Norwegian Armed Forces

[Dr. Fox]

Is it snowy all around the year in Norway..??

That depends on where you are in Norway. Our climate ranges from Oceanic to Tundra and Subarctic with the Tundra, shown in grey (light green is oceanic, dark green is subarctic, grey is tundra, purple is dry-summer subarctic and blue is warm-summer humid continental), being mostly snowy year round.

Inland Norway is heavily mountainous which traps cold air and makes the inland region much, much colder on average then the coastal or even far north of Norway. Where I live snow isn't common, but have a 50% chance of rain on a given day.

Some parts of Norway do have snow all year though. Sognefjellhytta has an average of >25cm of snow for 250 days of the year and has exactly 0 days of summer. Average tempurature in July is 5 C.

Where I'm at it gets up into the 20s during Summer and today was a nice 12 C.

So it really does depend on where you are. The whole country isn't icy or snowy all year, but there are parts (roughly 35-40% of the country) that see an average of >25cm of snow for over 100 days of the year. Enough snow during the summer that summer ski (Fonna, Stryn, Galdhøpiggen to name a few popular summer ski spots) is a lucrative industry, much to my enjoyment as a ski bum.

 

[Angel Eyes]

That depends on where you are in Norway. Our climate ranges from Oceanic to Tundra and Subarctic with the Tundra, shown in grey (light green is oceanic, dark green is subarctic, grey is tundra, purple is dry-summer subarctic and blue is warm-summer humid continental), being mostly snowy year round.

View attachment 2555

Inland Norway is heavily mountainous which traps cold air and makes the inland region much, much colder on average then the coastal or even far north of Norway. Where I live snow isn't common, but have a 50% chance of rain on a given day.

Some parts of Norway do have snow all year though. Sognefjellhytta has an average of >25cm of snow for 250 days of the year and has exactly 0 days of summer. Average tempurature in July is 5 C.

Where I'm at it gets up into the 20s during Summer and today was a nice 12 C.

So it really does depend on where you are. The whole country isn't icy or snowy all year, but there are parts (roughly 35-40% of the country) that see an average of >25cm of snow for over 100 days of the year. Enough snow during the summer that summer ski (Fonna, Stryn, Galdhøpiggen to name a few popular summer ski spots) is a lucrative industry, much to my enjoyment as a ski bum.

Damn it must be "cool" to live in Norway

 

[Dr. Fox]

Militaries are more then bombs and bullets, they've an integral role in civil society. Students from the Norwegian Armed Forces Cyber Defence Base and Response Services and the Norwegian Armed Forces Cyber Academy give back to their local community by cleaning rubbish from around the city of Lillehammer.

 

[Technofox]

On board a C-130J of the 335 Squadron during an overflight of the Dovrefjell mountain range.

 

[Technofox]

TMBN training in the Netherlands during operation Urban Viking.

 

[Technofox]

HV-14's QRF "Heron" in action during exercise Salten.

 

[Technofox]

C-17 from Heavy AirLift Wing Papa during winter training in Norway. The Heavy Airlift Wing is a collaborative logistics initiative between Norway, the United States, Sweden, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and the Netherlands.

CV9030 MKIII IFVs of the Norwegian Army's OPFOR unit KESK tutting around Camp Rena.

F314 Thor Heyerdahl docked in Oslo Harbor during 8 May, 2018 Liberation and Veterans Day commemorations.

 

[Technofox]

New JTAC training simulator opened on 22 May, 2018.

JTACs, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, are specialist soldiers that direct airborne assaults and actions from a ground position. The arrival of the F-35 makes training JTACs paramount to best make use of the aircraft's close air support role.

Norway has taken delivery of 13 F-35s.

 

[Technofox]

A typical day in Bergenhus. Imagine trying to fight in fog so thick you can't see more then a few meters in from of you.

I'm from Bergen. Heavy fog's not uncommon.

 

[Technofox]

An interesting tidbit from the 2017 Armed Forces survey of first-time conscript soldiers:

• 85 percent of first-time female conscript soldiers say they are satisfied and happy with their military service.

• 81 percent of first-time male conscript soldiers say the same.

• 87 percent of first-time female conscript soldiers and 85 percent of male first-time conscript soldiers say they would join the military voluntarily if given the chance.

• 75 percent of female first-time conscript soldiers say their service was better then they expected.

• 56 percent of first-time female conscript soldiers would reenlist and continue their service while 64 percent of first-time female conscript soldier would seek an education at a military academy.

• 74 percent of male first-time conscripts would reenlist and continue their military service while 54 percent would enroll at a military academy for their higher learning.

 

[Volcano]

An interesting tidbit from the 2017 Armed Forces survey of first-time conscript soldiers:

• 85 percent of first-time female conscript soldiers say they are satisfied and happy with their military service.

• 81 percent of first-time male conscript soldiers say the same.

• 87 percent of first-time female conscript soldiers and 85 percent of male first-time conscript soldiers say they would join the military voluntarily if given the chance.

• 75 percent of female first-time conscript soldiers say their service was better then they expected.

• 56 percent of first-time female conscript soldiers would reenlist and continue their service while 64 percent of first-time female conscript soldier would seek an education at a military academy.

• 74 percent of male first-time conscripts would reenlist and continue their military service while 54 percent would enroll at a military academy for their higher learning.

That's Interesting. Looks like conscription working out just fine for Norway.

 

[Technofox]

That's Interesting. Looks like conscription working out just fine for Norway.

Once people get into the Armed Services things typically go well and they have a positive view on their service and the military overall, but getting people, even with conscription has been the hard part. Of those called to service ever year as part of conscription over half will back out due to some form of objection or prior commitment. Norway's conscription is pretty soft.

 

[Technofox]

US Marines train with the Norwegian Navy's Coastal Rangers. Man, I love those SB90s.

 

[Technofox]

I have a soft spot for the SB90, mostly because I really want one! In Norwegian service the SB90N is operated by the Coastal Rangers, KJK, and is used for fast attack, boarding, search and seizure and ISTAR operations.

Norwegian SB90Ns are unique in that they've been outfitted with anti-ship missiles including naval Hellfire.

 

[Technofox]

Cyber Warfare branch cadets during a combat endurance course.

 

[Technofox]

Home Guard district HV-08's rapid response unit "Varg"

 

[vstol Jockey]

Do you know who is the most dangerous person on any battlefield? Its a Sub Lt with a map and compass.

 

[Technofox]

Training German Army officers in cold climate survival operations at the Norwegian School of Winter Warfare.

I rather like the German winter camo.

The Germany Army is the latest allied force to visit Norway for cold climate survival training. The USMC and Dutch Army were (and are) here this year as well.

 

[Technofox]

HV-09's rapid response unit "Bjørn West" during exercise Bjørgvin.

 

[Technofox]

The Skjold class of the Norwegian Navy are pretty unique boats. Not only are they optimized for all-aspect stealth (including a RAM coating) giving them their unique boxy appearance, but they're the fastest surface combatants on Earth topping out at over 110km/h! They easily overtake speed boats.

Armed with 8 NSM anti-ship missiles and a 76mm super rapid cannon, these heavily armed boats are only a miniscule 47.5 meters and weigh in at just 274 tons. Despite their size they aren't considered Fast Attack Craft or Motor Torpedo Boats, but Corvettes due to their handling in rough seas. Designed for hit-and-run tactics whist hidden amongst Norway's myriad of inland waterways and thousands of outlying islands, the Skjold provide a potent defence against larger adversaries, despite their diminutive size.