GRU

Military Intelligence Directorate

Intel Report: Northern Norway Defenses

Report Filed: Jan. 1, 2010

This brief will attempt to provide a comprehensive overiew of Norwegian ground defenses, it's units and areas of deployment as of the date stamped, above. Updates will be attached to this page as necessary as soon as they become available.

Maps

The map below shows the various military districts and headquarters locations for most of the main Norwegian Army battalions, brigades and divisional headquarers in northern Norway. For a more detailed look at current enemy positions and deployments, please refer to the tactical (close-up) map in the map room, or at the Combat Information Center (CIC).

Overview

According to our most recent satellite and HUMINT data, all Norwegian ground forces are in pretty much exactly the same positions and at the same force levels that they have been in since 2001. For a general overview of the Norwegian Army and its equipment at that time, please refer to the Norwegian Army Forces and Equipment page listed in the References section at Theater headquarters. A separate Norwegian Army TO&E, is also available at Theater Headquarters, in the Intel section. For information on Norwegian forces specifically deployed to the northern portion of Norway, please review the document Land forces in northern Norway, which is also located in the References section of your Planning Tools area. For an operations map showing exactly where Norwegian forces have deployed in this region, go to the CIC (Combat Information Center) where you will find a map of enemy positions throughout the North Cape region.

Force structure of Norway's Northern Command

As seen in Norway's command breakdown (see Norway Commands, also in the Intel section) the country is divided in terms of military administration into two halves, the northern and the southern. This report deals with only the northern command.

While on high alert, Norway is still technically at peacetime stance with regard to our country. This means that most units are operating at far less than full-strength at this time. The missing elements can be called up quickly, however. (See Response Time & Training, below.)

Norway's peacetime defense is made up of the following forces:

Finnmark region (turquoise colored area of map) -- The main force in this district is the Finnmark Regiment, which is made up of two mechanized infantry battalions as well as a number of artillery, air defense and helicopter assets attached to regimental headquarters. This regiment is headquartered in Porsangmoen where its two component battalions are stationed as well, though one of the battalions has deployed 2 of its three companies to the eastern border region. (Specifically, a rifle and a motorized rifle battalion which are located in Kirkenes along with a military police patrol at Kirkenes airport. Also, a small platoon-sized detachment is assuming garrison duties at the radar station in Vardo.)

The Bardufoss region (red area of map) is the province of the 6th Division. This is the only division in Norway (its number was retained for historical/traditional purposes). It is made up of three brigades: the 5th Brigade, the 6th Brigade and the Nord Brigade. Only the 5th Brigade is operational, as the 6th and Nord Brigades are only shell organizations at this time. The 5th brigade is headquartered in Hegelia, about 10 mi. west of Bardufoss airport, and has a total of three mechanized battalions. These battalions appear to be stationed in Hegelia, Setermoen and Skjold, respectively. (See map).

The Narvik area (light green area) is occupied by two main forces -- the 15th (Mechanized) Brigade, and the North Halogaland Regiment. The 15th Brigade is made up of three battalions, one of which is stationed in Andoya, while another is headquartered in Harstad. The third battalion is maintained by just a skeleton staff at this time. The North Halogaland Regiment, like the Finnmark Regiment, is made up of two battalions as well as various regimental assets. The regiment is headquartered in Narvik though most of its component forces are located about 10 miles south of the city. A detachment from this regiment (two platoons or so) is providing garrison duty in Narvik while another similar detachment is doing the same at Evenes air base, about 25 mi. north of Narvik.

The Bodo region (yellow portion of the map) is defended by the South Halogaland Regiment, which is headquartered in Mosjeen and is made up of two battalions as well as a number of arty, helo and AD units. As of 48 hours ago most of this regiment was known to be posted in the Mosjeen area. A small detachment from this regiment has been tasked to provide security duty at Bodo air base.

Special Report

The FSB has just learned that Norway recently purchased some 57 Leopard II tanks from Holland. (This item was missed earlier because the FSB was primarily concerned with transactions with Germany, the maker of the Leopard II, not Holland.) We do not know at this time whether these tanks were shipped to the northern command, or how they were allocated if they were.

Response times and training

While the strength of Norway's ground forces are currenlty quite low compared to wartime levels, it is important to know that the Norwegian Army is one of the most vigorously trained and fastest-responding armies in the world, capable of fielding fully manned and supported battalions in less than 24 hours. In fact, we have heard reports that there are some all-reserve mech battalions which can be staffed, supplied and ready to defend itself within six hours from the time the order goes out. Elite infantry units (every brigade and regiment seems to have at least one company of "elite" status) appear able to assemble and organize in as little as four hours in some places. It should be noted that these timings increase significantly when talking about larger formations, however, such as a regiment or a brigade, especially if there are a lot of HQ assets involved.

Current Level of Readiness

6th Division HQ assets (artillery, air defense, combat aviation, etc.) are currently believed to be somewhere between 25-50% of full wartime levels. Given Norway's high level of alert we believe these assets to be at the ready and capable of going to 100% strength within 48 hours from the time of an attack.

5th Brigade commands three battalions (1st, 2nd 3rd) all of which are at full strength. Intel is a bit sketchy on 5th Brigade HQ assets. We know that this HQ was at one-third strength as of a week ago but it may have been upped to full-trength since that time. Special satellite tasking or other survelllance missions will need to be assigned to this area to verify this brigade's current level of arty/AD/helo support, etc.

15th Brigade, headquartered in Harstad near Andoya, is at one-third strength across the board with one mech battalion (out of three) at full-strength and stationed at Andoya. To see a map of Andoya and the immediately surrounding area, please refer to Map 505. For the exact location of this battalion's units and defenses at the air base, please refer to the tactical intel map located in the Installations folder in the Intel area.

The Finnmark Regiment (near Banak) is made up of two battalions but both battalions are only at two-thirds strength at this time. Regimental HQ assets, which consists primarily of artillery, and transport helos is only at one-third strength. The same is true of the North Halogaland Regiment near Narvik and the South Halogaland Regiment which is located abou 120 miles south of Bodo.

A special, elite battalion known as the Telemark Skiers Battalion is known to operate in the Finmark region between Alta and Kirkenes. No information is available about the current whereabouts of this battalion, though we do know that this unit participated in the annual Brimfrost exercises which took place several weeks ago. This could mean that these troops are still be in a rotation or stand-down cycle. It is also possible, though unlikely, that the unit is still out on maneuvers which would make them more difficult to spot.

All base garrisons and military police companies are at full strength but have no HQ assets to speak of other than an odd utility chopper, some 4x4 off-road vehicles, and an occasional snow tractor or a few skimobiles for deep snow mobility.

All base defenses located near the coast are more oriented toward an amphibioius assault than they are toward an overland attack. However , depending on which of our forces arrives first and on the response of higher command, the local garrisons may relocate and orient toward our land offensive. In any case, the enemy is forced to commit to one of these directions and will likely be weak on one of these approaches.

Analysis

As we approach H-Hour, we are beginning to learn that Norwegian defenses are significantly stronger than we originally thought back in July of this year, when Operation Northern Storm was first conceived. Fortunately, however, we have gotten a clearer picture of the situation just in the nick of time and we were able to pass this information on to you prior to your attack. While it is too late to apportion any more forces to this area, all senior commanders should now have a fairly decent idea of what forces they will be up against and where they are located.

While the timetable for the offensive into Norway precludes much dilly-dallying, it would behoove us to seek out and destroy any Norwegian headquarters units and comms aparatus that we can during our advance. This will not only create a delay in NATO gaining situational awareness but will also disrupt or even eliminate the ability to organize its reserves and build up to wartime status. Again, the cost in time and materiel that is devoted to this task must be carefully weighed against the need for our battlegroups to advance and seize territory as quickly as possible.

END REPORT.