Allied Forces Baltic Approaches (BALTAP) was a Principal Subordinate Command (PSC) 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 (without Greenland and the Faroe Islands), 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 (2 ATAF) was responsible for the area of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, and was led by a British officer from RAF Germany, with headquarters in Mönchengladbach.Brian Wanstall; Luftverteidigung im Ostseeraum – Dänemark bewacht die Meerengen; in: Interavia 12-1982, S. 1297ff
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 (COMBALTAP). His deputy was a German officer of the same rank. From 1962 to 1993, COMBALTAP was under the NATO command Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) in Kolsås outside Oslo in Norway. After a change in the NATO structure, it was placed under Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) 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 (AFNORTHWEST) 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 (UK Mobile Force, primarily 1st Infantry Brigade) 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 (COMLANDJUT) in Rendsburg Commander, Allied Land Forces in Zealand (COMLANDZEALAND) in Ringsted Commander, Allied Air Forces Baltic Approaches (COMAIRBALTAP) in Karup Commander, Allied Naval Forces Baltic Approaches (COMNAVBALTAP) 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.Gen. Lyng: "If the 9th Infantry Division is reduced or disbanded we will need other reinforcements," said Gen Lyng. "The Soviets would be able to concentrate a substantial number of divisions against the 6th Panzergrenadier Division and the Jutland Division and we would have no division behind them. The UKMF is very good but it only has 14 tanks, it is only a brigade and we need a division." 1990 Complete Edition of Jane's Defence Weekly page 850. 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 (24 × M59 155 mm gun) 650th Rocket Artillery Battalion, Flensburg, (4 × Lance missile launcher) 610th Security Battalion (Reserve), Flensburg 611th Nuclear Weapons Supply Company, Flensburg 600th Air Defence Regiment, Rendsburg Staff Battery, 600th Air Defence Regiment, Rendsburg 610th Air Defence Battalion, Rendsburg, (18 × Roland missile systems mounted Marder 1, 108 × FIM-43 Redeye launchers) 620th Air Defence Battalion (Reserve), Rendsburg, (18 × Gepard, 108 × FIM-43 Redeye launchers) 630th Air Defence Battalion (Reserve), Rendsburg, (24 × Bofors 40L70) Jutland Battle Group (Reserve), Holstebro 7th Staff Company 4th Btn, Jydske Dragonregiment, (infantry) 3rd Btn, Kongens Jyske Fodregiment, (Infantry) 4th Btn, Prinsens Livregiment, (Infantry) Tank destroyer Squadron, (10 × Centurion Mk V (84 mm gun)) 7th Engineer Company 8th Artillery Btn, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment, (18 × M101 105 mm howitzer) 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, (24 × FV101 Scorpion, 24 × FV107 Scimitar, 16 × FV102 Striker, 19 × FV103 Spartan) 1st Btn, Queen's Regiment, Tidworth, (43 × Saxon, 8 × FV721 Fox, 8 × 81 mm mortars) 1st Btn, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, Bulford, (43 × Saxon, 8 × FV721 Fox, 8 × 81 mm mortars) 1st Btn, Royal Hampshire Regiment, Tidworth, (43 × Saxon, 8 × FV721 Fox, 8 × 81 mm mortars) 1st Btn, Wessex Regiment (V), Devizes C Squadron, Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales Own), Tidworth, (14 × Chieftain tanks) 47th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Thorney Island, (24 × FH-70 howitzers) 22nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, Perham Down No. 656 (Anti-Tank Helicopter) Squadron, Army Air Corps, (3 × Gazelle AH.1, 9 × Lynx AH.1), from 7 Regiment, Army Air Corps
Jutland Division Jutland Division, Fredericia 3rd Signal Battalion (Division HQ) 3rd Engineer Battalion 4th Battalion, Fynske Livregiment, (Motorised infantry Battalion: 10 × Centurion Mk V (84 mm gun)) 6th Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (Tank destroyer Battalion: 50 × Centurion Mk V (84 mm gun)) 5th Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (Reconnaissance: 18 × M41 DK-1, 9 × M113, 9 × M125) Long Range Reconnaissance Company, Dronningens Livregiment Electronic Warfare Company 1st Jutland Brigade, Fredericia 1st Brigade Staff Company (including 5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 1st Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (20 × Leopard 1A3, 21 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 2 × M125 mortar carriers) 1st Battalion, Fynske Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Prinsens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 6th Artillery Battalion, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3 howitzer, 8 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer, 15 × M113) 1st Armoured Engineer Company (6 × M113) 4th Logistic Battalion 1st Military Police Detachment 2nd Jutland Brigade, Skive 2nd Brigade Staff Company (including 5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (20 × Leopard 1A3, 21 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 2 × M125) 1st Battalion, Dronningens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Dronningens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 3rd Artillery Battalion, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3 howitzer, 8 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer, 15 × M113) 2nd Armoured Engineer Company 5th Logistic Battalion 2nd Military Police Detachment 3rd Jutland Brigade, Haderslev 3rd Brigade Staff Company (including 5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 3rd Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (20 × Leopard 1A3, 21 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 2 × M125) 1st Battalion, Prinsens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 1st Battalion, Kongens Jyske Fodregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 7th Artillery Battalion, Sønderjyske Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3 howitzer, 8 × M114/39 howitzer, 15 × M113) 3rd Armoured Engineer Company 7th Logistic Battalion 3rd Military Police Detachment Divisional Artillery Regiment Skive Staff and Target Acquisition Battery 23rd Artillery Battalion, (18 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer) 24th Artillery Battalion, (18 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer) 18th Heavy Battery, (4 × M115 203 mm howitzer) 19th Heavy Battery, (4 × M115 203 mm howitzer) 14th Air Defence Battalion, (Stinger, Bofors 40 mm L/70) 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, (8 × M577, 8 × Luchs) 161st Panzergrenadier Battalion, Wentorf, (13 × Leopard 1A1A1, 24 × Marder, 12 × M113) 162nd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Wentorf, (24 × Marder, 6 × Panzermörser, 23 × M113) 163rd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Wentorf, (24 × Marder, 6 × Panzermörser, 23 × M113) 164th Panzer Battalion, Schwarzenbek, (41 × Leopard 1A1A1, 12 × M113) 165th Panzer Artillery Battalion, Wentorf, (18 × M109A3G) 160th Anti-Tank Company, Schwarzenbek, (12 × Jaguar 2) 160th Armored Engineer Company, Schwarzenbek 160th Supply Company, Wentorf 160th Maintenance Company, Schwarzenbek 17th Panzergrenadier Brigade, Hamburg Staff Company, 17th Panzergrenadier Brigade, Hamburg, (8 × M577, 8 × Luchs) 171st Panzergrenadier Battalion, Hamburg, (13 × Leopard 1A1A2, 24 × Marder, 12 × M113) 172nd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Lübeck, (24 × Marder, 6 × Panzermörser, 23 × M113) 173rd Panzergrenadier Battalion, Hamburg, (24 × Marder, 6 × Panzermörser, 23 × M113) 174th Panzer Battalion, Hamburg, (41 × Leopard 1A1A2, 12 × M113) 177th Panzer Artillery Battalion, Hamburg, (18 × M109A3G)Soldaten als potentielle Sexualpartner. In: Der Spiegel. Nr. 3, 1984, S. 23 (online – 16. Januar 1984). Zitat: „Sämtliche Panzerartilleriebataillone bei der Bundeswehr sind nummeriert und haben als Schlußziffer eine Fünf. Nur das Bataillon 177 Hamburg-Rahlstedt, in dem Lindner Dienst tat, bekam am Ende eine Sieben.“ (translation: "All Panzer Artillery Bataillons in the Bundeswehr were numbered with a 5. Only the 177 Hamburg Rahlstedt, were Linder served, was numbered with a 7) 170th Anti-Tank Company, Lübeck, (12 × Jaguar 1) 170th Armored Engineer Company, Lübeck 170th Supply Company, Hamburg 170th Maintenance Company, Hamburg 18th Panzer Brigade, Neumünster