I'm 72 and from the UK. On my 18th birthday I joined the Royal Marines, following in my dads footsteps. I served for 10 years with 42 & 45 Cmdo and left 2 years before the Falklands scrap. The first Arctic training started in February 1970 and I joined in Dec 1970, so my first Artic Training started in 1972 along with Jungle training in Belize. Absolutely loved it and if I could have my time all over again, I would do the same in a heartbeat.
Thank you Sir for your service to our beloved United Kingdom and for keeping us safe. I am a 60 year old man who looks up not only to my late beloved parents but those who serve and served in our fantastic Armed Forces of the UK. My heroes apart from my late parents are those who gave their lives for our country and to protect us. I had cousins in The British Army and the RAF during WW2, where my cousin in the RAF was killed in 1943 and is buried in Genoa, Italy in a British War Graves Cemetery. 💂♂️🇬🇧🏴
Good man 👍 I have a huge amount of respect and time for the Royal Marines. My cousin was lost in Afghanistan fighting with the marines in 40 Cmdo. David O'Connor may he rest in peace. He got betrayed by a member of the ANP and took a round under his arm straight through the only part of his torso that wasn't covered by his armour.
The reason the Royal Marines train in the arctic circle is because Britain along with Norway are responsible for protecting NATO's northern flank against Russia. The divers check for mines and underwater obstacles.
Royal Marines used to deploy to Norway, but because of UK Defense Cuts not to the same extent anymore. The Americans Mountain Division is now having to do this and the US military are not best pleased with the UK, as need to use that Division elsewhere
@@firstlast-hj2sbthe UK population are not happy either , the government are failing the country on defence and they have only been elected 6 months ago . They need to do better and quickly . Kind regards .
@@firstlast-hj2sb 10th Mountain have trained in Norway for a long time. They have always been at Divisional strength, whereas the Royal Marines have only ever been a Brigade in total, since after WW2. (10th Mountain has THREE infantry combat team brigades, PLUS an aviation brigade and ancilliary troops - HQ Bn, Div Arty, Logs, Engrs, etc, etc, etc. Not really comparable.)
Norway shares a land border with Russia, hence why a lot of the UK military spends time up there. Northern Europe also falls under the UKs responsibility should war break out.
Don't know if this is true or not. Heard yesterday that illegal immigrants of fighting age who now reside in the UK out number the British army.. Not sure how to check if it's true.
If the british military does go to war, I do remember that. That's when there's an influx of people signing up to the military, but by how much I'm not sure.
During the Second World War, the Norwegian royal family and its government in exile found refuge in the UK, while UK troops were amongst the first liberators. As a result, both nations have been close allies outside of NATO, while Norway still gifts a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square each year.
Steve, the Royal Marines, and some other UK army units, have trained in cold climates for decades. Norway, Canada etc....likewise, they also train in hotter climates too, such as Kenya.
My late father was serving in the U.K. army in WW2, he was stationed in Norway towards the end of the war in 1945, his unit was sent there on a clean up operation to root out the German troops who were hiding out there. I recently found a certificate in my Dad ‘s belongings signed by the King of Norway, thanking the soldiers in helping to liberate his country.
539 ASRM was my old unit, created in the 1980s in response to lessons learned during the Falklands conflict. We did about three months a year North of the Arctic Circle (January to March). One of the reasons for exercising in North Norway was proximity to the Russian border and it was during the Cold War, when both NATO and the Soviets engaged in 'sabre rattling'.
If you do a YT search for "Behind the Lines" it takes you through the whole selection process from joining-up to passing as an RM. My uncle Bill was a marine ... I wish I'd known all that when I were a lad, but his generation never boasted and bragged that they were anything special. Their outlook was "we all did our bit; there was a war on".
If hostilities get worse with Russia, cold weather training is vital. The training is normally up to two months at Camp Viking. A knot is approx 1.15 mph so 40 knots is 46mph. The point of the training is Global readiness: The training helps the Marines maintain the capability to deploy anywhere in the world in a crisis.
The UK and Norway have had a close relationship and friendly rivalry for centuries, even long before Norwegian independence from Sweden. Norway having more trade and closer ties with the UK was a factor in Norwegian independence; the polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen was a strong advocate for Norwegian independence and travelled to London to get support from British politicians. The Swedish people also largely supported Norwegian independence. Norway regards the UK as their most important ally.
@@M_Lars It is but the brits has been a good number three since ww2 when the Norwegian Royal family and the Norwegian Government was in exile there during the occupation of the country! Also for training our resistance and spesial ops commandos up in Scottland! Norway send a christmas tree every year as a token of the gratitude from that help! The tree on Trafalgar Square!
Actually the UK and then Denmark/ Norway was on the opposite side during the Napoleanic wars! A war that ended in the result that Norway was forced into a Union with Sweden from the winning side! You know since Sweden was on the British side and Denmark/Norway was on the side of Napolion!
@ It makes sense when I think about it. I knew about the Christmas tree tradition since ww2. Didn't know about the union with Sweden after the napoleonic wars though, was that better/different than the one with Denmark? I have Norwegian heritage as you might tell by my name so I'm curious.
British Forces have always trained in the most horrible of conditions. Cold and wet or hot and dry. The idea is “if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere”. But it’s more than just pushing limits, arctic warfare is a real threat and has been throughout history. German troops were deployed to Norway during WWII for example, where allied Forces had to engage them. NATO are rightly concerned about the threat posed by Russia and China in the Arctic. It might not seem likely to some, but there’s a credible threat of both expansionism and the monopoly of sea lanes in the North Atlantic. The UK has a long history of working alongside the Norwegians, dating back almost 100 years, which is continued today as part of their NATO commitments.
It might be helpful to have a look at a map of Norway to see why the Royal Marines are training there with the Norwegians. It has a border with Russia and, if Russia were to attack western Europe, no doubt part of the attack would be through Finland, Sweden and Norway.
The Royal Marines are the UK's mountain and cold warfare specialists, going back to operation during WW2. Before a full beach landing or assault, if possible a full reconnaissance survey is done. You don't want to land on a beach and find out the vehicles are no good because of obstacles or the shoreline is full of mines and razor wire.
When I served in the British Army we did our winter warfare training in Norway. That was over a decade ago now. We learnt to ski, build and igloo for shelter, ice dips, just general survival skills. The UK and Norway are great allies. 🫡
Just a small point to bear in mind. The members of the SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service) are selected from regiments such as the Royal Marines (and other regiments of course). The SAS and SBS are the 'best of the best', and are rightly feared throughout the world!
This is something that goes back to at least WW2 when Commando operated in Norway against the Axis forces and forged strong links with the Norwegian resistance groups. There was even "The Shetland Bus" (Norwegian Bokmål: Shetlandsbussene, def. pl.) was the nickname of a clandestine special operations group that made a permanent link between Mainland Shetland in Scotland and German-occupied Norway from 1941 until the surrender of Nazi Germany on 8 May 1945.
The Royal Marine Commandos have worked in the Arctic for many decades, They also work in the Antarctic. They spend a lot of time near and monitoring the Russian border, There are videos on TH-cam covering the marines and the elite group Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre. There are also Army commandos that deploy in the Arctic
Amphibious reconnaissance (AKA 'recce') consists of ground and naval reconnaissance in the area bordering coastal areas. In order to prepare plans for an attack or defence of a harbour or beach, it is necessary to have at hand a comprehensive description of the hydrographic features and accurate charts showing the depths of water at all points, the reefs, rocks, shoals, and any currents which constitute dangers to navigation/landing. Additionally they will view tributary streams or channels which may form avenues of attack or furnish anchorages for floating defences and similar objects...
From WW2 divers have completed recces of the beaches prior to landings, taking samples of the sand, checking gradients of the beach, photos, everything that the landing craft need to know. We've worked with the Norwegians for decades, typically a 3-4 month deployment, things have changed since I left but the basics are the same.
The Royal Marines have always trained in Norway 🇳🇴 and have a great relationship with Norway and the Norwegian Defence Force. The UK and Norway have always had a great relationship since before WW2. We also have a great relationship with Germany as we have a joint military unit called The Amphibious Engineer 130 Battalion. We now have a joint Norway / British Unit which is absolutely brilliant. Many members of the SBS come from The Royal Marine Commandos Regiment. For the SAS many of there troopers come from The Parachute Regiment and The Gurhkas which are 3 of the toughest Regiments not only in the UK but in the world. 💂♂️🇬🇧🏴🇮🇪🤝❤🇳🇴 The vehicle with the half track is called a Viking vehicle. All terrain vehicles used in The British Army and Royal Navy can be used on land and float on water otherwise if it was not All Terrain and you put it in water then it would sink and kill every one on board. All Terrain means that the vehicle can be used on land and water it also means it can float.
It might be helpful to get a globe or map out to see where the UK sits and how close we are to Norway say in comparison to the US. Remember we are an island surrounded by sea it's The North Sea which lies between the UK and Norway. It may be worth checking out something called 'The Shetland Bus' which in WWII was a covert operation that involved a network of fishing boats that made dangerous trips across the North Sea. I believe the boats were crewed by young Norwegian fishermen and seafarers and were often used to transport Norwegian agents, saboteurs, and supplies. The boats were also used to evacuate refugees and British soldiers stranded in Norway. The Shetland Bus was a crucial part of the British-Norwegian resistance movement. This network of fishing boats were able to move people and supplies between Norway and the Shetland Islands without raising suspicion.
The diver is checking the approach to the waterline and beach to make sure there's no obstacles or defenses, also depth and what the bottom is ie, rock, sand or silty. Anything that could disrupt the landing basically. This would be done by special forces before the landings so plans can be made as accurately as possible.
Back in the 1970's I was up in Bardufoss where the Arctic training was based and they only brought the troops in when the temperature dropped to minus 40C.
Being on a boat like that is fun for 10 minutes, and a world of pain after that! 1 knot is 1 nautical mile per hour A nautical mile is 2025 yds (the arc described by one minute of angle at the equator)
"Guy Martin Arctic Warrior" it does talk about Russia far too much though I think it was made before the invasion of Ukraine so everything it was saying was probably true then but obviously as we know now the Russians are a zero threat they completely embarrassed themselves so it kinda makes show look a bit fear mongery.
@samuel10125 very true the video is outdated but still quite informative for beginners obviously everything you learn one day changes the next, but to me, Russia seems to be more dangerous in the arctic alot different equipment etc. Obviously with all the allies etc nato Russia wouldn't stand a chance.
We watched Guy Martin’s Marine training too. We watched it as one of my son’s best friends joined the Marines and we knew about them jumping into an ice hole and rolling into soft snow… Mad!!!
You might be interested to check out The SBS (The Special Boat Service). They are the SAS equivalent - special forces - of The Royal Navy. Most people have heard of the SAS, but fewer realise there is a specific Navy version. I knew someone who 30-40 years ago was in the SBS. (Passed away a few years ago - natural causes). Just as skilled and brave as the SAS - but amphibious - trained for all environments.
The BvS10 Viking, Which is that tracked vehicle that you saw pulling them on skies is indeed amphibious, it can go through flooded areas and coastal waters, so that lake probably would have been doable. It replaced an older version of the vehicle known as the BV-206, which you can find for sale by companies that sell old military vehicles. I know of a few civilian companies who bought them as they needed the platforms for particular work such as construction. Fun fact about the 206 is it has a low ground pressure, at around 8psi, this is brilliant for people who don't want the ground destroyed by its movements (and another reason some companies buy these)
Don't forget we still protect the Falklands down near the Antarctic. This training was useful when they were outside for days during that conflict. Nana Karen UK
When they said vehicles under the ice, they also mean things like land rovers that have fallen through Not sure if this is just UK and Norway, but NATO run similar exercises so that all NATO countries can fight as one team. like the Nordic response and the arctic challenge exercise that's coming up this year Fun fact 'forty below is the same temperature in celcius and fahrenheit Towing the troops means quicker deployment, it takes time to put skis on The vehicle looks like the Bandwagn 200, it's fully amphibious (there's a wiki article)
The major powers' race to the Arctic has already begun. In fact, it started already during the Cold War, and during the WW2, Britain, France and Germany competed in, which country would invade and occupy Norway first, and then further on gain control over mineral mines in the Nordics. The Britain's plan to accomplish that was called as 'Plan R 4'. Later on there were E.g. Arctic convoys sailing via several seas of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. In all, numerous Arctic campaigns took place during the WW2.
first thing i did from School was join as a junior at 16. the Arctic training hasnt changed a lot by the looks of it. the equipment looks a bit better. the diver at the beach landing is looking for obstacles and mines, bobby-traps etc. the obstacles could be natural or man-made.
" ... it's not an environment where you would expect to be fighting a war ... ". Except that you've currently got an incoming President who is openly talking about taking over Greenland, Danish sovereign territory, and NATO members, by military force if necessary.
As a Canadian, we know the magic spot -40F = --40C....typically in Alberta we'd have a couple of weeks of it each winter. So, the Canadian Armed Forces has a base in the far north, Ellesmere Island, Alert is the name of the place; military go there from other countries for winter training. Its' part of Norad, the combined US and Canadian patrol of Canada's north, to ensure other countries aren't encroaching onto our land, very important especially in the current political environment.
My first arctic training back in ’92 was in Canada. It was ok whilst on the move but as soon as you were digging in for the night it was hell on earth.😡🏴🇬🇧
You won't like it in the Summer! I spent three Summers in the '80s and the mozzie swarms were so thick that you had to wear a face veil to avoid choking on the number of insects you'd breathe in :(
Thanks Lannie, the snows been a lot of fun. Sophia loves the cold and would probably be content in year round winter, I on the other hand am already ready for spring. 🤣
Part of the RM training is to jump fully clothed into ice water through a hole cut into the ice and climb out by themselves. RM Commandos are not like US Marines, the hints in the name ‘commando’ The same guys along with the paras that undertook the Falkland war to regain the island and not forgetting South Georgia - a topic well looking into as that was an epic task. For desert warfare check out the SAS’s battle for Mirbat in Oman outnumbered by at least 50 to one
Another great program that is definitely worth a watch is Guy Martin with the Royal Marines in Northern Norway. He stayed at the purpose built camp that they now have up there and went out with them on their various exercises, it's a recent one and Highly recommended 👌👌
The diver is doing a recky (recon) on the beach to make sure it's suitable for the landing craft, basically. Also if you crash a vehicle all you have to do is burn it and pretend the vehicle never existed, it's easier to do that than try to get it out of the snow etc. More harsh environment? well, if you're cold you can put on more layers get by a fire or heater to warm yourself up. If you're in a desert and you're hot, there isn't really too much you can do about it. Also if you crash a vehicle all
True but I served in the desert in combat and while it's harsh AF during the day it's chilly AF at night. Still, I'm going to take the desert over the Arctic anyday, although with the early SA80s it was a cnut of a pain in the arse. I never missed my SLR as much😢
@@vinnyganzano1930 Yeah the SA80 was so bad, I still can't believe how much they spent on pointless hand grips for them. The nickname for the SA80 should have been Jam.
11:48 - Yes, the Viking Armoured vehicles ARE fully amphibious (they can operate from -46°C to +49°C, so Arctic to fierce Desert). The BV206s used for transport are also fully amphibious. These are Marines, remember. (Edit that's -51°F to 120°F)
If you really want to know what the Royal Marine do in the Arctic theres a two episode show available on TH-cam called Guy Martin Arctic Warrior he goes through the Royal Marines Arctic warfare training it very good. I'll leave a link Part 1 th-cam.com/video/eOEkQEumK54/w-d-xo.htmlsi=485G7k1_6Ud6W1cl
When it gets to -40C it will also be -40F. This makes conversions easier. Plus 40 to a temperature then multiply by 9 over 5 or 5 over 9 depending on which way you are converting, then remove 40 from the answer, saves all the hassle with the other formula. There are a lot of minerals as well as oil in the Arctic. The US has Alaska as its nearest landmass that is why they are keen to acquire full access to Greenland in order to protect their access to the new sea routes. Canada and the new sea passages that are opening up is in a prime position to exploit this bounty.
Training should be completed in the most arduous or environments, because being able to operate independently in those conditions over extended periods is vital. Norway and the Arctic are good representations of large parts of northern Europe. Since WW2, UK forces worked behind enemy lines in Norway and have come to rely on our relationship with Norway in sharing survival and warfare training. They also given us a rather nice Christmas tree each year as a thank you, which is nice ;-)😅
There is a movie called 'Heroes of Telemark'. It's based on a real life mission that occured in Norway during the second world war. So cold weather training is something that they need.
The Viking all terrain vehicles are amphibious. They're perfect for operations in that environment because they can safely drive over frozen lakes and rivers and even if they break through drag themselves out using either their tracks or the winches mounted on them. They're not very fast in water but honestly they're not particularly fast on land either. They will go almost anywhere and are pretty well armoured speed is a very distant third to mobility and protection.
I love watching the military training, I did consider the Royal Navy as a career when I was starting out, as an alternative to nursing, just in case that didn’t work out. I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket! I’m cancerian, I love water 😂😂
Love your vids guys. Just to say the reason for UK troops in Norway. Norway has a border with Russia... Its NATO's northern flank. Also, Norway has a lot of oil/resources ... need I go on 😁
Always excited to see you guys. .. The military train in all of the different climates , arctic, jungle dessert etc.. I suppose the arctic is to train for possible wars in siberian russia x
There is a famous area in Cornwall called Commando Ridge. It is a tough rugged terrain that is constantly weather beaten. It has been used by British commandos to train since WW2. There is a really good 20 minute video on here of a climber teaming with a former member of the MLs (Mountain Leader) branch to traverse the area spliced in between an interview with him just giving his thoughts on the training and his mindset of being a commando. Might be something you'd enjoy seeing "The Secret Unit Better Than Special Forces"
This is not exclusive to the Royal marines. Some US marines train in Alaska as well, though their training isn't quite the same as for the Royal marines. There is also a video of some of these US Marines being trained by the Royal marines in Norway. Either way, Alaska, or Norway it is pretty chilly there in the winter months!
Why should it surprise you that the marines train inside the Arctic Circle. Britain is a major member of NATO and there are multiple NATO members that have territory inside the Arctic Circle including the USA your Neighbour Canada. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and a small part of Iceland all have territory inside the Arctic Circle. A lot of WWII took place within the Arctic Circle, read about the Arctic Conveys that went up around the north of Norway and Sweden to supply Russia. The fighting that went on within the Arctic Circle, initially between Finland and Russia. There were others en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Arctic_military_operations_of_World_War_II
The USMC are soldiers who travel by ship, the Royal Marines are a commando force. They train to operate and fight behind enemy lines, at the tip of the spear, anywhere in the world against any foe,in any environment. They can infiltrate, sabotage, eliminate, recon for follow on forces, or anything else that they are tasked with.
The Viking armoured vehicle, and the units it pulls are fully able to float. it is a true all terrain vehicle. It can even be used in open sea water, but with very little surface disturbance, so 6 ft waves would most likely sink it, but all Fiords, rivers, and streams, it can cross without problems.
I living actually quite near the training area honestly so when the Soldiers are on leave / or having a break to be free to explore cities .. I could meet some Soldiers if I am lucky
You said that you didn't think wars could take place in such conditions. A lot of WW2 took place in very North European places such as Norway, Finland and Archangel/Arkhangelsk in Russia. As well as a lot of the armed forces dying, people from the merchant navy also died trying to transport food . The Arctic Convoys (78 in total) from the UK took food and other supplies to Murmansk and Archanagel to our allies in Russia. Other participants in the Arctic Convoys as well as the British Navy and British Merchant Navy were the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Navy. At the time, of course, not only did they have the weather to contend with, they also had to deal with U boats (submarines), torpedoes and sea mines as well as being shot at from battleships and from the air. Many soldiers from the UK died in Norway in WW2 and fought in extremely cold conditions. No doubt many Germans would also have died in the same conflict. This is why warmongering is not tolerated in Europe, we have had enough of it and do not want it any more, regardless as to which side we were on in WW1 and WW2.
I'm guessing, if you look at the rocks creating the 'beach', they need to check for preventing damage to the hulls of the boats etc, especially if no lights are allowed in the dark...all touch?
Guys, some British troops train in freezing cold conditions as well as steamy hot jungles, so that no matter where war breaks out, they won't have to go there and be shot like sitting ducks because they were shocked by the conditions. Maybe it's part of the history of us having an empire which covered all types of climate, so they needed to be ready. You've probably seen videos about all the countries Britain has invaded through history, but in some cases they got a big shock as local 'warriors' defeated them at first because our soldiers were not used to extreme conditions. This is partly why we have learned from experience to be ready for all environments
The cold weather conditions in the northern hemisphere is far more tougher than the desert because as humans have lived in deserts for hundreds of thousands of years where we have spent less time in the northern climates as a species
Uk special forces train in Wales because its the most miserable environment in the world. The SAS don't mind the the hot desert or the Artic because the weather is constant, hot and dry or cold and dry. In Brecon Wales its wet cold and soul destroying..
You are confusing US Marines with Royal Marines, they are not the same. Every Royal Marine is a Commando, that is part of the Commando training you are watching.
I imagine the divers are checking that the landing zone is suitable -- no submerged mines or jagged rocks or other obstacles that will rip up the rubber inflatable boats.
Check out American and British soldiers taught to survive winter conditions in Finland. We have quite a long border with Putin's playground and we have the history with Russia. That is why we host lot of training sessions for other Nato countries.
Remember how far north the UK already is. I live in the English West Midlands, and I'm already at 52-and-a-half North latitude; my memory may be faulty, but I think Shetland in the far north of Scotland may be 58 North. The Arctic Circle is only 66-and-two-thirds North! Another commenter has suggested that we are only 250 miles from it, and that may be right. And we haven't forgotten that, although we tried to help the Norwegians, Germany successfully invaded Norway in 1940.
They didn`t show the cutting a large rectangular hole in the ice over a lake and then they have to jump in pared down with barely any clothes on, and swimming across and pulling themselves out at the other end. they then get to go in the all terrain vehicle with a towel to dry off and warm up....sometimes done with skis!
I'm 72 and from the UK. On my 18th birthday I joined the Royal Marines, following in my dads footsteps.
I served for 10 years with 42 & 45 Cmdo and left 2 years before the Falklands scrap. The first Arctic training started in February 1970
and I joined in Dec 1970, so my first Artic Training started in 1972 along with Jungle training in Belize.
Absolutely loved it and if I could have my time all over again, I would do the same in a heartbeat.
My Grandfather was a Lt col in the British army! My mum and uncles were in the Raf and the WRAF! I say simply say thank you for your services!
@@nigeldewallens1115 Thank you Sir, I appreciate your comment.
Thank you Sir for your service to our beloved United Kingdom and for keeping us safe. I am a 60 year old man who looks up not only to my late beloved parents but those who serve and served in our fantastic Armed Forces of the UK. My heroes apart from my late parents are those who gave their lives for our country and to protect us. I had cousins in The British Army and the RAF during WW2, where my cousin in the RAF was killed in 1943 and is buried in Genoa, Italy in a British War Graves Cemetery. 💂♂️🇬🇧🏴
Good man 👍 I have a huge amount of respect and time for the Royal Marines.
My cousin was lost in Afghanistan fighting with the marines in 40 Cmdo.
David O'Connor may he rest in peace.
He got betrayed by a member of the ANP and took a round under his arm straight through the only part of his torso that wasn't covered by his armour.
@@martinbootneck It's a pleasure! I am English but my grandfather was Belgian! He was sent to England in WWI injured and stayed in England!
The reason the Royal Marines train in the arctic circle is because Britain along with Norway are responsible for protecting NATO's northern flank against Russia. The divers check for mines and underwater obstacles.
Royal Marines used to deploy to Norway, but because of UK Defense Cuts
not to the same extent anymore.
The Americans Mountain Division is now having to do this
and the US military are not best pleased with the UK,
as need to use that Division elsewhere
@@firstlast-hj2sbthe UK population are not happy either , the government are failing the country on defence and they have only been elected 6 months ago .
They need to do better and quickly .
Kind regards .
@@firstlast-hj2sb Camp Viking is still pretty busy.
@@firstlast-hj2sb 10th Mountain have trained in Norway for a long time. They have always been at Divisional strength, whereas the Royal Marines have only ever been a Brigade in total, since after WW2. (10th Mountain has THREE infantry combat team brigades, PLUS an aviation brigade and ancilliary troops - HQ Bn, Div Arty, Logs, Engrs, etc, etc, etc. Not really comparable.)
I watch this with a sadness at the loss of my brother Paul who died in Norway while on exercise as a marine comando. Rest in peace paul
sorry,,,,, to you and your family's loss...rest in peace paul
Rest in peace, sir.....a soul taken too soon...💔💔
RIP
Norway shares a land border with Russia, hence why a lot of the UK military spends time up there. Northern Europe also falls under the UKs responsibility should war break out.
Also with how much territory Russia has in the artic aswel. They have more bases there than any1 else, I think.
Don't know if this is true or not. Heard yesterday that illegal immigrants of fighting age who now reside in the UK out number the British army.. Not sure how to check if it's true.
@TheDizzydiana I believe the british military are just over 200 thousand Men & women. Not sure on our immigration statistics tho.
If the british military does go to war, I do remember that. That's when there's an influx of people signing up to the military, but by how much I'm not sure.
@@treyarchnuke9392well trained soldiers quality over quantity
During the Second World War, the Norwegian royal family and its government in exile found refuge in the UK, while UK troops were amongst the first liberators. As a result, both nations have been close allies outside of NATO, while Norway still gifts a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square each year.
Steve, the Royal Marines, and some other UK army units, have trained in cold climates for decades. Norway, Canada etc....likewise, they also train in hotter climates too, such as Kenya.
My late father was serving in the U.K. army in WW2, he was stationed in Norway towards the end of the war in 1945, his unit was sent there on a clean up operation to root out the German troops who were hiding out there. I recently found a certificate in my Dad ‘s belongings signed by the King of Norway, thanking the soldiers in helping to liberate his country.
They're tough buggers those Royal Marines
They certainly are
Ex Royal Marine here. I screamed like a girl when I stubbed my toe on the edge of the bed this morning.
@@its_muhchannel I scream like a BIG girl when I see a spider
@Jamieboo1415 Who told you that, we're just big soft cuddly pussycats LOLOL
@@martinbootneck 🕷️🕸️
539 ASRM was my old unit, created in the 1980s in response to lessons learned during the Falklands conflict. We did about three months a year North of the Arctic Circle (January to March). One of the reasons for exercising in North Norway was proximity to the Russian border and it was during the Cold War, when both NATO and the Soviets engaged in 'sabre rattling'.
If you do a YT search for "Behind the Lines" it takes you through the whole selection process from joining-up to passing as an RM.
My uncle Bill was a marine ... I wish I'd known all that when I were a lad, but his generation never boasted and bragged that they were anything special. Their outlook was "we all did our bit; there was a war on".
If hostilities get worse with Russia, cold weather training is vital. The training is normally up to two months at Camp Viking. A knot is approx 1.15 mph so 40 knots is 46mph. The point of the training is Global readiness: The training helps the Marines maintain the capability to deploy anywhere in the world in a crisis.
And have you been in the forces? At all? I spent 16 years in the Royal Marines, 45 Commando. I just wondered.
The UK and Norway have had a close relationship and friendly rivalry for centuries, even long before Norwegian independence from Sweden. Norway having more trade and closer ties with the UK was a factor in Norwegian independence; the polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen was a strong advocate for Norwegian independence and travelled to London to get support from British politicians. The Swedish people also largely supported Norwegian independence. Norway regards the UK as their most important ally.
Didn't know that, would think it'd be Denmark or Sweden
@@M_Lars It is but the brits has been a good number three since ww2 when the Norwegian Royal family and the Norwegian Government was in exile there during the occupation of the country!
Also for training our resistance and spesial ops commandos up in Scottland!
Norway send a christmas tree every year as a token of the gratitude from that help!
The tree on Trafalgar Square!
Actually the UK and then Denmark/ Norway was on the opposite side during the Napoleanic wars!
A war that ended in the result that Norway was forced into a Union with Sweden from the winning side!
You know since Sweden was on the British side and Denmark/Norway was on the side of Napolion!
@ It makes sense when I think about it. I knew about the Christmas tree tradition since ww2. Didn't know about the union with Sweden after the napoleonic wars though, was that better/different than the one with Denmark? I have Norwegian heritage as you might tell by my name so I'm curious.
Brits and Scandinavians have had close relationships for centuries. We were all Vikings once!
British Forces have always trained in the most horrible of conditions. Cold and wet or hot and dry. The idea is “if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere”.
But it’s more than just pushing limits, arctic warfare is a real threat and has been throughout history.
German troops were deployed to Norway during WWII for example, where allied Forces had to engage them.
NATO are rightly concerned about the threat posed by Russia and China in the Arctic. It might not seem likely to some, but there’s a credible threat of both expansionism and the monopoly of sea lanes in the North Atlantic.
The UK has a long history of working alongside the Norwegians, dating back almost 100 years, which is continued today as part of their NATO commitments.
Norwegians aren't that different to brits. Just more to the introvert end and an obsession with herring. Solid folk.
Hot and wet (jungle) is the one I dislike most.
Chuck in a few snakes, spiders, leeches, rats, mosquitoes etc…
It might be helpful to have a look at a map of Norway to see why the Royal Marines are training there with the Norwegians. It has a border with Russia and, if Russia were to attack western Europe, no doubt part of the attack would be through Finland, Sweden and Norway.
The Royal Marines are the UK's mountain and cold warfare specialists, going back to operation during WW2. Before a full beach landing or assault, if possible a full reconnaissance survey is done. You don't want to land on a beach and find out the vehicles are no good because of obstacles or the shoreline is full of mines and razor wire.
When I served in the British Army we did our winter warfare training in Norway. That was over a decade ago now. We learnt to ski, build and igloo for shelter, ice dips, just general survival skills. The UK and Norway are great allies. 🫡
Just a small point to bear in mind. The members of the SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service) are selected from regiments such as the Royal Marines (and other regiments of course). The SAS and SBS are the 'best of the best', and are rightly feared throughout the world!
This is something that goes back to at least WW2 when Commando operated in Norway against the Axis forces and forged strong links with the Norwegian resistance groups. There was even "The Shetland Bus" (Norwegian Bokmål: Shetlandsbussene, def. pl.) was the nickname of a clandestine special operations group that made a permanent link between Mainland Shetland in Scotland and German-occupied Norway from 1941 until the surrender of Nazi Germany on 8 May 1945.
They have to train in the arctic, Britain protects Santa. 😊 🇬🇧
😂
Truth.
Yes, he must be protected at all costs 😁
😂
Father Christmas, actually 🎅
The Arctic, deserts and jungle.
The Royal Marine Commandos have worked in the Arctic for many decades, They also work in the Antarctic. They spend a lot of time near and monitoring the Russian border, There are videos on TH-cam covering the marines and the elite group Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre. There are also Army commandos that deploy in the Arctic
Amphibious reconnaissance (AKA 'recce') consists of ground and naval reconnaissance in the area bordering coastal areas. In order to prepare plans for an attack or defence of a harbour or beach, it is necessary to have at hand a comprehensive description of the hydrographic features and accurate charts showing the depths of water at all points, the reefs, rocks, shoals, and any currents which constitute dangers to navigation/landing. Additionally they will view tributary streams or channels which may form avenues of attack or furnish anchorages for floating defences and similar objects...
it is so cold there the flame of my Zippo froze
If you haven’t already, you should watch the series SAS ROGUE HEROES, the true story of how the SAS (Special Air Service) were formed. 🎉
When they train in the cold it came important when they were sent to take back the Falklands in April 1982 which is the start of winter down there.
Also it has been for the last 20 years or so to cope with the harsh nights and winters in Afghanistan!
From WW2 divers have completed recces of the beaches prior to landings, taking samples of the sand, checking gradients of the beach, photos, everything that the landing craft need to know. We've worked with the Norwegians for decades, typically a 3-4 month deployment, things have changed since I left but the basics are the same.
Lynsey has such an infectious laugh and giggle, you can't help but smile when you hear it.😊
The Royal Marines have always trained in Norway 🇳🇴 and have a great relationship with Norway and the Norwegian Defence Force. The UK and Norway have always had a great relationship since before WW2. We also have a great relationship with Germany as we have a joint military unit called The Amphibious Engineer 130 Battalion. We now have a joint Norway / British Unit which is absolutely brilliant. Many members of the SBS come from The Royal Marine Commandos Regiment. For the SAS many of there troopers come from The Parachute Regiment and The Gurhkas which are 3 of the toughest Regiments not only in the UK but in the world. 💂♂️🇬🇧🏴🇮🇪🤝❤🇳🇴 The vehicle with the half track is called a Viking vehicle. All terrain vehicles used in The British Army and Royal Navy can be used on land and float on water otherwise if it was not All Terrain and you put it in water then it would sink and kill every one on board. All Terrain means that the vehicle can be used on land and water it also means it can float.
It might be helpful to get a globe or map out to see where the UK sits and how close we are to Norway say in comparison to the US. Remember we are an island surrounded by sea it's The North Sea which lies between the UK and Norway. It may be worth checking out something called 'The Shetland Bus' which in WWII was a covert operation that involved a network of fishing boats that made dangerous trips across the North Sea. I believe the boats were crewed by young Norwegian fishermen and seafarers and were often used to transport Norwegian agents, saboteurs, and supplies. The boats were also used to evacuate refugees and British soldiers stranded in Norway. The Shetland Bus was a crucial part of the British-Norwegian resistance movement. This network of fishing boats were able to move people and supplies between Norway and the Shetland Islands without raising suspicion.
My great grandfather came to the UK on the Shetland Bus
@@Westcountrynordic That must be an interesting piece of family history. All the best.
The diver is checking the approach to the waterline and beach to make sure there's no obstacles or defenses, also depth and what the bottom is ie, rock, sand or silty. Anything that could disrupt the landing basically. This would be done by special forces before the landings so plans can be made as accurately as possible.
Back in the 1970's I was up in Bardufoss where the Arctic training was based and they only brought the troops in when the temperature dropped to minus 40C.
Being on a boat like that is fun for 10 minutes, and a world of pain after that!
1 knot is 1 nautical mile per hour A nautical mile is 2025 yds (the arc described by one minute of angle at the equator)
If you watch guy Martins arctic training, that gives an insider into why this training is needed, especially at a time like now.
"Guy Martin Arctic Warrior" it does talk about Russia far too much though I think it was made before the invasion of Ukraine so everything it was saying was probably true then but obviously as we know now the Russians are a zero threat they completely embarrassed themselves so it kinda makes show look a bit fear mongery.
@samuel10125 very true the video is outdated but still quite informative for beginners obviously everything you learn one day changes the next, but to me, Russia seems to be more dangerous in the arctic alot different equipment etc. Obviously with all the allies etc nato Russia wouldn't stand a chance.
We watched Guy Martin’s Marine training too. We watched it as one of my son’s best friends joined the Marines and we knew about them jumping into an ice hole and rolling into soft snow… Mad!!!
@@samuel10125 My guess the biggest treath in the north after january 20th will be the US!
UK forces do jungle warfare in Belize - freind/ former colleague worked for British Army there
The northern most point of the uk is only 250 miles from the Artic circle + our weather
That's a good point. I sometimes forget how much further north the UK is compared to where we're at.
You might be interested to check out The SBS (The Special Boat Service). They are the SAS equivalent - special forces - of The Royal Navy. Most people have heard of the SAS, but fewer realise there is a specific Navy version. I knew someone who 30-40 years ago was in the SBS. (Passed away a few years ago - natural causes). Just as skilled and brave as the SAS - but amphibious - trained for all environments.
The BvS10 Viking, Which is that tracked vehicle that you saw pulling them on skies is indeed amphibious, it can go through flooded areas and coastal waters, so that lake probably would have been doable.
It replaced an older version of the vehicle known as the BV-206, which you can find for sale by companies that sell old military vehicles. I know of a few civilian companies who bought them as they needed the platforms for particular work such as construction. Fun fact about the 206 is it has a low ground pressure, at around 8psi, this is brilliant for people who don't want the ground destroyed by its movements (and another reason some companies buy these)
Don't forget we still protect the Falklands down near the Antarctic. This training was useful when they were outside for days during that conflict. Nana Karen UK
When they said vehicles under the ice, they also mean things like land rovers that have fallen through
Not sure if this is just UK and Norway, but NATO run similar exercises so that all NATO countries can fight as one team. like the Nordic response and the arctic challenge exercise that's coming up this year
Fun fact 'forty below is the same temperature in celcius and fahrenheit
Towing the troops means quicker deployment, it takes time to put skis on
The vehicle looks like the Bandwagn 200, it's fully amphibious (there's a wiki article)
The major powers' race to the Arctic has already begun. In fact, it started already during the Cold War, and during the WW2, Britain, France and Germany competed in, which country would invade and occupy Norway first, and then further on gain control over mineral mines in the Nordics. The Britain's plan to accomplish that was called as 'Plan R 4'. Later on there were E.g. Arctic convoys sailing via several seas of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. In all, numerous Arctic campaigns took place during the WW2.
first thing i did from School was join as a junior at 16.
the Arctic training hasnt changed a lot by the looks of it. the equipment looks a bit better.
the diver at the beach landing is looking for obstacles and mines, bobby-traps etc. the obstacles could be natural or man-made.
When I did my first AWT the Pussers Planks were scaffold boards. LOL
@@martinbootneck i dont think they were much better in the 80s. i wasnt paying attention but imagine they are lightweight carbon now.
" ... it's not an environment where you would expect to be fighting a war ... ".
Except that you've currently got an incoming President who is openly talking about taking over Greenland, Danish sovereign territory, and NATO members, by military force if necessary.
As a Canadian, we know the magic spot -40F = --40C....typically in Alberta we'd have a couple of weeks of it each winter. So, the Canadian Armed Forces has a base in the far north, Ellesmere Island, Alert is the name of the place; military go there from other countries for winter training. Its' part of Norad, the combined US and Canadian patrol of Canada's north, to ensure other countries aren't encroaching onto our land, very important especially in the current political environment.
Bet Canada pulls out of that agreement whilst the clown Trump is president.
My first arctic training back in ’92 was in Canada. It was ok whilst on the move but as soon as you were digging in for the night it was hell on earth.😡🏴🇬🇧
I hate biting insects but they love me. Arctic Circle sounds perfect.
I getting bitten to shit too.
And then I'm allergic to their bites for extra fun. A bite on my hand turns all my fingers to sausages.
You won't like it in the Summer! I spent three Summers in the '80s and the mozzie swarms were so thick that you had to wear a face veil to avoid choking on the number of insects you'd breathe in :(
@@Pajaholic Very true. Midges are a pain in the arse.
@@chrisjones7236 yeah i have had blisters full of nasty stuff, I take antihistamines before I go camping or hiking etc makes it more bearable
@@Pajaholic ...ruin your dinner that will
Those vehicles do float, they’re amphibious
I just wanted to say I really enjoyed your video of your snow day! The three of you had a ball! xx
Thanks Lannie, the snows been a lot of fun. Sophia loves the cold and would probably be content in year round winter, I on the other hand am already ready for spring. 🤣
Part of the RM training is to jump fully clothed into ice water through a hole cut into the ice and climb out by themselves.
RM Commandos are not like US Marines, the hints in the name ‘commando’
The same guys along with the paras that undertook the Falkland war to regain the island and not
forgetting South Georgia - a topic well looking into as that was an epic task.
For desert warfare check out the SAS’s battle for Mirbat in Oman outnumbered by at least 50 to one
America has a massive base on Iceland and do training there all the time!
Do you mean they have a base there? Xxx
How much did the bass weigh? 🤔
I can't quite put my finger on it but there's something a bit fishy about this comment.
The caterpillar tracked vehicle is a "snowcat" being in the second part of the vehicle as it ascends a hill then tips over the top is fun
The vehicles can be trucks/cars that traveled over frozen lakes and went through the ice
Another great program that is definitely worth a watch is Guy Martin with the Royal Marines in Northern Norway. He stayed at the purpose built camp that they now have up there and went out with them on their various exercises, it's a recent one and Highly recommended 👌👌
That does sound interesting.
The diver is doing a recky (recon) on the beach to make sure it's suitable for the landing craft, basically. Also if you crash a vehicle all you have to do is burn it and pretend the vehicle never existed, it's easier to do that than try to get it out of the snow etc.
More harsh environment? well, if you're cold you can put on more layers get by a fire or heater to warm yourself up. If you're in a desert and you're hot, there isn't really too much you can do about it. Also if you crash a vehicle all
True but I served in the desert in combat and while it's harsh AF during the day it's chilly AF at night.
Still, I'm going to take the desert over the Arctic anyday, although with the early SA80s it was a cnut of a pain in the arse. I never missed my SLR as much😢
@@vinnyganzano1930 Yeah the SA80 was so bad, I still can't believe how much they spent on pointless hand grips for them. The nickname for the SA80 should have been Jam.
11:48 - Yes, the Viking Armoured vehicles ARE fully amphibious (they can operate from -46°C to +49°C, so Arctic to fierce Desert). The BV206s used for transport are also fully amphibious. These are Marines, remember.
(Edit that's -51°F to 120°F)
If you really want to know what the Royal Marine do in the Arctic theres a two episode show available on TH-cam called Guy Martin Arctic Warrior he goes through the Royal Marines Arctic warfare training it very good.
I'll leave a link Part 1 th-cam.com/video/eOEkQEumK54/w-d-xo.htmlsi=485G7k1_6Ud6W1cl
When it gets to -40C it will also be -40F. This makes conversions easier. Plus 40 to a temperature then multiply by 9 over 5 or 5 over 9 depending on which way you are converting, then remove 40 from the answer, saves all the hassle with the other formula.
There are a lot of minerals as well as oil in the Arctic. The US has Alaska as its nearest landmass that is why they are keen to acquire full access to Greenland in order to protect their access to the new sea routes. Canada and the new sea passages that are opening up is in a prime position to exploit this bounty.
Training should be completed in the most arduous or environments, because being able to operate independently in those conditions over extended periods is vital. Norway and the Arctic are good representations of large parts of northern Europe. Since WW2, UK forces worked behind enemy lines in Norway and have come to rely on our relationship with Norway in sharing survival and warfare training. They also given us a rather nice Christmas tree each year as a thank you, which is nice ;-)😅
There is a movie called 'Heroes of Telemark'. It's based on a real life mission that occured in Norway during the second world war. So cold weather training is something that they need.
The Viking all terrain vehicles are amphibious. They're perfect for operations in that environment because they can safely drive over frozen lakes and rivers and even if they break through drag themselves out using either their tracks or the winches mounted on them. They're not very fast in water but honestly they're not particularly fast on land either. They will go almost anywhere and are pretty well armoured speed is a very distant third to mobility and protection.
I love watching the military training, I did consider the Royal Navy as a career when I was starting out, as an alternative to nursing, just in case that didn’t work out. I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket! I’m cancerian, I love water 😂😂
Two of my favourite detachments were spent in northern Norway in the early 80's winter survival training, I now live in Canada LOL
Love your vids guys. Just to say the reason for UK troops in Norway. Norway has a border with Russia... Its NATO's northern flank. Also, Norway has a lot of oil/resources ... need I go on 😁
Just watched this video is making me feel cold! 😂
The crossover temperature is -40^ (this is the same actual warmth/cold in degC & degF). Keep Reacting!
You don’t only go to war in fine weather, that’s the purpose of this training. 40 knots is around 47mph
Always excited to see you guys. .. The military train in all of the different climates , arctic, jungle dessert etc.. I suppose the arctic is to train for possible wars in siberian russia x
The lowest temperatures recorded in Norway was −51.4 °C (−60.5 °F) with highs of 35.6 °C (96.1 °F).
😮
That cold has to be brutal.
Just look at the winter in Ukraine at the moment and you’ll see why we train in cold weather.
Look at how the Finns fought in WW2, you can absolutely move on skis in a war situation
There is a famous area in Cornwall called Commando Ridge. It is a tough rugged terrain that is constantly weather beaten. It has been used by British commandos to train since WW2. There is a really good 20 minute video on here of a climber teaming with a former member of the MLs (Mountain Leader) branch to traverse the area spliced in between an interview with him just giving his thoughts on the training and his mindset of being a commando. Might be something you'd enjoy seeing
"The Secret Unit Better Than Special Forces"
That does sound like something I'd like to check out. Thanks for the suggestion.
This is not exclusive to the Royal marines. Some US marines train in Alaska as well, though their training isn't quite the same as for the Royal marines. There is also a video of some of these US Marines being trained by the Royal marines in Norway. Either way, Alaska, or Norway it is pretty chilly there in the winter months!
Why should it surprise you that the marines train inside the Arctic Circle. Britain is a major member of NATO and there are multiple NATO members that have territory inside the Arctic Circle including the USA your Neighbour Canada. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and a small part of Iceland all have territory inside the Arctic Circle. A lot of WWII took place within the Arctic Circle, read about the Arctic Conveys that went up around the north of Norway and Sweden to supply Russia. The fighting that went on within the Arctic Circle, initially between Finland and Russia. There were others en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Arctic_military_operations_of_World_War_II
The USMC are soldiers who travel by ship, the Royal Marines are a commando force. They train to operate and fight behind enemy lines, at the tip of the spear, anywhere in the world against any foe,in any environment. They can infiltrate, sabotage, eliminate, recon for follow on forces, or anything else that they are tasked with.
YES the VIKING FIGHTING VEHICLE is FULLY AMPHIBIOUS aswell as ALL TERRAIN
The Viking armoured vehicle, and the units it pulls are fully able to float. it is a true all terrain vehicle. It can even be used in open sea water, but with very little surface disturbance, so 6 ft waves would most likely sink it, but all Fiords, rivers, and streams, it can cross without problems.
Train hard, fight easy. British forces' doctrine.
I living actually quite near the training area honestly so when the Soldiers are on leave / or having a break to be free to explore cities .. I could meet some Soldiers if I am lucky
You said that you didn't think wars could take place in such conditions. A lot of WW2 took place in very North European places such as Norway, Finland and Archangel/Arkhangelsk in Russia. As well as a lot of the armed forces dying, people from the merchant navy also died trying to transport food . The Arctic Convoys (78 in total) from the UK took food and other supplies to Murmansk and Archanagel to our allies in Russia. Other participants in the Arctic Convoys as well as the British Navy and British Merchant Navy were the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Navy. At the time, of course, not only did they have the weather to contend with, they also had to deal with U boats (submarines), torpedoes and sea mines as well as being shot at from battleships and from the air.
Many soldiers from the UK died in Norway in WW2 and fought in extremely cold conditions. No doubt many Germans would also have died in the same conflict.
This is why warmongering is not tolerated in Europe, we have had enough of it and do not want it any more, regardless as to which side we were on in WW1 and WW2.
I'm guessing, if you look at the rocks creating the 'beach', they need to check for preventing damage to the hulls of the boats etc, especially if no lights are allowed in the dark...all touch?
Guys, some British troops train in freezing cold conditions as well as steamy hot jungles, so that no matter where war breaks out, they won't have to go there and be shot like sitting ducks because they were shocked by the conditions.
Maybe it's part of the history of us having an empire which covered all types of climate, so they needed to be ready.
You've probably seen videos about all the countries Britain has invaded through history, but in some cases they got a big shock as local 'warriors' defeated them at first because our soldiers were not used to extreme conditions.
This is partly why we have learned from experience to be ready for all environments
It's Nato Northern Border. Royal Marines have operated since the 2nd World War.
My father n law was trained by a Royal Marine before he went to China-Burma in WW2(1st Lt US Army OSS) Hand to Hand combat
The cold weather conditions in the northern hemisphere is far more tougher than the desert because as humans have lived in deserts for hundreds of thousands of years where we have spent less time in the northern climates as a species
As WW2 showed half the year can be fought in freezing snowy conditions eg: Stalingrad Battle of the Bulge etc:
Too Cold .. British forces .. the best .
The Viking vehicles are amphibious and can do about 5mph in water.
Uk special forces train in Wales because its the most miserable environment in the world. The SAS don't mind the the hot desert or the Artic because the weather is constant, hot and dry or cold and dry. In Brecon Wales its wet cold and soul destroying..
I spent christmas & new years on the arctic circle, in my home town. -20 for the most part, it's not that bad, just need to get used to it.
You are confusing US Marines with Royal Marines, they are not the same. Every Royal Marine is a Commando, that is part of the Commando training you are watching.
Do commandos not wear underpants? They're gonna see that!
I imagine the divers are checking that the landing zone is suitable -- no submerged mines or jagged rocks or other obstacles that will rip up the rubber inflatable boats.
Check out American and British soldiers taught to survive winter conditions in Finland. We have quite a long border with Putin's playground and we have the history with Russia. That is why we host lot of training sessions for other Nato countries.
Remember how far north the UK already is. I live in the English West Midlands, and I'm already at 52-and-a-half North latitude; my memory may be faulty, but I think Shetland in the far north of Scotland may be 58 North.
The Arctic Circle is only 66-and-two-thirds North! Another commenter has suggested that we are only 250 miles from it, and that may be right. And we haven't forgotten that, although we tried to help the Norwegians, Germany successfully invaded Norway in 1940.
I don't mind the cold, there's only so many layers you can take off during the heat
You might be interested to know that the Minnesota National Guard also has an exchange program with the Norwegian Army for training.
They train also in Canada during winter. Normally this is the tanks training.
No he's talking about people that for sport that they drive cars onto the ice and race them ,but sometimes the ice gives way
Norway shares a land border with Russia so of course our military need to be able to function in this area.Very brave men.
The tracked vehicle is Swedish-made. And yes, you can drive it in water.
They didn`t show the cutting a large rectangular hole in the ice over a lake and then they have to jump in pared down with barely any clothes on, and swimming across and pulling themselves out at the other end. they then get to go in the all terrain vehicle with a towel to dry off and warm up....sometimes done with skis!
The divers recce the landing site for depth, obstacle's etc. Had to break the ice many times in the Baltic before diving🥶 ex Saper Diver.