The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed Forces

Heraldic flags such as banners, badge banners, standards, pennons, pincels ... Feel free to discuss and compare the flying heraldy used in any country here.
Marcus Karlsson
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The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed Forces

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 14 May 2013, 19:53

The Swedish Army has a long tradition of using Heraldic Motives on its Colours and Standards. This dates back to the forming of the so called Landskapsregementen (Provincial/County Regiments) in the 17th Century. They usually placed the Arms of the Province on their Colours and Standards. The Guards Regiments using the Royal/State Arms on a White Field. White Fields where also used on the Livfana (King's Colour) which for regular Regiments displayed the Royal/State Arms with the Provincial Arms in the Canton. The use of the Livfana has now long been discontinued, but the remaining Guards and Life Regiments still uses White Colours/Standards with the Royal/State Arms.

The Finials are inscribed with the Chyper of the ruling King/Queen, and below the Finial are tied Streamers in the Swedish Livery Colours Blue and Yellow. Battle Honours are inscribed directly on to the Field, in the modern use they are usually applied on the chief of the Colour/Standard. Following the disbandment of many Units in the past decades conmemmorate symbols many be placed in the Corners of Units preserving the traditions of disbanded Units.

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The most recent Colour of the Livgardet (Life Guards) (formed 1 july 2000 by the amalgamtion of the Kungl. Svea livgarde (Royal Svea Lifeguards) [I1 or 1st Infantry Regiment] and the Livgardets dragoner (Life Guards Dragoons) [K1 or 1st Cavalry Regiment]). This was presented The Colours was presented by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on the King's Birthday 30 April 2000 to the then I1.

Originaly only Infantry and Cavalry Units carried Colours/Standards and Guidons. During the 20th Century the other Arms and Services was also presented with Colours and Standards. The Latter was mainly awared to Artillery and Anti Aircraft Artillery Units and to the one Armoured Battalion raised as such. Other Armoured Regiments where mainly raised by converting Infantry Regiments and they continued to use Infantry pattern Colours. Engineers, Signals, Service Troops (called Träng in Swedish), Schools and the later addition of Army Flying Troops did recieve Colours. They where of a uniform pattern for each Arm or Service, the unit beeing shown by adding either the full Heraldic Arms of the Unit or Part of the Provincial Arms in the Canton.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 14 May 2013, 19:55

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Standard of the Kungl. Livgardesskvadronen (Royal Life Guards Squadron) (K1 = 1st Cavalry), the Standard was presented by HM King Gustaf V to the Life Regiment Horse on 16 June 1928. The Reverse showed the following Battle Honours: Lützen 1632, Oldendorf 1633, Wittstock 1636, Leipzig 1642, Warschau 1656, Fredriksodde 1657, Tåget över Bält 1658, Halmstad 1676, Lund 1676 (below a Royal Crown), Landskrona 1677, Düna 1701, Kliszow 1702, Pultusk 1703, Holowczyn 1708 and Hälsingborg 1710. The Squadron was formed on 1 January 1928 as the Royal Horse Life Regiment by amalgamating the Royal Horse Life Guards (K1) and the Royal Life Regiment Dragoons (K2). Reduced to one Squadron with the name Royal Life Guards Squadron on 1 October 1949. In 1975 K1 was again raised to regimental status with the name Life Guards Dragoons (K1). This Regiment was amalgamated with the Svea Life Guards in 2000 to form the Life Guards.

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Obverse and Reverse of the Standard of the K1, presented by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf at the regimental Barracks in Stockholm on 4 December 1995. After amalgamation the Standard is used by the Dragoon Battalion of the Life Guards. The Battle Honours are the same as the above mentioned with the addition of Svensksund 1790. The spelling as been changed on two occasions now it reads Warszawa instead of Warschau and Holovczyn with a v instead of a w.

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Standard of the former Kungl. Livgardet till häst (Royal Horse Life Guards) (K1). This the last regimental Standar was presented by HM Queen Lovisa on 3 May 1863, she herself had made the brodure on the Standard. It is white with the crowned chiper of HM King Karl XV in gold. Today it is kept by the Army Museum.

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Standard of the former Kungl. Livregementets dragoner (Royal Life Regiment Dragoons) (K2). This is the former Standard of the Life Squadron presented in 1810 and later made regimental Standard when Squadron Standards was discontinued. White with Gold Fringe. Today it is kept at the Army Museum.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 14 May 2013, 20:06

Apart from K1 two other Cavalry Regiments survived until modern times. They where not as in many other Countries converted into Armour. Instead they evolved into Reconnaissance/Special Forces. The K3 also trained MP:s and is responsible for operating the Swedish Army's UAV Forces.

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Kungl. Livregementets husarer (Royal Life Regiment Hussars) (K3), the Standard was presented by HM King Gustaf VI Adolf on 14 June 1957.

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Kungl. Norrlands dragonregemente (Royal Norrland Dragoon Regiment) (K4), the Guidon was presented at the then regimental Barracks in Umeå by the C.-in-C. of the Army Lieutenant-General Count Carl August Ehrenswärd. The Regiment was formerly K8 but recieved number 4 in 1928 when the Royal Småland Hussar Regiment who previously had number 4 was disbanded. Since 1 January 2005 the Regiment was reduced to a Battalion and subordinated to the I19 Regiment. The Present title is Detachment Norrland Dragoons- the Army Ranger Battalion. Shown here are the Moose attacked by a Falcon and a Dog is taken from the Provincial Arms of Jämtland. This beeing a reminder of the fact that the Regiment was raised as the Jämtlands hästjägarkår (Jämtland Mounted Rifle Corps).
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2013, 17:53

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Kungl. Upplands regemente (Royal Uppland Regiment) (I8), was disbanded as infantry unit 1 April 1957. The 1. signalregemetnet (1st Signals Regiment)(S1) was then named as the Kungl. Upplands signalregemente (Royal Uppland Signals Regiment) and preserves the traditions of the I8 and also carries an Infantry pattern Colour along with an Signals Pattern Colour. The present Infantry Pattern Colour was presented in Enköping on 20 May 2000 by the Supreme Commander general Johan Hederstedt. This Regiment are now the last remaining Signals Unit and has been renamed the Ledningsregementet (Command Regiment). New Colours has been presented to this new Regiment as seen below.

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S1 Signals pattern Colour.

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Colour of the Command Regiment presented by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf in Enköping on 4 June 2009. The Lightnings denotes the Signal Heritage of the Regiment and the Sword in the Canton that the Regiment is a Joint Defence Forces Unit. Picture from http://www.mil.se/sv/Nyheter/Nyhetsa...onungens-hand/ Here you can also seen the I8 Tradition Colour.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2013, 18:03

Some examples of Colours belonging to disbanded Infantry Regiments:

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Kungl. Dalregementet (Royal Dalregiment) (I13), the present Colour was presented in Falun by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf on 28 August 1997. Upon disbandment of I13 on 1 July 2000 the colour was handed to the Dalregiment Defence Area.

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Kungl. Hälsinge regemente (Royal Hälsinge Regiment) (I14), the Colour was presented by HM King Gustaf VI Adolf in Gävle on 29 September 1952. Following the disbandment of I14 on 1 Janaury 1998 the Colour was handed to the Gävleborgsgruppen (Gävleborg Defence Area).

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I15 Kungl. Älvsborgs regemente (Royal Älvsborg Regiment)The most recent Colour was presented to I15 at the Stockholm Artillery Yard by the Supreme Commander general Owe Wiktorin in 1996. Upon the disbandment of the Regiment the Colour was handed to the Älvsborg Defence Area.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2013, 18:05

And the Colour of one of the few still active Infantry Regiments:

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Kungl. Norrbottens regemente (Royal Norrbotten Regiment) (I19), the above shown Colour was presented in 1947 by the C.-in-C. Lieutenant-General Count W.A. Douglas. The Reindeer is from the arms of the Province of Västerbotten, as Norrbotten didn't have any historical arms not beeing a historical Province.

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I19 was presented with a new Colour by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf in Boden on 27 August 2001. All Battle Honours are now placed on a white Border along the upper side of the Colour. On which is also a Savage denoting that I19 is the preserver of the traditions of the former Lappland Brigade NB20. A note on Brigades these where the War Units mobilized by the Peacetime Regiments. The later beeing in essence Training Units for Conscripts (Conscription has since been abolished).
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2013, 18:14

The P2, (2nd Armoured Regiment) or Kungl. Skånska dragonregementet (Royal Scanian Dragoons) has a rather Colourful Flag History as can bee seen below:

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The Standard presented on 11 July 1952 by HM King Gustaf VI Adolf. The Regiment traces its origins to the older Kungl. Skånska kavalleriregemetnet (Royal Scanian Cavalry Regiment), which on 1 October 1942 became the Kungl. Skånska pansarregementet (Royal Scanian Armoured Regiment). On 1 April 1963 the Regiment was bestowed the title Kungl. Skånska dragonregementet (Royal Scanian Dragoon Regiment), there is as such no direct link to the older Royal Scanian Dragoon Regiment. As guardian of the traditions (General Order go 1820/1965) of all former Scanian Cavalry Regiments the Standards of these was kept by the P2.

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The last regimental Standard presented at the Royal Place in Stockholm by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf on 1 October 1992. Used as regimental Standard until 30 June 2000 and then as Brigade Standard by the Scanian Dragoon Brigade (MekB8) until 1 July 2000 [sic!]. It is today used as a tradition Standard by the Södra skånska regementet (Southern Scanian Regiment) (P7)

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Following the disbandment of the Kungl. Norra skånska regementet (Royal Northern Scanian Regiment) (P6) in 1994, the P2 Regiment took over the traditions of the P6 and was during the years 1994-1998 the Regiment was known as the Norra skånska dragonregementet (Northern Scanian Dragoon Regiment). The Regiment was also presented by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf with a new Guidon on 30 June 1994, which showed the form of Griffin-head used in the Arms of the former Kristianstad County. This had been the main motive on the Colour of the P6 Regiment. Following the disbandment of the P2 on 1 July 2000 the Guidon was handed to the Skånska dragongruppen (Scanian Dragoon Defence Area).
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2013, 18:18

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Standard of the Royal Norrbotten Armoured Battalion (P5), the Standard was presented by HM King Gustaf VI Adolf on 28 June 1961. Raised in 1957 the Battalion was merged into the I19 in 1975, the Standard was then used by the Armoured Battalion within the I19 Regiment.

Colours of the two remaining active Armoured Regiments:

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Kungl. Skaraborgs regemente (Royal Skaraborg Regiment) (P4), old pattern of Colour presented in 1858. P4 was formerly an Infantry Regiment I9 which in 1942 was reorganized into an Armoured Regiment with the name Kungl. Skaraborgs pansarregemente (Royal Skaraborg Armoured Regiment). On 1 april 1963 it reverted to the old name dropping the Armoured in the title.

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The present regimental Colour, presented at the regimental training grounds in Skövde by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf on 22 September 1995.


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Kungl. Södra skånska regementet (Royal Southern Scanian Regiment) (P7), Colour presented by HM King Gustaf VI Adolf at the Celebration of the 150th Jubilee of the Regiment on 20 august 1961. The red Giffin's head is the provincial arms of Scania. The Regiment was raised in 1811 as a Infantry Regiment (first I26 and then I7). Transferred to the Armoured Troops on 1 April 1963.

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The present regimental Colour, presented by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf on 26 April 1998. The winged Gun Barrels denote the former Kungl. Skånska luftvärnregementet (Royal Scanian Anti Aircraft Regiment), whose traditions are kept by P7.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 15 May 2013, 18:28

Artillery Pattern for Standards (and Colours for A8 beeing originaly Fortress Artillery) as approved in 1938.

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Kungl. Svea artilleriregemente (Royal Svea Artillery Regiment) (A1), standard presented by HM King Gustaf V on 16 June 1938 (the 80th Birthday of the King) at the same time Standards was presented to the A2, A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8. A1 was disbanded in 1997.

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Kungl. Bodens artilleriregemente (Royal Boden Artillery Regiment) (A8), the regimental emblem is the Fortress Gate from the arms of the City of Boden. The Regiment was raised in 1919 when the Royal Boden-Karlsborg Artillery Regiment was divided into two. The Regiment (which was known as the Norrland Artillery Regiment from 1998) was disbanded in 2000 and as Norrland Artillery Battalion integrated into I19. Following the move of the Artillery Regiment from Kristinehamn to Boden in 2006 the Norrland Artillery Battalion was disbanded.

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Colour of the Norrlands artilleribataljon (Norrland Artillery Battalion), presented in Kristinehamn by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf on 15 April 2002. The Fortress Gate denotes heritage from A8, the Reindeer A5 heritage and the Elk with Eagle and Dog symbolizes heritage from A4.

As noted no Standard was presented to the A3 Regiment, this was due to this Regiment already had the unique privilege using a Honourary Standard.

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The Honourary Standard carried by the Kungl. Wendes artilleriregemente (Royal Wendes Artillery Regiment) (A3). This was awarded to the mounted battalion of the Regiment on 7 July 1815 for distictive service during the closing parts of the Napoleonic Wars. It was presented on 12 July 1816 by Carl von Cardell who was Ordnance-General and Chief of Artillery as well as CO of A3. Following the disbandment of A3 on 1 July 2000 it was handed to the Artillery Regiment.

Today the Swedish Army only has one Artillery Regiment named The Artillery Regiment (Sw. Artilleriregementet). Shown below are the Standard of the Artillery Regiment.

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Obverse and reverse of the Standard of the Artillery Regiment, presented in Kristinehamn by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf on 14 May 2002. The Eagle/Iron Sign - heritage from A9, Wyvern - heritage from A3, Lion with Crossbow - heritage from A6 and the Ram - heritage from A7. The Reverse shows Battle Honours a new feature on Artillery Standards, it had originaly been intended to place Battle Honours on the Standards presented in 1938 but this was not to be.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: The Heraldic Regimental Colours of the Swedish Armed For

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 May 2013, 18:04

Anti Aircraft Artillery was separated ut out the Artillery Arm in 1942. Following their Artillery roots the Anti Aircraft Artilery Regiments recived Standards of Artillery Pattern, the only change was that the Gun Barrels was made winged. Today only one Regiment remains, the Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Sw. Luftvärnsregmentet).

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Kungl. Gotlands luftvärnsbataljon/kår (Royal Gotland Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion/Corps) (Lv2), the Standard was presented by the C.-in-C. of the Army Lieutenant-General C.T.E Göransson on 11 November 1963. The Battalion originated in a detached Battery of the Kungl. Stockholms luftvärnsregemente (Royal Stockholm AAA Regiment) (Lv3 G) raised on 1 April 1944. In 1952 following the move of Lv3 from Stockholm to Norrtälje the Battery was transferred to Lv2 as Lv2 G, following the disbandment of the Lv2 Regiment the Battery became a independent Battalion to which the number Lv2 was transferred. In 1994 the Battalion was made a Corps (in Swedish parlance denoting a unit between a Battalion and Regiment in strenght) which was disbanded in 2000. The Ram in the Canton is from the Arms of Gotland.

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Kungl. Skånska luftvärnsregementet (Royal Scanian Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment) (Lv4), the Standard was presented on 6 June 1943 by the Commander of the Military District Major-General A.E.W. af Klercker. Lv4 originated in a Detachment formed by the A3 in 1939 which became independent as the Royal Scanian AAA Corps on 1 October 1942. The Corps was raised to a Regiment on 1 July 1962, which again became a Corps in 1994 and disbanded in 1997. In the Canton the Griffin head from the Arms of Scania (Sw. Skåne).

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Obverse and Reverse of the Standard presented to the new AAA Regiment by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf in Halmstad on 15 September 2001. The Lion -heritage form Lv6, the Ram- heritage from Lv2, the St. Erik's Head - heritage from the Lv3 and Helmet and Musket-poles -heritage from Lv5. On the Reverse the winged Gun Barrels of the AAA troops and the Gun Barrels of the Artillery denoting heritage from A2.
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