Slædepatruljen Sirius
Encyclopedia
Slædepatruljen Sirius or informally Siriuspatruljen (Sirius Patrol) is a unique elite
Danish
navy unit that conducts long-range reconnaissance patrolling and enforces Danish sovereignty in the arctic wilderness of Northern and Eastern Greenland
, an area that includes the largest national park in the world.
Patrolling is usually done in pairs, sometimes for 4 months often without human contact.
The Sirius Patrol has the ability to engage militarily, and has done so historically. Unlike other military units, however, the Sirius patrol is not expected to engage in combat operations. Its purpose is solely to maintain Danish sovereignty and police the area of responsibility. The physical and psychological demands for acceptance into the unit are exceptional. Crown Prince Frederik
patrolled with the Sirius Patrol
to prevent German landings along the northeast coast of Greenland. The patrol discovered the German weather station Holzauge at Hansa Bay on the northeast coast of Sabine Island
, which was subsequently destroyed by USAAF bombers from Iceland
.
and administratively under the Royal Danish Navy
. The patrol represents Denmark's military
presence in the northern East Greenland
.
The patrol operates in the northern and northeastern part of Greenland from the west coast of Hall Land (Petermann Fjord and Glacier)81°04′N 61°40′W to Kap Biot north of Fleming Fjord 71°53′N 22°33′W. The distance between the two points as the crow flies is about 2100 km, but the length of the coastline following all the fjords is far greater, around 16000 km. The Greenland ice sheet is not a part of the patrolled area.
The unit is stationed at Daneborg
(74.18°N 20.14°W), and maintains personnel at Station Nord
, Danmarkshavn
and Mestersvig
. The unit uses more than 50 depot huts scattered across the patrolled area. The depot huts are resupplied by small boats in the southern area, and by aircraft in the northern part.
The Sirius patrol consists of six dogsled teams for the duration of the year, each consisting of two men and 11 to 15 dogs. When traveling, each team carries approximately 350–500 kg, depending on the distance to the next depot.
Currently there are 14 to 20 men serving in the patrol as of 2011.
Courses
The courses run from December to the end of May. The final group consisting of six or fewer men is picked as late as 2–3 weeks before they go to Greenland for 26 consecutive months.
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...
Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
navy unit that conducts long-range reconnaissance patrolling and enforces Danish sovereignty in the arctic wilderness of Northern and Eastern Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, an area that includes the largest national park in the world.
Patrolling is usually done in pairs, sometimes for 4 months often without human contact.
The Sirius Patrol has the ability to engage militarily, and has done so historically. Unlike other military units, however, the Sirius patrol is not expected to engage in combat operations. Its purpose is solely to maintain Danish sovereignty and police the area of responsibility. The physical and psychological demands for acceptance into the unit are exceptional. Crown Prince Frederik
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.-Name and christening:...
patrolled with the Sirius Patrol
History
The unit was activated in the summer of 1941 during World War IIWorld 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...
to prevent German landings along the northeast coast of Greenland. The patrol discovered the German weather station Holzauge at Hansa Bay on the northeast coast of Sabine Island
Sabine Island
Sabine Island is an island to the northeast of Wollaston Foreland, previously known as Inner Pendulum Island. It was named by the Second German North Polar Expedition 1869–70 as Sabine Insel for Edward Sabine, who carried out pendulum experiments on the island in 1823.Sabine Island is 16 km long...
, which was subsequently destroyed by USAAF bombers from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
Organisation
The unit is operationally under the Greenland CommandGreenland Command (Denmark)
Island Command Greenland , or simply "GLK", is a Level.II authority responsible directly to the Defence Command.It is, among other things, responsible for the military defense of Greenland, maritime and sovereignty maintenance and enforcement, as well as search and rescue.Personnel assigned to the...
and administratively under the Royal Danish Navy
Royal Danish Navy
The Royal Danish Navy is the sea-based branch of the Danish Defence force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese territorial waters...
. The patrol represents Denmark's military
Military of Denmark
The armed forces of the Kingdom of Denmark, known as the Danish Defence is charged with the defence of the Kingdom of Denmark.The Chief of Defence is the head of the Danish Armed Forces, and is head of the Defence Command which is managed by the Ministry of Defence. Constitutionally, the...
presence in the northern East Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
.
The patrol operates in the northern and northeastern part of Greenland from the west coast of Hall Land (Petermann Fjord and Glacier)81°04′N 61°40′W to Kap Biot north of Fleming Fjord 71°53′N 22°33′W. The distance between the two points as the crow flies is about 2100 km, but the length of the coastline following all the fjords is far greater, around 16000 km. The Greenland ice sheet is not a part of the patrolled area.
The unit is stationed at Daneborg
Daneborg, Greenland
Daneborg is a station on the south coast of Wollaston Foreland peninsula of northeast Greenland, at the mouth of Young Sund emptying into Greenland Sea. Daneborg serves as the headquarters for the SIRIUS Patrol, the dog sled patrollers of the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national...
(74.18°N 20.14°W), and maintains personnel at Station Nord
Nord, Greenland
Station Nord is a military and scientific base in northeastern Greenland lying 1700 km north of the Arctic Circle at 81°36'°N. It is about from the geographic North Pole, on Prinsesse Ingeborg Halvø in northern Kronprins Christian Land, making it the northernmost permanent settlement and...
, Danmarkshavn
Danmarkshavn
Danmarkshavn is a small weather station located in the Northeast Greenland National Park, in Greenland. The permanent population of the base is 8. Danmarkshavn is also known as the northernmost location on the coast of Greenland Sea that non-icebreaking vessels can pass through...
and Mestersvig
Mestersvig
Mestersvig is a military outpost with a 1,800 m gravel runway located in Scoresby Land, on the southern shore of the King Oscar Fjord in Northeast Greenland National Park...
. The unit uses more than 50 depot huts scattered across the patrolled area. The depot huts are resupplied by small boats in the southern area, and by aircraft in the northern part.
The Sirius patrol consists of six dogsled teams for the duration of the year, each consisting of two men and 11 to 15 dogs. When traveling, each team carries approximately 350–500 kg, depending on the distance to the next depot.
Currently there are 14 to 20 men serving in the patrol as of 2011.
Responsibilities
Sledge patrolling is divided into two periods. Depending on when the ice becomes thick enough, the autumn patrol starts sometime in November, and lasts until 22 December. The sun sets for the last time around the beginning of November, and in the increasing darkness the winter storms get progressively worse and more frequent. Getting home before Christmas is therefore not always possible for members of the unit. Around the end of January, when the weather stabilizes and the sun reappears, the longer journeys begin and last until June, when the ice begins to break apart and drift southwards. During this period, the six sledge teams will cover a large part of the coastline, and within a period of 3 to 4 years all areas will be visited.Recruitment and training
Volunteers for the Sirius patrol must have completed their compulsory service. At the try out seven men are selected to start on about 6 months of various training courses. Currently there are 14 to 20 men serving in the patrol as of 2011.Courses
- Survival course in Greenland (5 weeks)
- Shooting course
- Demolition course
- Engine and mechanics course
- Reconnaissance course
- Firefighter course
- Radio and communications course
- First aid course
- Extended first aid course
- Sewing course
- Truck course
The courses run from December to the end of May. The final group consisting of six or fewer men is picked as late as 2–3 weeks before they go to Greenland for 26 consecutive months.
Equipment
Due to the very special nature of Sirius sledge patrol operations, a wide range of unique equipment is required that is not normally used within the Danish armed forces.External links
- Slædepatruljen SIRIUS (in Danish) - Official homepage for Sirius Patrol
- The Sirius Patrol - Destination East Greenland Palle Norrit, former manager of the Patrol service, North and Northeast Greenland