Allied Forces Baltic Approaches


Allied Forces Baltic Approaches was a Principal Subordinate Command of the NATO Military Command Structure, with responsibility for the Baltic Sea area. It was in existence from 1962 to 2002 and consisted of the Danish Armed Forces, units of the West German Bundeswehr and allied wartime reinforcements.
The NATO command Baltic Approaches was created on 8 January 1962, with headquarters in Karup, Denmark. It was created at Germany's urging, in order to end the previous separation of the German naval forces between the NATO commands Northern Europe and Central Europe. After the changes in the international security situation in 1990, the command was restructured in 1993 and deactivated in 2002.
The area of responsibility of BALTAP comprised the territory of Denmark, the German states Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein and the eastern North Sea, the Baltic approaches with Skagerrak, Kattegat, the Danish straits, and the Baltic Sea. One peculiarity was the responsibility for air defence over the German part of the BALTAP area. Until 1990, the western Allies were responsible for air defence over the whole Federal Republic of Germany on the basis of the occupation statute. After France withdrew from the integrated military structure of the alliance, this task was undertaken by the United States and the United Kingdom. The Second Allied Tactical Air Force was responsible for the area of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, and was led by a British officer from RAF Germany, with headquarters in Mönchengladbach.
BALTAP was led by a Danish officer with the rank of a Lieutenant General or a Vice Admiral, who had the designation Commander Allied Forces Baltic Approaches. His deputy was a German officer of the same rank. From 1962 to 1993, COMBALTAP was under the NATO command Allied Forces Northern Europe in Kolsås outside Oslo in Norway. After a change in the NATO structure, it was placed under Allied Forces Central Europe on 1 October 1993. For the operational command of the air and sea forces, a partial assignment of these forces to Allied Forces Northwestern Europe with its component commands AIRNORTHWEST and NAVNORTHWEST was made.
In case of war, COMBALTAP would have had to lead the NATO forces assigned to it. According to plans, all Danish forces with the exception of some units in the outer regions were to be placed under COMBALTAP. Germany had provided for its land and air forces stationed in the BALTAP area, and its entire naval and naval air forces, to be subordinated to COMBALTAP. In addition, external reinforcements from the United States and Britain were planned.

1962 to 1993

The initial structure remained with few changes from 1962 to 1994. During this time, BALTAP comprised four subordinate commands:
  • Commander, Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland in Rendsburg
  • Commander, Allied Land Forces in Zealand in Ringsted
  • Commander, Allied Air Forces Baltic Approaches in Karup
  • Commander, Allied Naval Forces Baltic Approaches in Karup

    Structure in 1989

Commander, Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland

LANDJUT was tasked with defending the Jutland peninsula. Holding Jutland was crucial for the mission of NAVBALTAP to keep the Danish straits blocked and thus prevent the Soviet Baltic Fleet from breaking out into the North Sea. In case the Jutland peninsula would fall into Soviet hands, the LANDZEALAND units defending the Danish Isles would have been dangerously flanked. Therefore, LANDJUT was to be reinforced at the earliest with British and American troops to ensure that advancing Soviet forces would be prevented from crossing the Kiel Canal and Eider river.
British and American formations earmarked to reinforce LANDJUT included the British 1st Infantry Brigade and the American 9th Infantry Division. British infantry battalions and armoured regiments rotated every two years or so; thus locations are shown, but no unit identities.
After the end of the Cold War, LANDJUT was expanded into Multi-National Corps North East with the addition of Polish troops.
  • Commander, Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland, Rendsburg, commanded by a Danish or German lieutenant general:
  • * 610th Signal Battalion, Rendsburg
  • * 2nd Signal Battalion, Tønder
  • * Corps Artillery
  • ** HQ-Staff Battery, Flensburg
  • ** 33rd Artillery Battalion, Skive, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment
  • ** 650th Rocket Artillery Battalion, Flensburg,
  • ** 610th Security Battalion, Flensburg
  • ** 611th Nuclear Weapons Supply Company, Flensburg
  • * 600th Air Defence Regiment, Rendsburg
  • ** Staff Battery, 600th Air Defence Regiment, Rendsburg
  • ** 610th Air Defence Battalion, Rendsburg,
  • ** 620th Air Defence Battalion, Rendsburg,
  • ** 630th Air Defence Battalion, Rendsburg,
  • * Jutland Battle Group, Holstebro
  • ** 7th Staff Company
  • ** 4th Btn, Jydske Dragonregiment,
  • ** 3rd Btn, Kongens Jyske Fodregiment,
  • ** 4th Btn, Prinsens Livregiment,
  • ** Tank destroyer Squadron,
  • ** 7th Engineer Company
  • ** 8th Artillery Btn, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment,
  • ** 8th Logistic Battalion
  • ** 7th Military Police Detachment
  • * 1st Infantry Brigade, Tidworth, UK, United Kingdom Mobile Force
  • ** HQ 1st Infantry Brigade & 215th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals, Tidworth
  • ** 13th/18th Royal Hussars, Tidworth,
  • ** 1st Btn, Queen's Regiment, Tidworth,
  • ** 1st Btn, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, Bulford,
  • ** 1st Btn, Royal Hampshire Regiment, Tidworth,
  • ** 1st Btn, Wessex Regiment, Devizes
  • ** C Squadron, Royal Hussars, Tidworth,
  • ** 47th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Thorney Island,
  • ** 22nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, Perham Down
  • ** No. 656 Squadron, Army Air Corps,, from 7 Regiment, Army Air Corps

    Jutland Division

  • Jutland Division, Fredericia
  • * 3rd Signal Battalion
  • * 3rd Engineer Battalion
  • * 4th Battalion, Fynske Livregiment,
  • * 6th Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment,
  • * 5th Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment,
  • * Long Range Reconnaissance Company, Dronningens Livregiment
  • * Electronic Warfare Company
  • * 1st Jutland Brigade, Fredericia
  • ** 1st Brigade Staff Company
  • ** 1st Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment,
  • ** 1st Battalion, Fynske Livregiment,
  • ** 2nd Battalion, Prinsens Livregiment,
  • ** 6th Artillery Battalion, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment,
  • ** 1st Armoured Engineer Company
  • ** 4th Logistic Battalion
  • ** 1st Military Police Detachment
  • * 2nd Jutland Brigade, Skive
  • ** 2nd Brigade Staff Company
  • ** 2nd Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment,
  • ** 1st Battalion, Dronningens Livregiment,
  • ** 2nd Battalion, Dronningens Livregiment,
  • ** 3rd Artillery Battalion, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment,
  • ** 2nd Armoured Engineer Company
  • ** 5th Logistic Battalion
  • ** 2nd Military Police Detachment
  • * 3rd Jutland Brigade, Haderslev
  • ** 3rd Brigade Staff Company
  • ** 3rd Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment,
  • ** 1st Battalion, Prinsens Livregiment,
  • ** 1st Battalion, Kongens Jyske Fodregiment,
  • ** 7th Artillery Battalion, Sønderjyske Artilleriregiment,
  • ** 3rd Armoured Engineer Company
  • ** 7th Logistic Battalion
  • ** 3rd Military Police Detachment
  • * Divisional Artillery Regiment Skive
  • ** Staff and Target Acquisition Battery
  • ** 23rd Artillery Battalion,
  • ** 24th Artillery Battalion,
  • ** 18th Heavy Battery,
  • ** 19th Heavy Battery,
  • * 14th Air Defence Battalion,
  • * Divisional Logistic Ålborg
  • ** 3rd Logistic Battalion
  • ** 10th Supply Battalion
  • ** Heavy Transport Company
  • ** 2nd Military Police Company

    6th Panzergrenadier Division

  • 6th Panzergrenadier Division, Neumünster
  • * Staff Company, 6th Panzergrenadier Division, Neumünster
  • * 16th Panzergrenadier Brigade, Wentorf
  • ** Staff Company, 16th Panzergrenadier Brigade, Wentorf,
  • ** 161st Panzergrenadier Battalion, Wentorf,
  • ** 162nd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Wentorf,
  • ** 163rd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Wentorf,
  • ** 164th Panzer Battalion, Schwarzenbek,
  • ** 165th Panzer Artillery Battalion, Wentorf,
  • ** 160th Anti-Tank Company, Schwarzenbek,
  • ** 160th Armored Engineer Company, Schwarzenbek
  • ** 160th Supply Company, Wentorf
  • ** 160th Maintenance Company, Schwarzenbek
  • * 17th Panzergrenadier Brigade, Hamburg
  • ** Staff Company, 17th Panzergrenadier Brigade, Hamburg,
  • ** 171st Panzergrenadier Battalion, Hamburg,
  • ** 172nd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Lübeck,
  • ** 173rd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Hamburg,
  • ** 174th Panzer Battalion, Hamburg,
  • ** 177th Panzer Artillery Battalion, Hamburg,
  • ** 170th Anti-Tank Company, Lübeck,
  • ** 170th Armored Engineer Company, Lübeck
  • ** 170th Supply Company, Hamburg
  • ** 170th Maintenance Company, Hamburg
  • * 18th Panzer Brigade, Neumünster
  • ** Staff Company, 18th Panzer Brigade, Neumünster,
  • ** 181st Panzer Battalion, Neumünster,
  • ** 182nd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Bad Segeberg,
  • ** 183rd Panzer Battalion, Boostedt,
  • ** 184th Panzer Battalion, Boostedt,
  • ** 185th Panzer Artillery Battalion, Boostedt,
  • ** 180th Anti-Tank Company, Bad Segeberg,
  • ** 180th Armored Engineer Company, Lübeck
  • ** 180th Supply Company, Boostedt
  • ** 180th Maintenance Company, Boostedt
  • * 51st Home Defence Brigade, Eutin
  • ** Staff Company, 51st Home Defence Brigade, Eutin,
  • ** 511th Jäger Battalion, Flensburg,
  • ** 512th Jäger Battalion, Putlos,
  • ** 513th Panzer Battalion, Flensburg,
  • ** 514th Panzer Battalion, Putlos,
  • ** 515th Field Artillery Battalion, Kellinghusen,
  • ** 517th Field Replacement Battalion, Süderbrarup
  • ** 510th Armored Engineer Company, Plön
  • ** 510th Medical Company, Idstedt
  • ** 510th Supply Company, Schleswig
  • ** 510th Maintenance Company, Schleswig
  • * 6th Artillery Regiment, Kellinghusen
  • ** Staff Battery, 6th Artillery Regiment, Kellinghusen
  • ** 61st Field Artillery Battalion, Albersdorf,
  • ** 62nd Rocket Artillery Battalion, Kellinghusen,
  • ** 63rd Surveillance Battalion, Itzehoe,
  • ** 6th Custodial Battery, Kellinghusen
  • * 6th Army Aviation Regiment, Hohenlockstedt,
  • * 6th Air Defence Regiment, Lütjenburg,
  • * 6th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Eutin,
  • * 6th Engineer Battalion, Plön,
  • * 61st Engineer Battalion, Lübeck,
  • * 6th Signal Battalion, Neumünster
  • * 6th Medical Battalion, Itzehoe
  • * 6th Supply Battalion, Neumünster
  • * 6th Maintenance Battalion, Hamburg
  • * 5 × Field Replacement Battalions: 61st and 65th in Neumünster, 62nd in Itzehoe, 63rd and 64th in Hamburg
  • * 66th Jäger Battalion, Wentorf,
  • * 67th Jäger Battalion, Breitenburg,
  • * 68th Security Battalion, Breitenburg