Armoured Brigade | |
---|---|
Panssariprikaati | |
Active | 1942–1944
Panssaridivisioona (Armoured Division) 1946–1952: Kevyt Prikaati (Light Brigade) 1952–: Panssariprikaati (Armoured Brigade) |
Country | Finland |
Branch | Finnish Army |
Type | Heavy armoured |
Size | 1,700 conscripts, 600 career personnel [1] |
Garrison | Parolannummi, Hattula |
Flag | |
March | Parolan marssi [2] |
Anniversaries | 28.6 - Founding of the Finnish Armoured Division [3] |
Equipment |
Leopard 2A6 BMP-2 |
Engagements |
Kuuterselkä Äyräpää Tali-Ihantala |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Juhana Skyttä |
Notable commanders |
Ruben Lagus Ari Puheloinen |
The Armoured Brigade ( Finnish: Panssariprikaati) is a Finnish Army training unit located in Parolannummi, Hattula, in southern Finland. The brigade specialises in training armoured and anti-aircraft troops. In case of mobilization, the Finnish Defence Forces would field one armoured brigade. The war-time armoured brigade has a strength of around 5,700 men, and fields 63 main battle tanks, 110 infantry fighting vehicles, circa 100 armoured personnel carriers, mainly of Soviet origin, and roughly 70 other armoured vehicles. However, the remaining war-time armoured brigade is being phased out and replaced by smaller mechanized battle groups. The new mechanized battle groups will field the Leopard 2 MBTs that are not included in the organization of the contemporary war-time armoured brigades.
Since Finnish Defence Forces reform in 2015, the structure of the Armoured Brigade is the following: [4] [5]
The Armoured Band (Panssarisoittokunta) was disbanded in 2013 as part of FDF reforms. [7] After disbandment of the Military Music School and the Häme Regiment, the Conscript band was attached to the Armoured Brigade. [8] Following the disbandment of the Signals Regiment in 2014, the Centre for Electronic Warfare was attached to the brigade. [9] The Armour School, which trains reserve officers and career personnel, was attached to the Army Academy in 2015. [10] The Command & Control Company (Johtamisjärjestelmäkomppania) was merged with the Armoured Signals Company in December 2021.