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Norwegian Army




The Norwegian Army ('s military land force. It is part of the Norwegian Defence Force along with the Royal Norwegian Navy , the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Norwegian Home Guard . Established in 1628, it currently has a peacetime strength of 13,000, and approximately 51,000 fully mobilized.1
The Army is mainly located in two areas, mid- Troms and the south-eastern part of the country, with other special units like the King's Guards and the border guards placed elsewhere.


PRE-WWII HISTORY

The Norwegian Army dates back to Viking times, when it consisted of only the household forces of local kings and their allies. The present army was established by the Danish-Norwegian king Christian IV "to defend the kingdom against exterior dangers." This is still the primary mission of the Norwegian Army.

The first great victory of the Norwegian Army came in 1808, when the Swedes attempted to invade Norway from the south, but were forced back by the forces of Prince Kristian August. In 1814 the swedes invaded again, this time with the support of the victors of the napoleonic wars. The swedish king intended to take Norway by force, but the norwegian army could not be broken despite several losses and as a result the war ended with the swedish king accepting Norway as a separate state with its own constitution - but the norwegians having to accept him as a king. The officer class was well represented in th forming of the Constitution in 1814, which included clauses providing for a Norwegian national army based on compulsory service.

In 1905, when the Storting voted to separate from Sweden. The army had been modernized and vere higly trained in the years before 1905. War seemed inevitable, and 22,000 men were mobilized, but Norway Achieved Independence peacefully.

During World War I , Norway successfully pursued a Policy Of Armed Neutrality .


INSIGNIA



ORGANIZATION


The Army is organized along three functional lines:

  • Commander, Army Forces (HSTY)

  • Commander, Army Transformation and Doctrine Command (TRADOK)

  • Commander, Army Ranger Command (HJK)



Subordinate commands




GARRISONS




HAND WEAPONS



CREW WEAPONS



COMBAT VEHICLES

See Also: List of equipment of the Norwegian Army