Swedish Mechanized Rifle Platoon (Current) By Brendan Matsuyama , Editor

The following is the current organization of the Swedish Army Mechanized Infantry Rifle Platoon (Swedish: Mekaniserad Skyttepluton ) as of 2020. These are Strf 9040 (CV90) Infantry Fighting Vehicle-equipped platoons integral to Mechanized Companies of Mechanized Battalions (mekaniserade bataljonen). This article incorporates rank changes that were made within the Swedish Army in late 2019.

Discussion

The Mechanized Rifle Platoon (Mekaniserad Skyttepluton) is the principle close combat element of the Mechanized Company within the Swedish Army. Each Mechanized Battalion—common formations integral to regiments of the Swedish Army's Rapid Reaction Organisation—has 2 Tank Companies (Strv 122) and 2 Mechanized Companies (Strf 9040). Each Mechanized Rifle Platoon is equipped with 3 Strf 9040 infantry fighting vehicles, carrying 3 dismounted Mechanized Rifle Groups (Pansarskyttegrupp). This contrasts with Sweden's light infantry who typically ride in Bv 206 articulated tracked carriers.

Mechanized infantry work very closely with tank units, with typically a Mechanized Company and Tank Company being paired up for a combined arms mission. This limits the amount of time a platoon can dismount if the tanks are on the move.

​

The Platoon HQ (Chefsgrupp) consists of the Platoon Commander (Plutonchef), Deputy Platoon Commander (Ställföreträdande plutonchef), and a Vehicle Commander (Vagnchef). Each commands 1 of the platoon's 3 Strf 9040s. In the event that the Platoon Commander or their deputy need to dismount, each vehicle may also carry a spare Vehicle Commander who sits in the spare 7th seat in the back of the vehicle with the dismounts. The Platoon Commander is typically a Fänrik or Löjtnant (OF-1), although the rare Kapten (OF-2) Platoon Commander is possible. The Deputy is a Sergeant (OR-6) or Över-sergeant (OR-7), which would have been Förste Sergeant and Fanjunkare respectively under the old pre-2019 rank system. The Vehicle Commander is typically a Furir (OR-5), which would have been a Sergeant pre-2019, while the spare Vehicle Commanders could be Vicekorporal (OR-3) or Korporal (OR-4). All men are armed with Ak 5C assault rifles as their personal weapons.



Additionally, the platoon has three spare personnel at full strength. A Dismount Commander who is typically a Sergeant. When neither the Platoon Commander or Deputy Platoon Commander dismount, this individual leads all dismount groups. They are technically counted in the count for the Rifle Groups in playcards, essentially being spare personnel but serving a command function. In some situations, they could command one of the groups (perhaps when the Platoon Commander or Deputy dismounts). The vehicles the Platoon Commander and Deputy Platoon Commander reside in also have one spare Vehicle Commander each who can take over command of the vehicle if either dismounts. Typically, only one of the two would ever dismount (usually the Platoon Commander).

​

Each of the platoon's 3 Mechanized Rifle Groups (Mekaniserad skyttegrupp) consists of a 2-man vehicle crew (excluding the Vehicle Commanders) and a 6-man dismounted element. They are letter E, F and G typically, with the option of an H if a platoon is operating with 4 groups. Meanwhile, the letters A, B, C, and D represent the platoons in the company. So a group/vehicle designated "EA" is E Group, A Platoon, for example.

The crew consists of a Driver (Förare) and Vehicle Gunner (Skytt), both junior enlisted but typically Vicekorporal. The dismounted Rifle Group is led overall by a Group Commander (Gruppchef) of the rank Furir or Överfurir—the latter being essentially a distinguishing rank awarded to Furir for good service—and is assisted by a Deputy Group Commander (Ställföreträdande Gruppchef) of the rank Korporal. The groups serve one m/86 Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle—with a gunner and rifleman who carries ammo and aids in loading—and a machine gun. The Carl Gustaf is optional, however. In a case where the Carl Gustaf is not taken out, the Carl Gustaf operator would just be a rifleman. The machine gun is either a Ksp 58B/F (FN MAG) general-purpose machine gun or KsP 90 (FN Minimi) light machine gun depending on the needs of the platoon and orders of the Platoon Commander. The Ksp58F is essentially the Ksp58B but with additional rail attachments. The vehicles carry both and the platoon can field a mix of the two. The last rifleman may act as an assistant for the Machine Gunner if the group takes out the KsP 58B. This Rifleman is typically trained as a Combat Life Saver and may be armed with an Ak4D Designated Marksman Rifle—a variant of the Ak 4 which is itself a Swedish-made G3A3. If they are a professional soldier they are typically a Vicekorpral. Both Riflemen can also carry m/86 (AT-4) disposable anti-tank weapons, although these weapons are situational and optional, especially for the Carl Gustaf loader. Meanwhile, the Group Commander and Deputy Group Commander carries an M203 40mm grenade launcher. All men except for the Machine Gunner and Deputy Group Commander carry the Ak 5C rifle.

​

Like the light infantry variant, the Mechanized Rifle Group can be split into two teams (Omgång) of 3 men under the Group Commander or their deputy each to facilitate fire and maneuver.

​

​