| Colonel överste | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Sweden |
| Service branch | Army Air Force Navy (Amphibious Corps) |
| Abbreviation | Öv (Swedish),[1] Col (English)[2] |
| Rank | Colonel |
| NATOrank code | OF-5 |
| Non-NATO rank | O-6 |
| Next higher rank | Brigadier general (2000–) Senior colonel (1972–2000) Major general (–1972) |
| Next lower rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Equivalent ranks | Captain |
Colonel (Col) (Swedish:överste, öv) is the most seniorfield grade militaryofficerrank in theSwedish Army and theSwedish Air Force, immediately above the rank oflieutenant colonel and just below the rank ofbrigadier general. It is equivalent to the naval rank ofcaptain in theSwedish Navy.[3]
Överste ("Colonel") is the name for the highest regimental officer rank. The name, sometimes in the connection withhäröverste ("army colonel") and alsogeneralöverste ("colonel general"), is as old as astanding army, that is, from the end of theMiddle Ages. During the 16th and 17th centuries, a famous soldier was commissioned to recruit a regiment and was then appointed colonel at the head of it. The regiment was thus the colonel's belonging; he appointed, among other things, its officers. To the extent that the recruitment was immediately taken over by the state, the colonels began to be appointed by the king as well as the other officers. Even today, the colonel is usually the regimental commander.[4]
The rank of colonel was between the rank oflieutenant colonel andmajor general until 1972 whensenior colonel rank was introduced. Thereafter, colonel was between lieutenant colonel and senior colonel from 1972 to 2000 when thebrigadier general rank was introduced. Since 2000, the rank of colonel is between the lieutenant colonel and the brigadier general and the senior colonel (for those who still hold the rank, no new appointments are made) is between colonel and the brigadier general.[3]
