Marinejegerkommandoen
Encyclopedia
Marinejegerkommandoen 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. MJK is employed in many kinds of operations, such as unconventional warfare
, guerrilla warfare
, special reconnaissance
, recovery or protection of ships and oil installations
, various counter-terrorism
missions, hostage rescue
and direct action
(which includes sabotage
, raids
, kidnapping
and specific enemy assassination
s).
As is expected from any special forces, the training to become an MJK operative is long and arduous, taking a minimum of two years and then further augmented by courses taken during the following contract period, such as field medical
training, sniper
training and forward air control
(FAC) training. The candidates are put through extremely demanding tests, on one of the field-tests which is known to the public, each of the candidates (which at this point of the selection consists of about 5-8 men) must carry a 60 kg (132.3 lb) rucksack while being hunted by "enemies" which consists of Home Guard-soldiers
, K-9 units and policemen. At some point in the test, the candidates will be caught and sent to 36 hours of rough interrogation (CAC-training).
MJK is an integral part of the special operations command mesh that serves to protect Norway’s interests, both domestic and internationally. As this unit is to be used with maximum efficiency internationally, it is modelled after the NATO Special Operation Forces definition.
(HJK).
MJK has participated in a number of international operations, most notably and most recently twice in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan
, in 2002, as a part of Task Force K-Bar
, and in 2003. MJK’s contribution has largely been kept secret, but from what is available, its missions have included DA (direct action)
, Forward Air Control (FAC) and SR (Special Surveillance and Reconnaissance), and cooperating with United States special operations forces
in the fight against the Taliban.
Their participation in Afghanistan
has been rewarded with the Navy Presidential Unit Citation
on 8 February 2005 on grounds of their efforts. The Presidential Unit Citation is the highest unit award given by the US and was awarded to all of the units that were members of Task Force K-Bar
.
Despite their manning levels, which are small compared to units from the USA, Canada, Australia etc, they can carry out large-scale special operations. MJK has been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq; in Iraq they hunted Scud missiles and Iraqi command and control. They have also operated with other SF units along the Iranian border. Norway has an extensive desert system where MJK train; the temperature can reach up to 55°C and when combined with Norway having many high mountains it is not surprising that MJK have been the only unit among the other Coalition special forces which has not been airlifted out of areas due to dehydration
and/or altitude sickness
in the extreme conditions in Afghanistan. MJK is also the unit with the highest number of operations among the other special operation forces of the Coalition in the area (2001–2005).
The group has among other things performed missions in the Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of south Afghanistan
.
William H. McRaven
, a United States Navy
Vice Admiral
who serves as the commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), said in an interview with a Norwegian
newspaper in 2007 that he regarded the Special Operations Forces of Norway to be among the top special forces in the world and that one of his favourite operations was the Norwegian heavy water sabotage
by the Norwegian resistance forces during World war II
.
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...
maritime special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit. It was formally established in 1951. It is located in Ramsund
Ramsund, Norway
Ramsund is a small village in the municipality of Tjeldsund, Norway.Elevation: Ramsund lies near the fjord. Population: 289....
in the northern part of Norway and at Haakonsvern
Haakonsvern
Haakonsvern is the main base of the Royal Norwegian Navy and the largest naval base in the Nordic area. The base is located at Mathopen within Bergen municipality, about 15 km south-west of the city centre...
Naval Base in Bergen. MJK is employed in many kinds of operations, such as unconventional warfare
Unconventional warfare
Unconventional warfare is the opposite of conventional warfare. Where conventional warfare is used to reduce an opponent's military capability, unconventional warfare is an attempt to achieve military victory through acquiescence, capitulation, or clandestine support for one side of an existing...
, guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
, special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organisations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy. As a role, SR is distinct from commando operations,...
, recovery or protection of ships and oil installations
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
, various counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
missions, hostage rescue
Hostage crisis
A hostage crisis develops when one or more terrorists or criminals hold people against their will and try to hold off the authorities by force, threatening to kill the hostages if provoked or attacked....
and direct action
Direct action (military)
In the context of military special operations, direct action consists of: "Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy,...
(which includes sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
, raids
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
, kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
and specific enemy assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
s).
As is expected from any special forces, the training to become an MJK operative is long and arduous, taking a minimum of two years and then further augmented by courses taken during the following contract period, such as field medical
Battlefield medicine
Battlefield medicine, also called field surgery and later combat casualty care, is the treatment of wounded soldiers in or near an area of combat. Civilian medicine has been greatly advanced by procedures that were first developed to treat the wounds inflicted during combat...
training, sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
training and forward air control
Forward air control
Forward air control is the provision of guidance to Close Air Support aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller . For NATO forces the qualifications and experience required to be...
(FAC) training. The candidates are put through extremely demanding tests, on one of the field-tests which is known to the public, each of the candidates (which at this point of the selection consists of about 5-8 men) must carry a 60 kg (132.3 lb) rucksack while being hunted by "enemies" which consists of Home Guard-soldiers
Norwegian Home Guard
The Norwegian Home Guard , is a rapid mobilisation force in the Norwegian military. Founded 6 December 1946, it is the youngest branch in the Norwegian forces.-Organization:...
, K-9 units and policemen. At some point in the test, the candidates will be caught and sent to 36 hours of rough interrogation (CAC-training).
Marinejegerkommandoen's role in domestic and international security
"Operatives are tasked to accomplish missions where conventional forces are unsuited. MJK operatives are highly mobile, with stamina and forceful firepower in terms of their operative size. MJK operatives are specialists in land and maritime operations. They are trained and equipped to solve missions while under extreme climatic and environmental stress."MJK is an integral part of the special operations command mesh that serves to protect Norway’s interests, both domestic and internationally. As this unit is to be used with maximum efficiency internationally, it is modelled after the NATO Special Operation Forces definition.
Domestic security
MJK’s role in a domestic defence situation is multifaceted, augmenting those of the Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK), Hærens JegerkommandoHærens Jegerkommando
Hærens Jegerkommando is a special forces unit of the Norwegian military. It is the armed forces competence center for commando, airborne and counter terrorist duty in the Norwegian Army. Its headquarters are located 30 km...
(HJK).
International operations
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...
, in 2002, as a part of Task Force K-Bar
Task Force K-Bar
Composed of the Special Forces from eight nations, Task Force K-Bar represented one of the first ground assault teams in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan from October 2001 until April 2002....
, and in 2003. MJK’s contribution has largely been kept secret, but from what is available, its missions have included DA (direct action)
Direct action (military)
In the context of military special operations, direct action consists of: "Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy,...
, Forward Air Control (FAC) and SR (Special Surveillance and Reconnaissance), and cooperating with United States special operations forces
United States Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...
in the fight against the Taliban.
Their participation in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
has been rewarded with the Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)
The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...
on 8 February 2005 on grounds of their efforts. The Presidential Unit Citation is the highest unit award given by the US and was awarded to all of the units that were members of Task Force K-Bar
Task Force K-Bar
Composed of the Special Forces from eight nations, Task Force K-Bar represented one of the first ground assault teams in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan from October 2001 until April 2002....
.
Despite their manning levels, which are small compared to units from the USA, Canada, Australia etc, they can carry out large-scale special operations. MJK has been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq; in Iraq they hunted Scud missiles and Iraqi command and control. They have also operated with other SF units along the Iranian border. Norway has an extensive desert system where MJK train; the temperature can reach up to 55°C and when combined with Norway having many high mountains it is not surprising that MJK have been the only unit among the other Coalition special forces which has not been airlifted out of areas due to dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
and/or altitude sickness
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness—also known as acute mountain sickness , altitude illness, hypobaropathy, or soroche—is a pathological effect of high altitude on humans, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude...
in the extreme conditions in Afghanistan. MJK is also the unit with the highest number of operations among the other special operation forces of the Coalition in the area (2001–2005).
The group has among other things performed missions in the Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of south 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...
.
William H. McRaven
William H. McRaven
William Harry McRaven is a United States Navyfour-star admiral who currently serves as ninth Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command. He previously served...
, a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
who serves as the commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), said in an interview with a Norwegian
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...
newspaper in 2007 that he regarded the Special Operations Forces of Norway to be among the top special forces in the world and that one of his favourite operations was the Norwegian heavy water sabotage
Norwegian heavy water sabotage
The Norwegian heavy water sabotage was a series of actions undertaken by Norwegian saboteurs during World War II to prevent the German nuclear energy project from acquiring heavy water , which could be used to produce nuclear weapons...
by the Norwegian resistance forces during World war II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Weapons
- Automatgevær 3F2 - Assault rifleAssault rifleAn assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
- Heckler & Koch HK416 - Assault rifle
- Colt Canada C8 SFW - Assault rifle
- Heckler & Koch MSG90 - Sniper rifleSniper rifleIn military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
- Accuracy InternationalAccuracy InternationalAccuracy International is a specialist British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England and best known for producing the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare series of precision sniper rifles...
L115A1Accuracy International AWMThe AWM is a sniper rifle manufactured by Accuracy International. It is also known as the AWSM , which typically denotes the .338 Lapua Magnum version.-The Arctic Warfare Magnum system:...
- Sniper rifle - Barrett M82A1 - high-powered heavy Sniper rifle
- Heckler & Koch MP5Heckler & Koch MP5The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
- Submachine gunSubmachine gunA submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were... - Browning M2 - HMGHeavy machine gunThe heavy machine gun or HMG is a larger class of machine gun generally recognized to refer to two separate stages of machine gun development. The term was originally used to refer to the early generation of machine guns which came into widespread use in World War I...
- Rheinmetall MG 3 - GPMGGeneral purpose machine gunA general-purpose machine gun is a multi-purpose weapon: it is a machine gun firing a full-power rifle cartridge and which can be used in a variety of roles, from a bipod- or tripod-mounted infantry support weapon to a helicopter door gun or a vehicle-mounted support weapon...
- FN Minimi ParaFN MinimiThe Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
- LMGLight machine gunA light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:... - Heckler & Koch USPHeckler & Koch USPThe USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.-History:...
- PistolPistolWhen distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol... - AG-C - Grenade launcherGrenade launcherA grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
- Talley Defense Systems M72 LAWM72 LAWThe M72 LAW is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale et al...
- light anti-armor weaponAnti-tank warfareAnti-tank warfare was created by the need to seek technology and tactics to destroy tanks and their supporting infantry during the First World War... - Carl Gustav recoilless rifleCarl Gustav recoilless rifleThe Carl Gustav is the common name for the 84 mm man-portable reusable multi-role recoilless rifle produced by Saab Bofors Dynamics in Sweden...
See also
- 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...
(Norwegian Navy clearance diverClearance DiverA clearance diver was originally a specialist naval diver who used explosives underwater to remove obstructions to make harbours and shipping channels safe to navigate, but later the term "clearance diver" was used to include other naval underwater work...
EOD force) - KystjegerkommandoenKystjegerkommandoenKystjegerkommandoen is a Norwegian amphibious unit trained to operate in littoral combat theatres, filling the role of a marine corps and coastal artillery....
(Norwegian Navy Coastal Ranger Command) - Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK) (Norwegian ArmyNorwegian ArmyNorway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
Special ForcesSpecial forcesSpecial forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
) - 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"...
(Special force of the United States CIA) - Special Air ServiceSpecial Air ServiceSpecial Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
(British armyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
special force) - Special Boat ServiceSpecial Boat ServiceThe Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
(British marine special force) - 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-DeltaDelta Force1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
(SFOD-D) "Delta Force" (United States ArmyUnited States Army Special Operations CommandThe United States Army Special Operations Command is the command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Forces...
) - United States Naval Special Warfare Development GroupUnited States Naval Special Warfare Development GroupThe United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group , commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six , is one of the United States' four secretive counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units .The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and...
"DEVGRU" (United States NavyUnited States Naval Special Warfare CommandThe United States Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned on April 16, 1987, at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California...
) - Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-ManewrowegoGROMGROM is one of five special forces units of the Polish Armed Forces. It was officially activated on July 8, 1990...
(GROM) (Special Force of the Polish Land ForcesPolish Land ForcesThe Polish Land Forces are a branch of Poland's Armed Forces. They currently contain some 65,000 active personnel and form many components of EU and NATO deployments around the world.-History:...
) - :no:Taktisk Båtskvadron (Norwegian Wikipedia)
External links
- Forsvarsnett: Marinejegerkommandoen The commando's official site (in Norwegian)
- Googlevideo: "Operasjon Sabotasje" 1993 TV2TV 2 (Norway)TV 2 is the largest commercial television station in Norway. Over 30% of the time Norwegians spend watching TV is spent watching TV 2. The station has 65% of the market for TV commercials in Norway....
Docomentary on Marinejegerkommandoen (in Norwegian, 34 min 27 sec) - Vi Menn video Videos from the annual candidate selection and u-boat and boat training with selected candidates.
- Marinejegerkommandoen gallery Photos of the Marinejegerkommandoen during exercise Cold Response on www.dutchdefencepress.com