Kystjegerkommandoen
Encyclopedia
Kystjegerkommandoen is a Norwegian
amphibious
unit trained to operate in littoral
combat theatres, filling the role of a marine corps and coastal artillery
.
The unit was created when it became clear that the coastal fortresses had to be abandoned due to their vulnerability to modern precision guided weapons. This was a gradual development, as the old coastal artillery branch of the Norwegian Defence Force
s had been increasingly focusing on mobile operations, and less on coastal fortresses, for many years. With the establishment of the Ranger Command, this transition was complete.
KJK operatives are trained to be highly mobile in the littoral environment, using the Combat Boat 90
and occasionally helicopters. The CB90 is capable of landing troops directly on the shore. Max payload is 16 armed troops, and max speed is 40 knots (78.4 km/h). Their main weapon against enemy vessels is the AGM-114 Hellfire
missile, using a blast-fragmentation warhead. This can easily be carried in the CB90, but will (usually) be launched from ashore, taking advantage of Norway's numerous islands and rugged coast. KJK maintain a strong focus on the ISTAR
concept, and train to fight asymmetrical
enemy tactics. KJK have trained with allied forces, where their CB90 have been embarked from the HNLMS Rotterdam (L800)
LPD and HMS Albion (L14)
. The unit was declared operational August 17 2005. Home base is at Trondenes, Harstad
, North Norway.
and their 14 American mentors as they came under a Taliban ambush in Badghis province in Afghanistan
. When the Afghan soldiers and their American mentors were headed into an area to apprehend Taliban soldiers and leaders, they were unaware that they were headed into an ambush. The Norwegian soldiers observed this and were able to get through to their American allies on radio and warn them about the danger ahead, guiding them so they could fight themselves out of the situation. The Norwegian soldiers involved received the Army Commendation Medal
for their efforts. In November 2007, KJK took part in Operation Front Straightening to push Taliban out of the Faryab province.
During the mission, Norwegian snipers of the Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion
hit one of the Taliban insurgents from a distance of 1380 metres (4,527.6 ft).
The unit has lost 3 soldiers in combat during the war.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
unit trained to operate in littoral
Littoral
The littoral zone is that part of a sea, lake or river that is close to the shore. In coastal environments the littoral zone extends from the high water mark, which is rarely inundated, to shoreline areas that are permanently submerged. It always includes this intertidal zone and is often used to...
combat theatres, filling the role of a marine corps and coastal artillery
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
.
The unit was created when it became clear that the coastal fortresses had to be abandoned due to their vulnerability to modern precision guided weapons. This was a gradual development, as the old coastal artillery branch of the Norwegian Defence Force
Norwegian Defence Force
The Norwegian Armed Forces numbers about 23,000 personnel, including civilian employees. According to mobilisation plans , the strength during full mobilisation would be approximately 83,000 combatant personnel. Norway has mandatory military service for men and voluntary service for women...
s had been increasingly focusing on mobile operations, and less on coastal fortresses, for many years. With the establishment of the Ranger Command, this transition was complete.
KJK operatives are trained to be highly mobile in the littoral environment, using the Combat Boat 90
Combat Boat 90
Combat Boat 90 is a class of fast military assault craft originally developed for the Swedish Navy by Dockstavarvet. In addition to the many variants in service with the Swedish Navy under the Strb 90 H designation, the CB 90 has been adopted by the navies of several countries, including Norway ,...
and occasionally helicopters. The CB90 is capable of landing troops directly on the shore. Max payload is 16 armed troops, and max speed is 40 knots (78.4 km/h). Their main weapon against enemy vessels is the AGM-114 Hellfire
AGM-114 Hellfire
The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-surface missile developed primarily for anti-armor use. It has multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike capability, and can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100 lb-class air-to-ground precision...
missile, using a blast-fragmentation warhead. This can easily be carried in the CB90, but will (usually) be launched from ashore, taking advantage of Norway's numerous islands and rugged coast. KJK maintain a strong focus on the ISTAR
ISTAR
ISTAR stands for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather.Information is collected on...
concept, and train to fight asymmetrical
Asymmetric warfare
Asymmetric warfare is war between belligerents whose relative military power differs significantly, or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly....
enemy tactics. KJK have trained with allied forces, where their CB90 have been embarked from the HNLMS Rotterdam (L800)
HNLMS Rotterdam (L800)
The Rotterdam class is a Landing Platform Dock or LPD amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It is equipped with a large helicopter deck for helicopter operations and a dock for large landing craft....
LPD and HMS Albion (L14)
HMS Albion (L14)
HMS Albion is a Landing Platform Dock of the Royal Navy, the first of the two-ship Albion class. Built by BAE Systems Marine in Barrow-in-Furness, Albion was launched in March 2001 by the Princess Royal...
. The unit was declared operational August 17 2005. Home base is at Trondenes, Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
, North Norway.
International Operations
In November 2007, a KJK unit assisted a force of Afghan soldiersAfghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
and their 14 American mentors as they came under a Taliban ambush in Badghis province in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. When the Afghan soldiers and their American mentors were headed into an area to apprehend Taliban soldiers and leaders, they were unaware that they were headed into an ambush. The Norwegian soldiers observed this and were able to get through to their American allies on radio and warn them about the danger ahead, guiding them so they could fight themselves out of the situation. The Norwegian soldiers involved received the Army Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
for their efforts. In November 2007, KJK took part in Operation Front Straightening to push Taliban out of the Faryab province.
During the mission, Norwegian snipers of the Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion
Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion
2nd Battalion is an infantry unit of the Norwegian Army, based at camp Skjold in Troms county in Northern Norway. It serves in the mechanized infantry role as part of Brigade Nord; the battalion is one of three that Norwegian battalions performing this role, along with being Telemark Battalion and...
hit one of the Taliban insurgents from a distance of 1380 metres (4,527.6 ft).
The unit has lost 3 soldiers in combat during the war.
See also
- CIA Special Activities DivisionSpecial Activities DivisionThe Special Activities Division is a division in the United States Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service responsible for covert operations known as "special activities"...
- Marine Force ReconUnited States Marine Corps Force ReconnaissanceThe Force Reconnaissance Companies , are one of the United States Marine Corps's special operations "capable" forces that provide essential elements of military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force ; supporting the landing or joint task force commanders, and...
- MarinejegerkommandoenMarinejegerkommandoenMarinejegerkommandoen is a Norwegian maritime special forces unit. It was formally established in 1951. It is located in Ramsund in the northern part of Norway and at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen...
- the Royal Norwegian Navy's Naval Ranger Command - MinedykkerkommandoenMinedykkerkommandoenMinedykkerkommandoen is Norway's clearance diver group. It is a branch of the Norwegian naval defenses specializing in explosive ordnance disposal. MDK is subordinate to Minekrigsflotiljen , which is a division of the Norwegian Navy...
- the Royal Norwegian Navy's Mine Clearance Command - United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command
- United States Navy SEALsUnited States Navy SEALsThe United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...