[snowhunter]

http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nordland/1.8029509

200 US Marines are among the 16000 soldiers from 15 countries partcipating in the "Cold Response" military maneures in the frosty Northern Norway. !6 soldier died in 1986 "Cold Response" maneures, when an avalance burried them, and 53 other soldiers had frostbites.

Please also look at that pages photo gallery of the Northern Lights, in which the Norwegians and Finns has an ongoing and friendly Scandinavian dispute over the "ownership" of the Northern Lights, due to turi$me

 

[mussonor]

First, Nordlys er norsk!

Military training is serious business. Time to time small or big accidents happens.
The avalanche you mention were 16 norwegian soldiers died were March 5th 1986 during the Anchor Express, and is called Vassdalulykken.
I had my military service in same company as the engineer-platoon that were taken by the avalanche. We were 160 men (boys?) that had been together since the summer of 1985, divided into five platoons. 3 engineer, one with machinery and the fifth with tech specialist were I serviced as the company gunner technician (We had Walter P38, Luger!, AG3, MG3, Browning 12.7mm, m72 (9mm and 21mm training kit)). It was the second platoon that were taken by the avalanche.
A lot of us "boys" became "men" in the week after, all ended up in a very nice momorial March 12 1986 with King Olav V precent in a plane-hangard at Bardufoss airport.
http://www.nrk.no/playout/v1.1/flashplayer.ashx?v=B6C822CDFE5C8794&w=640&rand=129758775179170066
I'm one of those carrying the second last coffin with fellow Ingeniørsoldat Magne T. into the C130 seen at approx 17:10 at the end of the clip.
May they RIP.
Mussonor

 

[snowhunter]

I am happy that you survived this close call. The Arctic world can be dangerous and unforgiving.

Narvik-Kiruna-Murmansk "triangle" always had a significant, international military importance. Over 70 years ago, the British, French and Polish forces had planes to invade Sweden from Narvik, in order to deny Nazi-Germany access to the iron from the Kiruna mine, crucially needed for the German War efford. The events at Dunkirk also forced the British and thier allies out of that invasion plan of Sweden.

Interesting that Sweden, a neutral country, are sending 1000 soldiers to Norway, as well as stationing Swedish fighter jets at Bodoe, Norway, for this military exercise, and this international exercise will also move to northern Sweden on monday.

Thank you for posting this video of the memorial. May they rest in peace.

In regards to the "ownership" dispute of the Nordlys (northern lights), the "Al Jazeera" has already aired this Norwegian/Finnish dispute, and expect that the Swedes, Russians, Americans, Canadian and Greenlanders will join this international "ownership of Northern Lights" dispute as well

 

[snowhunter]

"It's a bit cold here" the soldiers complains. Minus 20 Celcious ( minus 5 F) added with the moist ocean climate had even the Swedish soldiers complaining about the "Cold Response" temperatures. However, the Swedes tells the news that the "Warms Norwegian hospitality more than makes it up for the cold"

The Swedish participation in "Cold Response" is in the "Spirit of Nordic co-operation".

http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/troms_og_finnmark/1.7009310

 

[Jericho]

Slightly off topic , but I remember several years ago when a Marine was left behind in a training exercise in California and
his remains were found later on.

 

[BMF]

There's been several non - Nato excercises in the northern areas.

The excersise "Nordic peace" have been conducted several years with norwegian, swedish and finnish forces. Also danish and estonian troops have participated.
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2138269.ece


The POMOR excersises:
http://www.barentsobserver.com/norw...ercises-successful-and-effective.4923753.html
http://mil.no/excercises/pomor2011/Pages/default.aspx

 

[Krag]

I have some former USMC friends who would beat the s**t out of that Norwegian reporter for calling them "soldater."

 

[Hand]

Norwegian Hercules C-130J went missing today, during Cold Response. Went down over Sweden.

Hand

 

[snowhunter]

http://www.nrk.no/

The developing story of this tragedy, live from Norway and Sweden.

 

[snowhunter]

24 hours later and with visibility of 5-10 meters (15-30 feet) is severely hampering the search effords of the downed Hercules transport. Time to pray for the five crew members.

 

[snowhunter]

http://www.norwaypost.no/news/renewed-search-for-missing-military-aircraft-26637.html

http://www.aftenposten.no/

http://www.expressen.se/

 

[snowhunter]

http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article14541772.ab

According to this Swedish newspaper, the doomed Norwegian Hercules plane was participating in a war game of "hide and seek" and was flown manually, when it stuck Kebnekaisa Mountain. This newspaper also reports that the minimum safe flying altitude over these tall and treacherous mountains is normally 333 meters (1000feet) over the peeks. Only body parts of the crew has so far been found. This disaster area is also prone to avalances, which has hampered the search teams.

 

[snowhunter]

http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nordland/1.8039682

The Memorial for the five fallen soldiers, also attended by the Norwegian King.