Nordic Battlegroup

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Nordic Battlegroup
Coat of arms
Active	2008-present
Country	Sweden Finland Norway Estonia Ireland^[1]
Allegiance	European Union
Branch	EU Battlegroups
Role	Multi (Sea, Air and Land)
Size	2800
Part of	Swedish Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Enköping, Sweden
Motto	Ad omnia paratus ("Prepared for anything")
Colors	Grey and yellow
Commanders
Current commander	Brig-Gen Karl Engelbrektson

The Nordic Battlegroup (NBG) is one of eighteen European Union Battlegroups. It consists of around 2,800 soldiers including officers with manpower contributed from the participating countries (Sweden: 2,300, Finland: 200, Norway: 150, Ireland: 80 and Estonia: ~50^[2]). The military strategic command of the force is done in cooperation with the United Kingdom.^[3] Denmark is unable to join the battlegroup due to its EU Opt-outs. Norway has an opt-in to participate, even though it is not an EU Member State.

1 Order of battle
2 History
3 Coat of arms
4 Equipment
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Order of battle

Participating countries

The unit uses a modular organisation with a mechanised infantry battalion at its core (The 41. Rapid Reaction Battalion), which has been organised around Skaraborgs Regemente (P4). Support and logistics functions are incorporated into the battlegroup and a framework exists for the integration of additional resources. These resources range from artillery, air defence, and intelligence to additional logistical support. Additional support in the form of air, naval and special forces assets will be allocated based on the operational tasks the unit is expected to perform.^[4]

[edit] History

The unit is currently being trained and is expected to be ready for deployment in early 2008. It has not taken part in any military operations.

[edit] Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Battlegroup depicts a heraldic lion holding a sword and an olive branch. The lion is a national symbol of many former and present European kingdoms and the sword and the branch signifies the ambition to impose peace - with or without the use of violence.

In 2007, after complaints from female soldiers, the commander ruled that the lion's penis had to be removed. Since civilian women are often sexually abused in the war zones of the world, he does not consider the depiction of a penis appropriate on a uniform worn into battle. However, Sweden's state heraldist argues that in former times coats of arms containing lions without penis were given to those who had betrayed the Swedish Crown.^[5]