Gotland, an island in arms
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 18 00 E
Map references: Europe
A: Military rule:
In 2031 during the Euro wars, Russian troops invades central Europe. Finnish forces push against a Russian column driving for Helsinki. The column is stopped by the Finnish SISU troops, at great losses. Scandinavia put many ships into the Baltic, to stave off any attack from Russia. The navy base at Bodö is attacked by Russian Bombers. The Baltic states are overrun, despite voluntary forces from Scandinavia. These forces, along some of the Baltic units, retreats to Gotland, to form the "Viking Brigade". Production of both Fighter planes and Frigates are accelerated to discourage Russia from extending the war to Scandinavia. As an answer to that, Russian bombers attack and sink several frigates in Bodö harbour. A flight of "Nattskärran" fighters scramble and shoots down 2 Russian bombers. The voluntaries from Scandinavia retreated back towards Ventspils, along with surviving units from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. They "liberated" several ships and managed to bring a lot of troops and weapons with them to Slite on Gotland. They established camps and are now slowly building up the unit. The troops have just about taken over the island, and those Scandinavian forces on the island is assimilated into the Viking Brigade. Gotland is now under martial law.
B: The Viking Brigade:
B1: The Volunteers:
The military units that forms the Viking Brigade is made up of mostly Armour and infantry personnel from old Scandinavian units. These were volunteers, to stop the Russians from overthrowing the Baltic Countries, and to ultimately, attack Scandinavia. A volunteer unit, they were not stocked with the latest equipment, and most of their heavier gear was lost during the withdrawal from Riga, but with the requisitioned material from the forces on Gotland, their strength was boosted. Almost 2 thirds of the Brigade is made up of Scandinavian volunteers, forming an armour regiment, and an infantry regiment.
B2: The Baltic Forces:
A Battalion of Rangers from Estonia, an Attack Helicopter Division from Lithuania, and a Marine Infantry Battalion from Lithuania got out with the Scandinavian troops. The troops managed to bring most of their equipment with them, and are hardened veterans from their futile struggle to stop the Russian war machine. The helicopters were actually parked onboard the container ships requisitioned by the retreating forces, and carries a full load of missiles and fuel. These Baltic soldiers form the Baltic Regiment.
B3: The Russian Defectors:
As the Russians launched an attempt to land troops in Scandinavia, the invasion was close to reaching Gotland. After bombardment from Fighter bombers, and missiles from stealth frigates and submarines, the invasion force turned south instead. All but a few landing crafts, who had had enough of the war, and contacted the mobilised Viking Brigade on Gotland, willing to defect. Landing in Slite, on the east coast of Gotland, they immediately surrendered to the military commander, and was disarmed. The unit consisted of a mechanised infantry battalion, complete with vehicles and supplies, and their Commanding Officer was gratified for their welcome, and kept a good order among his men. When the Russian High Command learned of this defection, they demanded that the Scandinavian Government would send them back. As the Viking Brigade had occupied Gotland, they refused the request, as it was forwarded by the Scandinavian High Command. The Russians threatened to launch an attack, to retaliate against the defectors, and their keepers. Scandinavian Politicians saw the threat as a threat against the whole of Scandinavia, and agreed to let the Viking Brigade have autonomy from the Federation, if they stopped any attacks on the Mainland.
The Brigade Commander saw a though job, and precious few troops, but then someone mentioned rearming the Russian defectors to bolster the ranks, and so they did, adding a Russian Mechanised Battalion to the Brigade. That, and a few surface attack craft from the Baltic countries, some Scandinavian ships, and deserting Russian ships made a fine contribution to the Brigade, having by far outgrown the original limits. A scattering of older Scandinavian and Russian fighters made up a Division of airforce. The Brigade now was powerful enough to dissuade the Russians from go through with their threat. Then the Eurowars ended, for this time.
B4: Current composition:
The Vikings now organise into the following units:
Brigade HQ (Major General Moberg, ScanFed Infantry)
1.st Armoured Regiment (Colonel Staffansson, ScanFed Armour)
1.st Infantry Regiment (Colonel Johansen, ScanFed Infantry)
2.nd Infantry Regiment (Colonel Grindbergis, Estonian Rangers)
21.st Ranger Battalion (Major Estes, Estonian Rangers)
22.nd Marine Battalion (Major Nitch, Lithuanian Marines)
23.rd Attack Helicopter Division (Lieutenant Colonel Soorman, Latvian Airforce)
3.rd Mechanised Battalion (Major Rokosovskij, Russian Army)
Gotland Naval Detachment (Captain Nikkola, ScanFed Navy)
FFM(s) 15 HMS Södermanland (Frigate, Flagship, ScanFed)
F 02 Prodgorny (Frigate, Russia)
R 10 HMS Uppsala (Fast Missile Craft, ScanFed)
R 11 Petri (Fast Missile Craft, Estonia)
R 12 Illya (Fast missile Craft, Russia)
L 01 Moldau (Landing Craft, Russia)
L 02 Donau (landing Craft, Russia)
Gotland Air Detachment (Colonel von Schmelling, ScanFed Airforce)
5 JAS Gripen (ScanFed)
4 MIG 31 Foxbat (Russia)
2 Hercules Troop transport (Estonia)
B5: Current situation:
Since the war has ended, the Viking Brigade no longer needs to go into battle. But to maintain their independence, they still need to have a large standing force, and that costs money. They have to find ways to finance their continuos operation. That is why they turned to the Mercenary Market, selling their favours. They can field a large unit, or just a small troop, depending on the customers, and the current situation in the area of Gotland.
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