– Damn guys, says a female voice in Italian over a connection at a platform set up at Badderen along the Badderfjord in Kvænangen, north of Troms.
In the sea beyond, an Italian-led group of nine countries – among them Sweden – is preparing to move closer. They practice what can be called a “d-day” – where Nato forces come ashore to take back land from the enemy.
PLOW THROUGH: Italian AAV7 amphibious tanks, flanked by two assault craft, heading in towards the beach. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
This type of operation is complicated – the soldiers who make it into the fjord are vulnerable, and dependent on good reconnaissance in order not to walk straight into the enemy’s lap.
And according to VG’s information, the defense leadership actually wanted to carry out a similar operation further east than they were allowed to.
IN COUNTRY: Italians and Spaniards on their way inland, to “liberate” territories from the enemy. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
Would have headquarters in the east
At the heart of the Porsangerfjord in the east of Finnmark is Lakselv. Two miles south, at Porsangmoen, the Army is now building up the Porsanger Battalion, which will be fully operational in 2025.
In Porsangmoen camp, the Armed Forces have access to facilities, offices, and not least easy access to a large practice and shooting range in Hálkavárre. Until 2025, the Norwegian Armed Forces will invest approximately NOK 1.5 billion at Porsangmoen.
SHIPPED ON LAND: Italian VTLM vehicles (Veicolo-Tattico-Leggero-Multiruolo) must secure positions on land. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
This is part of the strengthening of Finnmark Land Defence, and “should show that Norway has the will and ability to defend the northernmost part of our country”, according to The Defense website.
Several sources in the Norwegian Defense Forces have confirmed to VG that the defense leadership wanted to use the facilities at Porsangmoen as one of several headquarters for the exercise “Nordic Response” which is currently underway in Troms and Finnmark.
The defense leadership also wanted to place parts of the exercise, including the landing of allied soldiers, along the Porsangerfjord, according to VG’s information.
See how they prepared for this amphibious operation aboard the Italian ship San Giorgio in the gallery below:
- LAUNCHING: This is what it looked like when the Italian amphibious tanks left the ship San Giorgio to advance towards Badderen.
- The driver of an Italian VTLM vehicle prepares to drive onto the ship that will carry them to the coast.
- An Italian VTLM vehicle is loaded onto the ship that will transport them to the coast.
- One of the Italian amphibious tanks aboard the San Giorgio.
LAUNCHING: This is what it looked like when the Italian amphibious tanks left the ship San Giorgio to advance towards Badderen. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
The driver of an Italian VTLM vehicle prepares to drive onto the ship that will carry them to the coast. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
An Italian VTLM vehicle is loaded onto the ship that will transport them to the coast. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
One of the Italian amphibious tanks aboard the San Giorgio. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
The government said no
The choice of location for the first Nordic exercise with the neighboring countries Sweden and Finland as full members of NATO was submitted to the government at an early stage in the planning of the exercise, VG is informed.
But the Norwegian Armed Forces’ desire to use Porsangmoen and Porsangerfjorden for a multinational exercise under NATO auspices is said to have stopped in the RSU, the government’s security committee.
“Political authorities decide, and the Armed Forces of course align themselves accordingly,” says a defense source who will not be named.
– Looked at many possibilities
When asked if the Norwegian Armed Forces really wanted to have landing exercises in the Porsangerfjord, Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen replies that Norway has a long tradition of not practicing east of Lakselv and east of the 24th parallel.
– Then, of course, there are always initiatives as to where we will have these landings and where we will practice, but we have been very faithful to the 24 degrees when it comes to larger allied activity. Then it is also challenged when we get to the Finnish side, because they don’t have the same rules.
Finland does not have the same self-imposed rules, and has large parts of its territory east of 24 degrees.
– So you have to find out. But Norway has the large sea areas.
OPS: One of the Italian vehicles had challenges when it got stuck in the rocks along the beach in Badderfjorden. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
– Is it true that you wanted to use the facility at Porsangmoen as one of several headquarters?
– We looked at many possibilities, but there was no discussion about it. We stay west of 24 degrees.
– Long practice
VG has submitted this information to the Ministry of Defence, which will not answer directly why the Ministry of Defense’s request was not followed.
– The focus of exercise “Nordic Response 2024” is, among other things, receiving allied and bilateral reinforcements to the entire Scandinavian peninsula in a situation where collective defense is practiced, writes State Secretary of the FD, Anne Marie Aanerud (Sp), in an e-mail to VG.
– It is a long-standing practice that allied exercise activity in Finnmark is clarified with the Ministry of Defense and that such activity is limited to the very east of Finnmark, she continues.
- HELICOPTER SUPPORT: The Leonardo helicopter MH-101 with Italian marines, who were eventually lowered by rope.
HELICOPTER SUPPORT: The Leonardo helicopter MH-101 with Italian marines, who were eventually lowered by rope. Photo: Martha CS Holmes / VG
Foto: Martha C. S. Holmes / VG
2024-03-11 21:49:45
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