Trolls.

This is coolbert:

American army the NATO far north. Trolls beware!

 "The exercise was the first time in decades that a major Army maneuver unit had traveled so far in Europe."

"10th Mountain Division rolls more than 500 miles across Finland, Sweden and Norway"

"The exercise was the first convoy operation in the heart of the newest NATO members, Sweden and Finland."

From https://taskandpurpose.com | BY PATTY NIEBERG | MAY 13, 2024.

"Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division recently completed an unprecedented 550-mile [nearly 900 kilometers] road trip across Norway, Sweden and Finland in which troops dealt with long-distance logistics, local laws and infrastructure regulations. It also meant keeping a sharp eye out for local wildlife."

[. . . .]

"Over the course of five days in late April, the Army’s 10th Mountain Division moved a convoy of 400 soldiers, 165 vehicles, and thousands of tons of equipment through small Scandinavian towns, around fjords, and across three different countries on a 550-mile[nearly 900 kilometers] road march."

See From Independent Barents Observer an article presumably as applicable to the road march. Vehicles and supplies being pre-positioned the far Arctic north to be used by the American 10th Mountain Division in case of war between Russia and NATO. Gear as delivered by RoRo vessels.

coolbert.

Blind.

This is coolbert:

"En blind man kunde ha sett detta komma på långt håll!"

A blind man could have seen this coming from a mile away!

"Sweden Struggling to Replenish Weapons After Ukraine Expenditures – Reports"

From Sputnik International | 21.02.2024.

"Sweden, along with many other European nations, has supplied several packages of military support to the Kiev regime, including heavy equipment such as artillery, tanks and combat vehicles, as well as ammunition. It has now become evident that this has had an adverse effect on its own defense capabilities."

"Extra funding granted to the Swedish defense industry is not enough to replace everything that has been sent to Ukraine, Swedish broadcaster SVT reports, highlighting soaring prices in the sector."

Time and money not good enough. Not enough time, not enough money. All replenishment of war-making bang-stuff of course now having to be done on an emergency rush basis! Possibility of war in the near term with Russia also exacerbating an already bad situation.

A BLIND man cannot see things coming from a mile away. But if the BLIND man could see the situation would instantly apparent.

See previous relevant blog entries:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/foolish.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/foolish-ii.html

coolbert.

Archer UK.

This is coolbert:

I must admit that was fast!

Having donated all their 155 mm artillery to the Ukrainian the British army is now shortly to have in their inventory the Swedish Archer artillery system.

"British troops fire their new Archer howitzers for the first time"

From GlobalData ^ | Feb 19, 2024 | John Hill | the tip from Freeper.

"During a 14-week ‘train the trainer’ course taught at a frozen military base in Boden, Swedish Lapland, the Swedish School of Artillery instructed British gunners from Larkhill, Wiltshire, on how to fire the Swedish-made Archer howitzer systems. Defense Equipment and Support – the UK Ministry of Defense’s procurement arm – acquired 14 Archer systems from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration for the Royal Artillery"

Replacements for the donated artillery [sent to Ukraine] about five years earlier than originally anticipated? Indeed that is rather rapid!

You cannot but be impressed by the Archer system. Has a lot of positive qualities, a well thought out weapon system. See the wiki entry for Archer.

Now do they have that amount of the appropriate 155 mm artillery rounds for contingencies? 14 Archer as now in the English but not replacing numerically the 30 AS90 sent to the Ukraine.

See previous blog entry as applicable:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/02/foolish-ii.html

coolbert.

Svensk.

This is coolbert.

"'For a nation for whom peace has been a pleasant companion for almost 210 years, the idea that it is an immovable constant is conveniently close at hand. But taking comfort in this conclusion has become more dangerous than it has been for a very long time,'" - Bohlin.

Yet again, sober and frightening, headlines alarmist in nature from the English tabloid Daily Mail. This Swedes are letting you know quite openly and frankly, we are preparing for World War III.

1. "Sweden is warned to 'brace for war': Civil Defense minister tells citizens to 'get moving' and prepare for the end of 210 years of peace as country bids to join NATO in face of Russia tensions"

From https://www.dailymail.co.uk | By DAVID AVERRE and PERKIN AMALARAJ |  10 January 2024.

"Minister urged Swedish citizens to ask themselves 'who are you if war comes?'"

"Comes as Zelensky said allies must 'finish' Putin to avoid destruction of Ukraine"

2. "Panicked Swedish youths flood helpline with calls after minister warned 'there could be war' and urged people to prepare for conflict in face of Russia tensions - as row breaks out over his 'alarming' speech"

"Minister urged Swedish citizens to ask themselves 'who are you if war comes?'"

 From https://www.dailymail.co.uk | By DAVID AVERRE | 11 January 2024.

"Sweden's mental health helplines have been flooded with calls from youths scared by the prospect of war after top defense officials said citizens must ready themselves for a potential armed conflict".

"Children's rights organization Bris said its phone operators reported a huge uptick in the number of callers worried about war coming to Sweden, with spokeswoman Maja Dahl slamming the government's apparent lack of preparation around the alarming announcement made at the weekend."

Traumatic shock to Swedish young people, especially those of military age I might even think extreme. Few if anybody ever thought such a thing was going to happen, even a few years ago. Although some in the higher echelons of government and in the military such a prospect and eventuality was seen as being a possible. 

Northmen! Make ready!

coolbert.

Beredskap.

This is coolbert: 

It can be reasoned quite justifiably that such an event if it occurs only once every 200 years or so it’s not necessarily such a bad thing? This can be justifiably seen as being so?

Sweden now preparing for the worst the possibility of war with Russia seen as a potentiality.

"Swedes told to ‘prepare for war’"

"The country must brace for a potential confrontation with Russia, delegates at a major conference have been told"

From https://www.rt.com/news  | 9 Jan, 2024.

"Swedes told to ‘prepare for war’"

"Top Swedish officials have urged the country's citizens to prepare for a potential war, amid rising tensions with Moscow. The statements were made at the Folk och Forsvar National Conference in Salen."

"In a speech on Sunday, Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom hailed his country’s expected membership in NATO as 'the biggest change in Swedish security policy in more than 200 years.'”

See previous blog entries with many embedded links the topic Swedish military preparedness:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/09/tax.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/05/cash.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/06/forty.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2018/05/fallout.html

coolbert.

Camera.

This is coolbert:

 “We are aware of rumors that the equipment is being used in Russian home-built drones, but cannot go into detail about our intelligence work,” -  Säpo Swedish national security service.

This story definitely needs to be placed in the strange but true category.

"‘Swedish speed cameras stolen, possibly for Russian drones’"

From ukrainetoday.org Ⓒ  VIA REUTERS OCTOBER 20, 2022.

"STOCKHOLM – The Swedish authorities have been finding vandalized speed cameras for months, writes the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. It is suspected that Russia uses this flash equipment in drones that the country is deploying during the war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, according to local media, camera equipment was stolen from two speed cameras in an area north of Stockholm."

"Since the end of August, more than a hundred speed cameras have been vandalized and looted in various Swedish regions, Aftonbladet reports. The Swedish police confirm the thefts and say they are investigating them."

Ивану очень стыдно? Ivan should be!

coolbert.

SADARM 2.0.

This is coolbert:

Copperhead no, SADARM 2.0 si!

Precision guided munition long-range anti-tank artillery round. Thanks to the article from the Internet web site Strategy Page.

"Air Weapons: SADARM 2.0 In Ukraine"

"SADARM 2.0 Another Cold War era weapon (SADARM) has shown up in Ukraine, doing what it was designed for; destroy Russian tanks."

See the You Tube video SADARM:

"155 BONUS is a 155 mm artillery cluster round, developed in cooperation between Bofors of Sweden and Nexter of France, designed for a long range, indirect fire top attack role against armored vehicles. The BONUS base bleed carrier shell contains two submunitions, which descend over the battlefield on winglets and attack hardened targets with explosively formed penetrator warheads."

"Two NATO members (Germany and Sweden) manufacture 155mm artillery shells carrying two each Sense and Destroy Armor Munitions. Originally called SADARM munitions by its American developer (Textron) it had completed development when the Cold War suddenly ended in 1991. SADARM was not as effective as expected and the 155mm version was canceled in 2001. 

American Copperhead artillery fired anti-tank round laser guided from previous decades ineffective. Modern versions of SADARM not so.

"Meanwhile the U.S. Army noticed the success of an improved German SADARM shell called SMART as well as the similar Swedish Bonus. Both entered service in 2000 and both were successful as 'SADARM 2.0'. The U.S. Army began ordering BONUS shells in 2018 and ordered more in 2020."

ANY 155 MM ARTILLERY PIECE THE NATO INVENTORY CAN FIRE THIS ROUND? SEEMS SO AND ALL THE BETTER FOR IT TOO!

coolbert.

Cognac.

This is coolbert:

300 bottles of cognac against Rome?

Valuable treasure hidden for a century as a result of war recovered. A good news item with the war dimension.

"300 bottles of Cognac recovered from ship sunk in WWI could fetch nearly £8,000 EACH: French shipment on Swedish steamer bound for tsarist Russia ended up at bottom of the Baltic Sea after German U-boat strike"

From the "Daily Mail" the article by By SHARI MILLER FOR MAILONLINE  | UPDATED: 26 June 2022.

* "Bottles were salvaged in 2019 by a specialist Swedish team near the Baltic Sea: * "600 bottles of cognac and 300 bottles of Benedictine were brought to shore" * "Swedish steamer Kyros was sunk by German submarine during First World War" * "Now bottles have been cleaned, refilled and are on sale for nearly £8,000 each [nearly $10,000 USD]" 

"A hoard of contraband alcohol recovered from a shipwreck 100 years after it sank on its way to tsarist Russia is going on sale for nearly £8,000 a bottle."

Damned Germans always up to no good. U-boat sinking the neutral Swedish vessel without provocation. I can bet too the Imperial Russian household mad as hell at the time too.

Those expensive bottles of cognac will be more of a collector item with expected appreciation almost instantly?

coolbert.

Stridsvagn 103.

This is coolbert:

Stridsvagn 103. Innovative tank design with some impressive features BUT never combat tested.

"After World War 2, several nations across the globe were ready to modernize their armies and embrace a new generation of warfare technology, and the Royal Swedish Army was no exception."

"In the mid-1950s, the Swedish prepared to replace their highly successful Centurion tanks with a new tank that would be like nothing the world had seen before. Their plan was to build the first tank in history to use a turbine engine instead of a conventional piston diesel engine, ensuring that the vehicle’s power and speeds were superior to most existing tanks."

See the You Tube video:

"The Tank that Points Down - The Swedish S Tank - Stridsvagn 103"

Comments:

* Swedish experts eschewing the turret as found on conventional tanks. The low-profile of the 103 meaning  less chance of being successfully engaged by an enemy tank.

* 103 the mission predominantly in a defensive role. Swedish military in that regard can design military gear across the board in a specialized manner to specific conditions and maximize performance.

* All 103 removed from service without ever having seen combat. Replaced with a turreted tank!

coolbert.

Formality.

This is coolbert:

Finland and Sweden have NOW resolved to JOIN NATO. And SOONER than LATER.

But with one glitch!

"glitch: noun - 1a: a usually minor malfunction b: a minor problem that causes a temporary setback" 

1. "Finland, Sweden to meet with Turkey over NATO"

5/15/2022, 11:41:28 AM · by Kaslin · 30 replies

First from Hot Air .com ^ | May 15, 2022 | JAZZ SHAW the tip from Freeper.

"We were told to expect a decision 'within days' as to Finland applying for membership in NATO, triggering a threatening response from the Kremlin. That estimate proved to be true. This morning, the President and Prime Minister of Finland held a joint news conference where they announced that Finland’s formal application to join the alliance will be submitted this week following a vote in Parliament that is being described as 'a formality.'"

BUT WITH CONDITIONS.

2. "NATO: Turkey outlines demands on Finland and Sweden membership"

From Deutsche Welle ^ "German Voice" 5/15/2022. Again the tip from Freeper.

"Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday outlined demands for Finland and Sweden which seek membership in NATO in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking with Turkish reporters after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin, he said that Sweden and Finland must stop supporting terrorists in their countries, provide clear security guarantees and lift export bans on Turkey"

NEW MEMBERSHIP IN NATO IS SUBJECT TO UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ALL CONSTITUENT MEMBERS? THIS I WAS NOT AWARE OF.

coolbert.

NATO + 2.

This is coolbert:

Historical sea change? The two ladies decide! 

“'There are different perspectives to apply (for) NATO membership or not to apply and we have to analyze these very carefully,' . . . 'But I think our process will be quite fast.'” - - Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Finland.

APPLY OR NOT TO APPLY. THAT IS THE QUESTION?

Ripple. Cascade. Snowball. Trending. All at once unforeseen [?] consequences a result of the Ukraine Conflict.

"Finland and Sweden: Reinforcing NATO Northern Flank"

From Commander Salamander April 13, 2022.

SWEDEN AND FINLAND NOW READY TO JOIN NATO?

"From a historical and military planning point of view, it is hard to understate the sea change this represents not just for NATO but for the nations’ involved."

"sea change: noun - - 2: a marked change : TRANSFORMATION"

"Finland will launch an immediate debate on joining NATO, Finnish officials said on Wednesday, as the country reconsiders its longtime stance outside the Western military alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine."

[....]

"Marin spoke alongside Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who said Sweden was also re-examining its position outside NATO, after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine offensive plunged Europe into its most serious security crisis since World War II."

Ruotsi ja Suomi yhdessä!

coolbert.

Flaunt.

This is coolbert:

Serious! Very serious! An absolutely clear and unmistakable Russian intimidation aimed at Sweden and Finland both!

Stay away from NATO. Period!

From the English tabloid "Daily Mail" and thanks to same.

"Two Russian fighter jets that violated Swedish airspace earlier this month 'were equipped with NUKES with the aim of scaring Stockholm' after Putin had threatened military action if Sweden or Finland joined NATO"

* "Four planes had taken off from Kaliningrad in Russia before flying over Sweden"

* "The jets violated the country's [Sweden] airspace over the island of Gotland on March 2"

* "Two of the aircraft - Sukhoi 24 attack planes - are now said to have carried nukes"

Gotland also subjected to Russian simulated nuclear strike, 2013, as was noticed by yahoo!finance: 

"But the fact that the mock nuclear attack on Sweden came before the Crimea crisis shows that Russia was carrying out provocative nuclear attack simulations on Western European even before relations reached a crisis point. The 2013 operation flaunted Russia's military capabilities while exposing how unprepared its neighbors would be in the event of an actual conflict."

My recollection is that  the 2013 "mock" attack occurred at an exact moment while some Peace Festival was being held on Gotland. Participants not even aware they were in the Russian sights to have an atomic bomb dropped on them. Don't that just beat all. Happy trails to you.

coolbert.

Deplete.

This is coolbert:

As reported by the controlled [?] Russian Internet media outlet "Russian Times".

1. "NATO members will discuss additional military aid one month into the Ukraine-Russia conflict"

"UK promises more ‘high explosive’ weapons for Kiev"

"The UK said it will send more anti-armor missiles to Ukraine, as NATO member states are set to discuss additional support for Kiev amid Russia’s military campaign, which started exactly one month ago."

"London will deliver 6,000 anti-tank and “high explosive” missiles . . . This adds to over 4,000 anti-tank weapons, including Javelin and NLAW missiles, already sent to Kiev."

Other nations having pledged to send more weaponry to the Ukrainian also:

 Sweden:  5,000 anti-tank weapons. Germany:  2,000 anti-tank weapons.

Additionally from CNN and thanks to same.

2. "Ukraine tells the US it needs 500 Javelins and 500 Stingers per day"

By Zachary Cohen and Oren Liebermann, CNN March 24, 2022

"(CNN) Ukraine has updated its extensive wish list of additional military assistance from the US government in the past several days to include hundreds more anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles than previously requested, according to a document provided to CNN that details the items needed."

"The Ukrainians have submitted similar lists in recent weeks but a recent request provided to US lawmakers appears to reflect a growing need for American-made Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles -- with Ukraine saying it urgently needs 500 of each, daily."

Anti-tank + Surface to air missiles. Five hundred daily!

Frankly I would worry that the main NATO players USA, Great Britain, Germany would be depleting their stocks of anti-tank and anti-air weaponry to a dangerously low level. Replacements not so easily obtained and as you can guess COSTLY!

Hardly do I make policy and can only hope that the top men among the NATO planning staff are taking depletion of valuable weaponry into consideration.

coolbert.

Warning UAV?

This is coolbert:

Drone incursion Sweden! Operators and intent unclear! A dire warning is being issued?

The tip from Freeper the original story courtesy the Independent Business Times.

"Mysterious Drones Hover Over Swedish Nuclear Facilities And Royal Palace Amid Russia Tensions"

"Two unidentified drones have been spotted over two nuclear power plants in Sweden last Friday, days after the country boosted military presence on Gotland Island to counter increasing Russian activity in the region. Though Sweden’s National Operations Department opened an investigation into the incident, no suspects have been identified, reported The Drive. The authorities reportedly used helicopters to try and locate the alleged drone, but the efforts ended in vain. Swedish Police said the drones were seen over two nuclear facilities over Forsmark and Oskarshamn. Though there were reports about a similar incursion in a third facility at Ringhals"

SWEDISH NUCLEAR FACILITIES UNDER SURVEILLANCE BY A HOSTILE FOREIGN POWER? THE ROYAL PALACE TOO? 

Swedish security forces MUST take this into consideration as a serious THREAT thinly veiled!

See previous blog entries [with additional embedded links] activity of a similar nature not confined to Sweden:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/02/journalists.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/02/drone-hysteria.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/03/seine-port.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/09/uav-sweden.html

coolbert.

Massing.

This is coolbert:

Does the known FBI controlled agent provocateur Hal Turner know something we do not know??

See these various ALARMIST headlines courtesy the Hal Turner web site.

1. "BREAKING NEWS: RUSSIA SENDS AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS INTO BALTIC SEA TOWARD SWEDEN; SHIPS ARE . . . . LOADED ! ! ! !"

"Just three days after Sweden let it be known they were thinking of asking to join NATO, Russia has sent an Amphibious Assault fleet into the Baltic Sea near Sweden.  And, get this . . . . the ships . . . . .  ARE LOADED!   With landing craft, armor, and troops! ! ! ! ! !" [all exclamation marks Hal Turner]

The Swedes their response to the movement of Russian amphibious ships into the Baltic a rapid [?] deployment of their own military forces to Gotland.

2. "Russia Deploys Fighter Jets & Bombers to Kaliningrad (Europe)"

"The Russian air force is now deploying numerous fighter jets and bombers to Kaliningrad."

3. "UPDATED 12:21 PM EST -- Russia Says Talks Have Failed, No Sense in Continuing at this time; Massive Movement of Military Hardware Now Taking Place"

"US-Russia talks on Ukraine have failed. Russia says US and it’s NATO allies are not prepared to meet Russia’s key demands for security guarantees. Russian envoy to OSCE Lukashevich has publicly stated "If we don’t hear a constructive response to our proposals within a reasonable time frame and aggressive behavior towards Russia continues, we'll have to act to eliminate threats to our national security."

4. "UPDATED 12:40 PM EST SEE BOTTOM -- US/NATO-Russia Meeting Ends After About Three Hours"

"The meeting between NATO and Russia, scheduled for today, took place and ended after about three hours.  Other than generalized talking points, there is almost zero information coming out right now about what took place in that meeting."

5. "US-Russia Meeting in Geneva Did Not Go Well. State Department Admits they told Russia 'Nuclear War must be avoided'"

"The Russian-American negotiations on security in Europe ended in Geneva (Switzerland). After more than 7 hours of closed-door talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov spoke to journalists to take stock of the meeting with the American delegation chaired by his counterpart Wendy Sherman."

NUCLEAR WAR MUST BE AVOIDED! THE DEDUCTION OF A GENIUS! TRUTH BE TOLD ANY SORT OF WAR MUST BE AVOIDED!

Once again, 1939 deja vu all over again? Putin is serious and we can expect big things to happen within the next week? Certainly the movement of all Russian military personnel and equipment IN ADDITION those already in place close to the border with Ukraine a matter of grave concern!

Anything seen on the Internet web site of Hal Turner questionable and must be considered as hyperbole? Everyone needs a bit of "common sense and skepticism".

coolbert.

AS 40.

This is coolbert:

The Swedish navy can do it. The American navy can do it too!

From out good friend Commander Salamander and thanks to same.

American fast attack nuclear submarine replenishment of weapons  practiced.

THE FIRST TIME IN NINE YEARS!!

"Nine Years is a Long Time"

"The submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) completed a weapons handling exercise involving the transfer of a MK-48 inert training shape to a submarine, Oct. 22. This was the first expeditionary reload Frank Cable has conducted outside of Guam since 2012."

Consider replenishment of war stocks at sea to be an essential element of American naval war-fighting strategy!

Two questions:

1. Was done in mid-Ocean? [apparently not] 2. Was done at night? [does not seem have been so]

Read from a most recent blog entry the Swedish navy practicing the reload of a submarine. Done apparently during hours of darkness and hardly close to shore. Tactical conditions that most difficult of circumstances possible.

And what exactly are we to make of all this other than preparation for war? Do I detect a sense of urgency?

coolbert.

Uppland.

This is coolbert:

"Normally, the submarine goes to the quay in the city of Karlskrona to load new torpedoes. This time we did it from a more tactical place", Lieutenant Colonel Adam Camél,

Article courtesy the Russian Internet media outlet Sputnik.

"Swedish Submarine Loaded Live Torpedoes Amid Major Russian Drill – Report"

Swedish response to the recent Russian military exercise Zapad-21. Torpedoes loaded in a tactical situation. Ship-to-ship replenishment out of the ordinary!

"In the midst of the joint Russian-Belarusian drills Zapad-21 in September, the Swedish submarine HMS Uppland was ordered to carry out a complex secret operation – namely to load live torpedoes out at sea," 

"Under great secrecy, the torpedoes were transported from their storage facility via a highway and loaded onto the HMS Pelikanen, the Swedish Navy's only missile and torpedo salvage vessel."

SWEDES PRACTICE TACTICAL REPLENISHMENT OF A SUBMARINE!

Normally at least for the U.S. Navy a submarine when it sails fully loaded for combat with all weapons as necessary to accomplish mission, if and when the go-code given. U.S. Navy too has submarine tenders that can do at-see replenishment.

Yet one more indication the Swede takes very seriously the threat of a general war and is making extensive preparations in advance. Admirable!

coolbert.

Nordbat 2.

This is coolbert:

"the Swedish soldier is a very serious opponent - thoughtful, disciplined, physically strong and tough, well armed, well acquainted with the territory he will have to fight over, and well trained for action in such terrain." - - Suvorov.

See previous blog entry that type of Swedish military unit the personnel of which "thoughtful".

Swedish military leadership [officers and NCO's both] taught to be able to think for themselves and exercise initiative to accomplish mission objectives and goals without a whole lot of guidance or input from superior command. Micro-management eschewed. As was the case in Bosnia.

Thanks to the outstanding Internet web site isegoria.net for the tip.

"He would not respect rules and regulations that threatened to prevent him from achieving his mission objectives"

"The troops and officers from some of the least belligerent nations in the world — namely, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway [Nordbat 2] — turned out to be quite adept at both using force and playing the odds in the high-stakes political game played in Bosnia"

See also a previous blog entry as further relevant:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-poster.html

"den starke den modige svensken"

coolbert.

Dragoons.

This is coolbert:

Dragoons Swedish style. But no horses.

"Dragoons originally were a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot."

From the Finnish military blogger Corporal Frisk.

"The Cavalry is Coming"

"Yesterday [24 September] the Swedish Armed Forces officially stood up the first of their new units announced in the latest defence white paper, as the Norrland Dragoon Regiment was again retook its place as an independent unit. The unit, formerly known as the Army Ranger Battalion, has up until now operated as a semi-independent unit based in Arvidsjaur but sorting under the Norrbotten Regiment based in Boden. Of all the new and reinstated units found in the latest Swedish long-term plan, the Dragoons are without doubt the one most directly beneficial to Finland."

Swedish troops of the hunter-killer class special operation troops analogous to American Ranger units. Units "eyes and ears" and able to provide guidance for precision terminally-guided munitions.

"the Swedish soldier is a very serious opponent - thoughtful, disciplined, physically strong and tough, well armed, well acquainted with the territory he will have to fight over, and well trained for action in such terrain." - - Suvorov.

RUSSIANS BEWARE!

See previous blog entry [with many additional links] the Swedish military:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/12/attention.html

"I fredstid förbered dig för krig". In time of peace prepare for war.

coolbert.

Simple.

This is coolbert:

"a short-turnaround time of just ten minutes, during which a team composed of a technician and five conscripts would be able to re-arm, refuel, and perform basic inspections and servicing inside that time window"

The Swedish Gripen air superiority fighter plane able to operate in a very comfortable manner from an expedient airstrip having BEEN DESIGNED to do so. With ground crew in a totally workable manner their ability to service the warplane having been well thought out too. One technician trained as a supervisor and four conscripts acting as menials.

See the video. I am impressed!

I am especially impressed with the hand-operated crank type tools that the ground crew has available. Very heavy objects winched into place with relative ease. Pilot too can take a coffee break during that ten minute turnaround and use the toilet if he needs to.

Sweden shows the rest of the world how it can be done!

coolbert.