Telemark Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Telemark
Bataljon (Telemark Battalion, TMBN) is a mechanised infantry unit of the Norwegian Army
. It was established in 1993, and is a part of Brigade Nord
and stationed at Rena
, Hedmark
. The battalion consists of five companies/ squadrons.
unit, tasked as an Immediate Reaction Force with the Norwegian Army, stationed at Heistadmoen
in southern Norway
, manned mainly by conscripts.
It served in Bosnia
, and by 2002, all the enlisted soldiers had 2- and 3-year contracts of enlistment and the unit had no more conscripts.
The battalion was moved to a new camp at Rena and converted to mechanised infantry. Presented with its new colours
in 2002, the Telemark Battalion was operational on 1 July 2003.
The unit participated in Operation Karez
in Afghanistan, in May 2008.
One soldier died in Afghanistan in 2004, and one died there in 2010.
In addition, the Telemark Battalion frequently trains with the rest of the Norwegian Army High Reaction Force. This is a composite unit made up of the Telemark Battalion, as well as enlisted personnel from support capabilities, ranging from artillery to military police.
The Telemark Battalion was one of the infantry battalions assigned to the NATO Response Force
during the NRF-4 rotation from January to July 2005; the others were Regiment Johan Willem Friso
and Regiment Van Heutsz
of the Dutch Army
and Fallschirmjägerbataillon 373 of the German Army
.
Telemark Battalion is the primary source of international contributions from the Norwegian Army. The battalion has almost constantly been involved in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan since 2003.
figures (in part inspired to resemble a character from comic books and movie - the Punisher
) on houses and property belonging to civilian Afghans who soldiers suspected to have ties to anti-government militant
s. The purpose was to "send a message", to leaders of opposing militants, that the Norwegian soldiers were in charge (bestemte).
In September 2010, Verdens Gang
reported that some soldiers were still using a Totenkopf badge that had been prohibited by the leadership of Norway's military.
The crimes of threatening behaviour and spraypainting the property of others, did not lead to any criminal charge
s or charges of war crime
s.
" in its name.
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
Bataljon (Telemark Battalion, TMBN) is a mechanised infantry unit of the Norwegian Army
Norwegian Army
Norway 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...
. It was established in 1993, and is a part of Brigade Nord
Brigade Nord
Brigade Nord is the only brigade in the Norwegian Army. It is mostly based in mid-Troms north of the Arctic Circle. Until 2009, the brigade was part of the 6th Division.-Units:...
and stationed at Rena
Rena
Rena may refer to:Locations:*Rena, Badajoz, a municipality in Badajoz, Spain*Rena, Norway, a town in NorwayPeople:*Rena Mero, a former WWE Diva and one of the stars of its "Attitude Era," better known by her ring name, Sable*Rena J...
, Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
. The battalion consists of five companies/ squadrons.
History
In 1993 it was a motorised infantryMotorised infantry
In NATO and most other western countries, motorised infantry is infantry which is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers, infantry combat vehicles, or infantry fighting vehicles...
unit, tasked as an Immediate Reaction Force with the Norwegian Army, stationed at Heistadmoen
Heistadmoen
Heistadmoen is a Norwegian military encampment in Kongsberg, in the county of Buskerud, Norway. Heistadmoen currently provides able quarters for the Telemark and Buskerud Home Guard District . The camp is large and modern, most of the buildings have been recently refurbished...
in southern Norway
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...
, manned mainly by conscripts.
It served in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, and by 2002, all the enlisted soldiers had 2- and 3-year contracts of enlistment and the unit had no more conscripts.
The battalion was moved to a new camp at Rena and converted to mechanised infantry. Presented with its new colours
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
in 2002, the Telemark Battalion was operational on 1 July 2003.
The unit participated in Operation Karez
Operation Karez
Operation Karez was a military operation between May 13–23, 2008 involving Norwegian and German ISAF and Afghan government forces against the Taliban as part of the war in Afghanistan...
in Afghanistan, in May 2008.
One soldier died in Afghanistan in 2004, and one died there in 2010.
Organisation
- Tank Squadron 1: The battalion's tank unit, equipped with Leopard 2Leopard 2The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
main battle tankMain battle tankA main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
s. - Cavalry Squadron 2: The battalion's armoured recce and scout unit, equipped with CV9030 infantry fighting vehicleInfantry fighting vehicleAn infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
s, ATVs and different sensors like UAVs etc. - Mechanised Infantry Company 3: Mechanised infantry equipped with CV9030 infantry fighting vehicleInfantry fighting vehicleAn infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
s. - Mechanised Infantry Company 4: Mechanised infantry equipped with CV9030 infantry fighting vehicleInfantry fighting vehicleAn infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
s. - Staff and Support Squadron 5: A combat support unit made up by mortar, medic, signals and repair platoons.
In addition, the Telemark Battalion frequently trains with the rest of the Norwegian Army High Reaction Force. This is a composite unit made up of the Telemark Battalion, as well as enlisted personnel from support capabilities, ranging from artillery to military police.
The Telemark Battalion was one of the infantry battalions assigned to the NATO Response Force
NATO Response Force
The NATO Response Force is a "coherent, high-readiness, joint, multinational force package" of up to 25,000 troops that is "technologically advanced, flexible, deployable, interoperable and sustainable"...
during the NRF-4 rotation from January to July 2005; the others were Regiment Johan Willem Friso
Regiment Infanterie Johan Willem Friso
The Regiment Johan Willem Friso is a line infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army. Named after Johan Willem Friso of Orange-Nassau, it is the oldest and most senior regiment in the current order of battle...
and Regiment Van Heutsz
Regiment Van Heutsz
The Regiment Van Heutsz is a line infantry regiment of the Royal Netherlands Army. The regiment was named after J.B. van Heutsz a former Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, and was formed on July 1, 1950. It currently, in 2011, operates as 12 Air Assault Infantry Battalion as part of 11...
of the Dutch Army
Royal Netherlands Army
The Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands.-Short history:The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised...
and Fallschirmjägerbataillon 373 of the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
.
Telemark Battalion is the primary source of international contributions from the Norwegian Army. The battalion has almost constantly been involved in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan since 2003.
Crimes not prosecuted
Since the summer of 2009 there were several instances of soldiers from the unit spraypainting TotenkopfTotenkopf
The Totenkopf is the German word for the death's head and an old symbol for death or the dead. It consists usually of the skull and the mandible of the human skeleton...
figures (in part inspired to resemble a character from comic books and movie - the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
) on houses and property belonging to civilian Afghans who soldiers suspected to have ties to anti-government militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
s. The purpose was to "send a message", to leaders of opposing militants, that the Norwegian soldiers were in charge (bestemte).
In September 2010, Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
reported that some soldiers were still using a Totenkopf badge that had been prohibited by the leadership of Norway's military.
The crimes of threatening behaviour and spraypainting the property of others, did not lead to any criminal charge
Criminal charge
A criminal charge is a formal accusation made by a governmental authority asserting that somebody has committed a crime. A charging document, which contains one or more criminal charges or counts, can take several forms, including:* complaint...
s or charges of war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s.
Requests for renaming of the unit
Letters have been printed in Norwegian newspapers from readers who have requested that the unit stop using "TelemarkTelemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
" in its name.
Deployments
- 1997–1999: SFORSFORThe Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the... - 1999–2002: KFOR in KosovoKosovoKosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
- 2003: in IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
- 2003–2004: The unit was temporarily handed over to ISAFISAFISAF may refer to:* International Sailing Federation, the world governing body for Olympic and other competitive sailing.* International Security Assistance Force, the NATO-led security mission operating in Afghanistan since 2001....
, and thereafter deployed to KabulKabulKabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
in AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , 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... - 2005–2006: ISAF at KabulKabulKabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
in AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , 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... - 2006: ISAF at Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan
- 2006–2007: ISAF at MeymanehMeymanehMaymana, Meymaneh or Maimana is the capital of Faryab province, northern Afghanistan, near the Turkmenistan border. It is approximately 400 km northwest of the Afghan capital Kabul.-Location:...
, Afghanistan - 2008: ISAF at Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan
- 2008- : ISAF at MeymanehMeymanehMaymana, Meymaneh or Maimana is the capital of Faryab province, northern Afghanistan, near the Turkmenistan border. It is approximately 400 km northwest of the Afghan capital Kabul.-Location:...
, Afghanistan
Notable soldiers
- Joshua FrenchJoshua FrenchJoshua Olav Daniel Hodne French is a Norwegian- and British security contractor arrested in May 2009 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and convicted of murdering his driver by gunshot and of espionage for Norway...
(prisoner of Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, with a death sentenceDeath SentenceDeath Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:... - Tjostolv MolandTjostolv MolandTjostolv Moland , is a Norwegian Army officer and security contractor arrested in May 2009 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and convicted of murdering his driver by gunshot and of espionage for Norway.They are both former soldiers in the Norwegian Armed Forces, who later worked in the...
(prisoner of Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a death sentence) - Rune Wenneberg
- Emil Johansen
External links
- Norwegian Army page on Telemark Battalion (in Norwegian)
- Article on Telemark Battalion from 1(GE/NL) Corps website (dead link)
- http://www.tmbn-veteran.no/ Telemark Battalion Veterans Association