OBAT 29 - Norway
 

As a Norwegian, I felt a strong urge to make a couple of suggestions.

First, the elite units of the Norwegian army, called FSK (Forsvarets Spesialkommando, basically meaning "special forces") are considered top notch elite units you should consider including. They have seen action in Afghanistan lately, where their mountain warfare skills have been especially appreciated.

Second, the Norwegian army use Mercedes 4X4 jeeps fitted with a MG3 AAMG, mainly as scout vehicles, I think. These have also been used in Afghanistan. The army have also recently received Iveco light APCs. Don't know too much about these, but they appear to have a BMW drive train. Someone out there might know more?

Third, the FSKs and a select group of other elite units have been seen with both M16s and G36es. True, the Norwegian armed forces still use the G3, but a decision has been made to introduce a 5.56mm rifle.

My main source is www.mil.no - that is the official website of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces (in Norwegian, but there should be an English version as well). I'll try to dig up some more details about structure etc.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

Ok........ info like when the FSK were formed would also be helpful

Don

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

The FSK was formed in 1982. Alongside the assault divers (No: "Marinejegere") of the navy, they are the very best Norwegian forces. They have been deployed to Afghanistan alongside the Telemark Battalion, the Norwegian contribution to the NATO's Rapid Reaction Force. These are, of course, all-volenteer formations, with better equipment and training than the regular conscript army.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

Sometimes I get confused by my own research... The FSK generally recruits from the assault divers (MJK - Marinens Jegerkommando), the commandos (HJK - Hærens Jegerkommando) and paratroop units. The MJK and the HJK were formed in the 50s, partly based on the units who gained experience fighting alongside the British in WW2. The idea was to create saboteur units capable of independent operations behind enemy lines in the event of a Soviet invasion. Main source, still www.mil.no.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

OK, this is what the official Norwegian Armed forces website says.........Norwegian Special Forces

So you will be getting a "SF" formation starting in 1968 that will represent all of these troops.

I now need info on the Fallskjermjegere

Don

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

A SF category seems sensible.

Fallskjermjegere are paratroopers ("fallskjerm" is Norwegian for "parachute"), better trained and equipped than the regular army, but still a part of the conscripted forces. A "normal" +10 (or thereabouts) bonus in terms of morale and experience would make sense, I think. For some reason, there does not seem to be a date for the formation of the Norwegian paras on the Army's website, although I would guess they came into being in the early 50s. BTW, "jeger" is the Norwegian equivalent of the German jäger - or jaeger as used in the game.

The Telemark Battalion should perhaps get a separate category. These aren't special forces as such, but more conventional mechanised troops with better equipment and training (they are equipped with the Bv 9030, among other things). They are also volunteers, not conscripted. They were operational in 2003.

To make matters even more complicated, you have the Border Guards. These are also specially selected and trained units (though part of the regular conscripted army) stationed at the Russian border. During the entire Cold War period, these were expected to fight delaying actions whilst withdrawing through the county of Finnmark - about 50.000 sq kms... They still exist, although their mission is somewhat different today.

The AAMG-equipped MB jeep I mentioned earlier was probably introduced in the late 90s, perhaps even later. It is based on the GD290 version, which wasn't available until the 90s.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

Which is correct

Jegere or Jeger

and do Fallskjermjegere exist as companies

Don

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

........when did Norway buy c-130's and what did the Fallskjermjegere jump out of before that?

Don

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

The C-130s are about 40 years old, I'll see if I can find the exact introduction date (should be doable, there is a heated debate about transport planes over here at the moment - should we buy "new" C-130s now or wait a couple of years for Airbus to get the A-400M ready...). As far as I know, the Norwegian Air Force used Dakotas before the introduction of the C-130. However, I'm anything but sure about this and even less sure about the existence of paratroopers jumping from them. I'll have a look around some Norwegian military sites and see what I can find. The same goes for the para company question.

"Jeger" is what we use (as in "jegertropp" meaning "jeger platoon"). "Jegere" isn't exactly wrong, it's simply the plural form of the same word.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

According to the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Norwegian Aviation Museum, the RNAF sent transport aircraft to various international operations: Germany 47-53, Gaza 56-67 and the Congo 60-64. Unfortunately, these sources do not say anything about what kind of aircraft. Wikipedia, however, claims that the RNAF had some 7 C-56B/60As, 8 C-119Gs and 20 C-47s. These were gradually retired throughout the 60s, the final Dakotas in 1973.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

The para training facilities were set up in 1962, but the first regular "fallskjermjeger" units did not appear until 1968. I've not been able to determine 100% whether they appear as companies, but it seems probable that this has been the case since 1971. This is, however, my interpretation of a few more Norwegian army websites. I'll dig some more.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

If the C-130's are 40 years old and the "fallskjermjeger" units did not appear until 1968 it's a safe bet the "fallskjermjeger" jump from c-130s, It simplifies things somewhat.

I will need platoon and company organization.

Thanks

Don

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

I've done some more digging, and this is what I found:

1. The paratroopers are currently organised only as platoons, not as companies. Their equipment include the C8 rifle (my bad, thought I saw M16s on some pictures), M72s, Carl Gustavs, MP5s, various sniper rifles including the M82, and MG3s. They also use helicopters and the aforementioned AAMG MB jeep.
2. The assault divers (MJK - Marinejegerkommando) are organised much the same way with the same equipment plus assault boats. They are considered to be the toughest and best of the conscripted units in the Norwegian army.

So far, I haven't been able to identify the exact platoon layout. Sniper and scout teams exist, and even though these most likely operate as a part of the platoon, I haven't been able to confirm this. If the web doesn't take me any further, I think I'll send them a mail...

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

Don,

Norway's 6 C-130s were delivered in 1969.

http://www.spectrumwd.com/c130/int_07.htm#Norway

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

OK, thanks. For the sake of one year I think either the c-130's are going to show up a bit early or the Paras a bit late.

Don

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

Bcck on track after a lengthy holiday and with the v3.5 in working order. Great! However, I discovered a couple of new things about the Norwegian armed forces, more specifically the new 5.56 rifle. It is certainly true that the FSK Special Forces use the C8, but the navy's elite units (MJK) apparently bought some G36s back in 2000 (this according to Wikipedia, but it does explain the fact that I have seen the rifle in the hands of Norwegian military personnel). Moreover, just after the 3.5 was launched, the Norwegian army presented the rifle they actually would introduce as the standard infantry weapon: the HK 416...

Minor stuff, but I hope you'll find it useful if you decide to make a 4.0 version...

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

I found a strange thing happening with the norwegian Bycicle Squads (Units 143 - 146).

When I play the game either side (Norway as Player or the AI) and having Bycicle units (Units class 172 + 179), their Icon in the game (not in Mobhack) apearing as a kind of Roller/Engineering Tank - and not as bycicles at all...

The Units also sound like tanks.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

They all have icon #604, which is an M48 w/ roller. This appears to just be some sort of error that was missed because regardless of the icon number it shows standard infantry in Mobhack. However, I thought bicycle units were supposed to use the bicycle icons or allowed for the selection of a specific icon? I guess I'm wrong.

For now it appears that you could probably just go into Mobhack and set them all to icon 0 (which my give a blank I realize) or otherwise look for the correct bicycle icons in another template and then copy the numbers over.

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

Icons 839 or 838 working fine...

Re: OBAT 29 - Norway
 

Oops.......

I will check any other nations that may be affected by this as well

Don