Lapland Rifle Regiment

Lapland Ranger Regiment
Lapplands jägarregemente (I 22, I 22/Fo 66, I 22/GJ 66)
Insignia
Active	1975–2000
Country	Sweden
Branch	Swedish Army
Type	Arctic light infantry
Size	Regiment
Colours	Green and silver (white)
March	"Friska tag" (1984–2000)

The Lapland Ranger Regiment (Swedish: Lapplands jägarregemente), designations I 22, I 22/Fo 66 and I 22/GJ 66, was a Swedish Army light infantry regiment, one of the few new formations raised in the 20th century. It was disbanded in 2000. The regiment was garrisoned in Lapland.

History

The regiment traced its origins from the elite "Skidlöparbataljonen" (Skirunners Battalion), of Norrbotten Regiment (I 19), the battalion was raised in 1910 as the first modern ranger unit of the Swedish Army and the first unit specializing in Arctic warfare. The battalion was garrisoned in northern Lapland Kiruna in 1940 and was renamed in 1943 as Jägarbataljon K (Ranger Battalion K), K for Kiruna, which became Sweden's first special operation unit. In 1945 the battalion became an independent training unit under the army high command as the Army Ranger School for setting up and training three army corps ranger battalions and long range recon companies and special operation units. The unit received independent regimental status with a regimental standard from the hands of the King in 1975, and was renamed Lapplands jägarregemente I 22, I 22 stood for infantry regiment no 22. The Lapland Ranger Regiment was finally disbanded in 2000. Its tasks and personnel were largely transferred to the heavier equipped Norrland Dragoon Regiment (K 4), a former mounted ranger cavalry unit that had a de facto light infantry role, later in turn reorganized and downsized as "Armens jägarbataljon" (The Army Ranger Battalion) as part of the Norrbotten Regiment, the original mother regiment of Lapland Rangers.

The rangers of The Lapland Ranger Regiment and the Ranger School wore a green "commando" beret, from 1960 onward, with the unit's insignia a crowned wolf's head. For ranger qualification the soldiers had to pass a demanding 7-day march exercise, with daily distances between 25 and 50 kilometers (15–31 miles) carrying 35 to 50 kilo (77–110 pounds) rucksacks, in rough mountain terrain. Despite this the pass rate was high, due to 2 to 3 months prior extensive tough heavy load marching training for recruits.

Organisation

The regiment raised independent ranger companies, one or two per year, that was specialized in behind enemy lines operations in Arctic environment on small unit bases, ranger troops. The requirement was for a ranger troop to be able to sustain high combat capability for at least 30 days of operations behind enemy lines without supplies.

Commanderrs

• 1975–1979 – Clarence Jonsson
• 1979–1984 – Leif Nilsson
• 1984–1989 – Sören Jansson
• 1989–1997 – Björn Lundquist
• 1997–2000 – Håkan Hedström

Name, designation and garrison

See also

• List of Swedish regiments
• Provinces of Sweden

References

Coordinates: 67°51′15″N 20°15′49″E / 67.85417°N 20.26361°E / 67.85417; 20.26361