necessary to maintain itself in sustained combat. ”

“ During the fiscal years 1 July 1968 through 30 June 1973, the military budget averaged slightly under 13% of the central government budget; during fiscal years 1964 through 1967, it averaged 16.2%. In real terms -- that is, discounting inflation -- the 1972-73 military budget of US $1,474.6 million is equivalent to the 1971-72 military appropriation. This austerity budget, and the 5-year defense plan which sets defense spending at a total of $6 billion for 5 years, portends a further decline in future military budgets. Annual defense budgets are shown below. ”

“ The navy has no organized reserve, but refresher training is provided for reservists. Within 6 years of completion of conscript service and prior to reaching age 47, enlisted reservists are required to complete a minimum of four periods of refresher training, each lasting for 18 days, and five mobilization training exercises, each of 1 to 2 days' duration. ”

“ However, vulnerabilities exist including incomplete radar coverage, a lack of electronic-counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capability, probably saturation of early warning and ground control facilities during a massive enemy air attack, and inadequate petroleum stores.
The tactical stores consist of four attack wings, with aging A-32A Lansens, and two reconnaissance wings, with both S-32C and S-35E aircraft. Pilots are proficient in ground and sea tactics, but are limited by the lack of emphasis placed on joint service training. ”

“ There is a growing trend away from the national acceptance of military service as a natural patriotic duty. However, to date it has had little effect on the national service system. The conscription law was amended in 1956 to permit conscientious objectors too erve 18 months in nonmilitary federal service. ”

“ On initial mobilization the Field Army would be organized into 20 infantry and 10 armored brigades which, depending on strategic and tactical requirements, may be brought under operational command of an estimated six to 10 divisional headquarters. "Division" in Swedish planning implies a task force organization that would probably consist of a division command and a small staff as a tactical headquarters for a two to four-brigade unit. ”

“ The navy has made maximum utilization of the rugged coastline and possesses a number of dispersal berths and underground ship shelters, as well as an underground shipyard with bombproof rock shelters at Musko island. Underwater obstructions, including mines, are in place at all times. ”

“ Nevertheless, the value of this refresher training and readiness of the individual after active duty release are questionable. The quality of basic, specialist, and operational training is average. However, the output is considered adequate for current or projected air force needs, except for the pilot category where a shortage of experienced pilots exists. Three pilot training courses of approximately 75 students each are conducted yearly at Ljungbyhed Airfield. These flight training programs consist of 12 months of instruction in both prop and jet trainers. ”