Camp Viking
Camp Viking | |
|---|---|
| Øverbygd, Målselv Municipality in Norway | |
| Type | Royal Marines winter training base, forward operating base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Norway |
| Operator | Ministry of Defence (UK) |
| Controlled by | Royal Navy |
| Open to the public | no |
| Condition | active |
| Previously known as | Camp Orange (during former Dutch military occupancy) |
| Site history | |
| Built | March 2023 |
| Built for | British Armed Forces |
Camp Viking is a British military training establishment located within the Arctic Circle in Øverbygd, northern Norway.[1]
History
[edit]It was established in March 2023, and acts as the United Kingdom's main operations hub for the High North.[1][2][3][4] Previously known as Camp Orange when occupied by the Dutch, it has been substantially rebuilt for British use, and given the name Camp Viking.[2][4] It is primarily used by the Royal Marines (RM) and Army Commandos for Arctic and mountain warfare training, along with testing new equipment. It will also be used as a forward operating base (FOB) for United Kingdom (UK) and NATO forces operating in the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions.[1] It will also be used as an operational support hub by the Littoral Response Group (North) amphibious task group of the Royal Navy (RN).[2][3]
Located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometres) south of Tromsø, an area where temperatures can descend to below −50 degrees Celsius (−58 degrees Fahrenheit),[1] the establishment is strategically located near Skjold garrison of the Norwegian Army, the Bardufoss Air Station (which is used by the Commando Helicopter Force), and a sea-port in Sørreisa.[2][3][4] From March 2023, approximately 1,000 Royal Marines had been deployed to the base.[1][2][4][5]
Under the terms of the lease by the Government of Norway to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), Camp Viking is to remain open for ten years.[2][4] Being as Norway is opposed to foreign military bases on its soil; a long-established policy to avoid provocations with Russia,[6] the presence of Camp Viking is politically sensitive in Norway, with the Norwegian government insisting that it is not a new wholly-British military base, but instead, a rebranding of an existing training facility within a Norwegian military base, and therefore does not infringe its policy on foreign military bases.[7] Nevertheless, the facility was described as a military 'base' in a press release by the Royal Navy.[2]
In popular culture
[edit]Camp Viking, and its military personnel and based equipment, was the subject of a two-part Channel 4 television production (produced by North One Television) entitled Guy Martin: Arctic Warrior in 2024, in which Guy Martin from Lincolnshire, England; a truck mechanic by trade, former motorcycle racer, and television personality known for extreme challenges, was embedded with the Royal Marines to test himself against British military Arctic training exercises as a special operations commando. Martin was noted for his 'personal admin' (military speak for the day-to-day management of ones' personal kit) being somewhat lacking; but was highly praised for his participation and enthusiasm for the many drills, exercises, and activities (including live weapons firing) he undertook. The programmes were first broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK during early December 2024.[8][9][10][11][12]
See also
[edit]- Exercise Joint Warrior – British-hosted tri-service biannual multi-national military exercise, which includes Exercise Joint Viking now supported by Camp Viking
- Exercise Nordic Response – biannual multi-national military training exercise
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Ministry of Defence; The Rt Hon James Heappey (2 February 2024). "UK Commandos train in Arctic ahead of largest NATO exercise since Cold War". GOV.UK. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Tringham, Kate (9 March 2023). "UK establishes new military base in Northern Norway". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved 12 March 2023.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e Grønning, Trygve; Ellingsen, Rebekka; Wilhelms, Hanne (8 March 2023). "Storbritannia skal øve i Nord-Norge i ti år framover" [The UK will practice in Northern Norway for ten years ahead]. NRK.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
Britene trekker frem at leirens strategiske plassering i Nord-Norge er viktig for å sikre at de raskt responderer dersom de må støtte Natos nordflanke.
[The British point out that the camp's strategic location in northern Norway is important to ensure that they quickly respond if they have to support NATO's northern flank.] - ^ "UK commandos receive new operations base in northern Norway". Naval Technology. Verdict Media Limited. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Nilsen, Thomas (9 March 2023). "UK commandos set up training Camp Viking in Northern Norway". The Barents Observer. The Independent Barents Observer AS. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Pettersen, Stephan (8 March 2023). "Forsvarsdepartementet: Britisk leir er ikke ny" [Ministry of Defence: British camp is not new]. Forsvaretsforum.no (in Norwegian).
- ^ "Guy Martin: Arctic Warrior". Channel4.com. Channel Four Television Corporation. n.d. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "Guy Martin: Arctic Warrior". NorthOne.tv. North One Television. n.d. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Guy Martin: Arctic Warrior at IMDb
- ^ "Guy Martin: Arctic Warrior". GuyMartinRacing.co.uk. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Bennion, Chris (11 December 2024). "Guy Martin: Arctic Warrior, review: is there anything TV's most likeable presenter can't do?". Telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited.
In Arctic Warrior, Guy Martin spends two weeks with the Royal Marines at Camp Viking in Norway
External links
[edit]- Inside Camp Viking – the new Arctic operations base for UK commandos — Forces News from BFBS
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