Allied Forces North Norway (NON) was a NATO command tasked with the defense of Northern Norway. NON's area of responsibility covered the three northernmost counties of Norway:

Nordland Nordland (; smj, Nordlánnda, sma, Nordlaante, sme, Nordlánda, en, Northland) is a county in Norway in the Northern Norway region, the least populous of all 11 counties, bordering Troms og Finnmark in the north, Trøndelag in the south, N ...

, Troms and Finnmark, as well as the adjacent sea territory. It formed part of

Allied Forces Northern Europe Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) was the northern Major Subordinate Command of NATO's Allied Command Europe (ACE), located at Kolsås outside Oslo. In the case of war with the Soviet Union, AFNORTH would assume supreme command of all Allie ...

History

Allied Forces North Norway (NON) was activated in 1962 along with Allied Forces South Norway (SONOR) and Allied Forces Baltic Approaches. Unlike most other NATO commands NON was a staffed entirely by members of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Its operational headquarters was located in a bunker at Reitan, which today is used as the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. The commander of NON had three deputies: Commander Land Forces North Norway, Commander Air Forces North Norway and Commander Naval Forces North Norway. Each of the three deputies commanded the Norwegian units of his service branch based in . Incoming allied units would have come under the command of these three deputy commanders.

Structure in 1989

NON had the following units at its disposal to fight an attack by the Soviet Union's 6th Army: * Allied Forces North Norway (NON), commanded by a Norwegian lieutenant general:

Commander Naval Forces North Norway

Naval Forces North Norway (NAVNON) was tasked with the defence of Northern Norway's coastal waters against Soviet naval incursions and amphibious landings. Operations in the ocean beyond Norway's coastal waters were under the command of NATO

Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic The Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) was one of two supreme commanders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the other being the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The SACLANT led Allied Command Atlantic was based at ...

's (SACLANT) Northern Sub-Area Command (NORLANT). Therefore NAVNON consisted of coastal artillery units and one fast attack craft squadron. The boats for the fast attack craft squadron were dispatched from units in Southern Norway on a rotational basis. * Commander Naval Forces North Norway (NAVNON), commanded by a Norwegian

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

: ** Olavsvern Naval Base near Tromsø *** 22nd

Fast Attack Craft A fast attack craft (FAC) is a small, fast, agile, offensive, often affordable warship armed with anti-ship missiles, gun or torpedoes. FACs are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the seakeeping and all-round defensive ...

Squadron ** Ramsund Naval Base near

Narvik ( se, Áhkanjárga) is the third-largest municipality in Nordland county, Norway, by population. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Narvik. Some of the notable villages in the municipality include Ankenesstranda, Ball ...

** Sortland Naval Base in Sortland ** Coastal Artillery ***

county: **** Bremnes Fortress in

Bodø Bodø (; smj, Bådåddjo, sv, Bodö) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Bodø (which is also the capital of Nordland count ...

**** Ofotfjord defenses to protect

***** Korshamn Torpedo Battery in Ballangen ***** Porsøy Torpedo Battery in Ballangen ***** Nes Fort in Lødingen with 2x 120mm Tornautomatpjäs m/70 automatic guns ***** Tjeldøy Fort in Tjeldsund *** Troms county: **** Andfjorden defenses to protect Harstad ***** Sandsøy Fort on Sandsøya ***** Meløyvær Fortress on Krøttøya with 3x 120mm Tornautomatpjäs m/70 automatic guns ***** Skrolsvik Fort in

Skrollsvika Skrolsvik or Skrollsvika is a village on the southwestern tip of the island of Senja in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. The village is located in Senja Municipality Senja is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. It was establi ...

*****

Trondenes Fort Trondenes Fort is a fort situated on the Trondenes peninsula in the municipality of Harstad in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. It is located about north of the town of Harstad. The fort has been the main base for the Norwegian Coastal Ranger ...

in Harstad *****

Grøtavær Grøtavær is a coastal fishing village in Harstad Municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. It is located on the western part of the island of Grytøya, along the Andfjorden, about northwest of the village of Lundenes Lundenes is a v ...

Fort on Grytøya *****

Stangnes Stangnes is part of the town of Harstad within Harstad Municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is located on a small peninsula southeast of the city center, on the south and east sides of the ''Gansåsen'' hill. The neighborhood is bordered by ...

Fort in Harstad **** Malangen Fjord and Gisundet defenses, covering the Northern entry of the Andfjorden *****

Malangen Malangen ( sme, Málatvuotna or fkv, Malankivuono) is a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. The municipality existed from 1871 until its dissolution in 1964. The old municipality surrounded the Malangen fjord and today that a ...

Torpedo Battery in Tennskjær ***** Rødbergodden Fort in Aglapsvik ***** Gibostad Fort in Gibostad ***** Skorliodden Fort in Vangshamn **** Tromsø defenses ***** Grøtsund Fort covering the Northern side of Tromsø ***** Breiviknes Fort in Ramfjordbotn with 3x 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns covering the Northern entry of the Grøtsundet and the Ullsfjorden ***** Årøybukt Fort in Lyngseidet with 3x 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns to defend the Lyngenfjord

Commander Air Forces North Norway

* Commander Air Forces North Norway (AIRNON), commanded by a Norwegian major general: ** Control and Reporting Centre Sørreisa managed by the 131st Air Wing ** Bodø Air Station *** 132nd Air Wing **** 331st Fighter/Bomber Squadron with 18x

F-16A The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful ...

**** 334th Fighter/Bomber Squadron with 18x F-16A **** 719th Transport Squadron with 3x DHC-6 Twin Otter and 6x UH-1B **** Norwegian Adapted Hawk air-defense battery with 3x Hawk launchers and 3x 40mm L/70 radar-guided anti-aircraft guns **** Search and Rescue Detachment from the 330th Helicopter Squadron with 2x Sea King Mk43 **

Bardufoss Air Station Bardufoss Air Station ( no, Bardufoss flystasjon) is a military air station located at Bardufoss in Målselv Municipality in Troms og Finnmark county in Northern Norway. It is the location of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) 139 Air Wing and ...

*** 139th Air Wing **** 337th Helicopter Squadron with 6x Lynx Mk.86 **** 339th Helicopter Squadron with 12x

Bell 412 The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. Design and development Development began in the ...

**** Norwegian Adapted Hawk air-defense battery with 3x Hawk launchers and 3x 40mm L/70 radar-guided anti-aircraft guns **

Andøya Air Station Andøya Air Station ( no, Andøya Flystasjon) is a military air station in Andøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The station is located near the village of Andenes at the northern end of the island of Andøya in the Vesterålen archip ...

*** 133rd Air Wing **** 333rd Squadron with 6x P-3C Orion **** Norwegian Adapted Hawk air-defense battery with 3x Hawk launchers and 3x 40mm L/70 radar-guided anti-aircraft guns **

Banak Air Station Station Group Banak ( no, Stasjonsgruppe Banak), formerly Banak Air Station (), is a military airbase located at Banak, just north of Lakselv in Porsanger in Troms og Finnmark, Norway. Operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), it serve ...

*** Search and Rescue Detachment from the 330th Helicopter Squadron with 2x Sea King Mk43 ** Norwegian Adapted Hawk air-defense battery with 3x Hawk launchers and 3x 40mm L/70 radar-guided anti-aircraft guns at Evenes Air Station to defend the vital airport and harbor at

Commander Land Forces North Norway

* Commander Land Forces North Norway (LANDNON), commanded by a Norwegian major general: ** 6th Division in Harstad *** Brigade North Norway in Bardufoss (Active unit) **** Brigade Staff Company in Heggelia **** 1st Armored Infantry Battalion in Setermoen with 26 Leopard 1 tanks, 29x

NM135 The NM135 Stormpanservogn is a Norwegian tracked light armoured vehicle (LAV). It is variant of the American M113 armoured personnel carrier (APC), armed with a 20mm cannon in a rotating turret. Developed by the Norwegian Army in the 1980s, it ...

infantry fighting vehicles **** 2nd Infantry Battalion in

Øverbygd Øverbygd is a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. The municipality existed from 1925 until its dissolution in 1964. It was located in what is now the eastern part of Målselv Municipality, stretching from the border with Sweden in ...

with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x

M106 mortar carrier The M106 mortar carrier (full designation: Carrier, Mortar, 107 mm, Self-propelled) was a tracked, self-propelled artillery vehicle in service with the United States Army. It was designed to provide artillery support to mechanized infantry battal ...

s **** 3rd Infantry Battalion in Harstad with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x M106 mortar carriers **** Field Artillery Battalion in Setermoen with 18x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers **** Reconnaissance Squadron in Øverbygd with 3x

infantry fighting vehicles **** Anti-tank Missile Company in Setermoen with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanks **** Anti-Aircraft Battery in Heggelia with 6x NM195 anti-air missile vehicles and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns **** Engineer Company in Øverbygd **** Mounted Squadron in Øverbygd with pack horses **** Signal Company in Heggelia **** Supply Company in Heggelia **** Transport Company in Heggelia **** Maintenance Company in Heggelia **** Medical Company in Setermoen **** Artillery Observation Platoon in Setermoen with 2x Cessna O-1A planes **** Military Police Platoon in Heggelia *** Brigade 14 ( Norwegian Home Guard District 14 mobilization unit) in Mosjøen **** 1st Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars **** 2nd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars **** 3rd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars **** Field Artillery Battalion with 24x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers **** Reconnaissance Squadron with 3x

infantry fighting vehicles **** Anti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanks **** Anti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70

man-portable air-defense system Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS or MPADS) are portable surface-to-air missiles. They are guided weapons and are a threat to low-flying aircraft, especially helicopters. Overview MANPADS were developed in the 1950s to provide military ...

s and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns **** Engineer Company *** Brigade 15 (Norwegian Home Guard District 15 and Norwegian Home Guard District 16 mobilization unit) in Bardu **** 1st Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars **** 2nd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars **** 3rd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars **** Field Artillery Battalion with 18x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers **** Reconnaissance Squadron with 3x

infantry fighting vehicles **** Anti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanks **** Anti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70 man-portable air-defense systems and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft guns **** Engineer Company **

Garnisonen i Sør-Varanger Garnisonen ("Garrison") is a city district in Linköping, which was previously the site of the two military units closed down in July 1997, Life Grenadier Regiment (I 4) and Svea Artillery Regiment (A 1). In 2000, the district was formed by d ...

(Active unit based at the Soviet-Norwegian border) in Høybuktmoen *** Varanger Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars *** Artillery Battery with 6x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers **

Garnisonen i Porsanger The Garrison of Porsanger ( no, Garnisonen i Porsanger), based at Porsangmoen in Porsanger, located in the Norwegian county of Finnmark 18 km from the city of Lakselv. The garrison is located immediately adjacent to Halkavarre, the largest m ...

(Active unit) in Porsangmoen *** Porsanger Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars *** Tank Company with 13x Leopard 1 tanks *** Artillery Battery with 6x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers ** Hålogaland Engineer Battalion ** Hålogaland Signal Battalion ** Hålogaland Medical Battalion ** Bjerkvik Maintenance Workshop ** Norwegian Home Guard District 14 Sør-Hålogaland – Mosjøen and Vefsn (Home Guard in Southern

) ** Norwegian Home Guard District 15 Nord-Hålogaland in

Elvegårdsmoen Elvegårdsmoen is a military training camp site in the municipality of Narvik in Nordland Nordland (; smj, Nordlánnda, sma, Nordlaante, sme, Nordlánda, en, Northland) is a county in Norway in the Northern Norway region, the least popul ...

and Bjerkvik (Home Guard in Northern

) ** Norwegian Home Guard District 16 Troms in Bardu (Home Guard in Troms) ** Norwegian Home Guard District 17 Vest-Finnmark in

Alta Alta or ALTA may refer to: Acronyms * Alt-A, short for Alternative A-paper, is a type of U.S. mortgage * American Land Title Association, a national trade association representing the land title industry * American Literary Translators Associatio ...

(Home Guard in Western Finnmark county) *** Alta Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars *** Artillery Battery with 6x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers ** Norwegian Home Guard District 18 Øst-Finnmark in Høybuktmoen (Home Guard in Eastern Finnmark) *** Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars

Reinforcements

NON would have been reinforced by the following Norwegian units from Allied Forces South Norway: * Brigade 5 (Norwegian Home Guard District 5 mobilization unit) in

Terningmoen Terningmoen is a military camp (or base) in Elverum in Norway. The base trains and houses parts of the Norwegian Army such as: * His Majesty the Kings's Guard ( HMKG) (First two months of service) * Norwegian Home Guard HV-05 (district 5 of the Ho ...

in Eastern Norway, equipment pre-positioned in Northern Norway ** 1st Infantry Battalion ** 2nd Infantry Battalion ** 3rd Infantry Battalion ** Field Artillery Battalion with M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers ** Reconnaissance Squadron ** Anti-tank Missile Company ** Anti-Aircraft Battery ** Engineer Company ** Artillery Observation Platoon with 2x Cessna O-1A planes *

Brigade 6 Brigade 6 is an inactive Norwegian Infantry Brigade. Upon mobilization of the Norwegian Army, this Infantry Brigade was under the command of the 6th Division of the Norwegian Army. The 6th Division was commissioned in 1933 to establish a field ...

(Norwegian Home Guard District 6 mobilization unit) in Hønefoss in Eastern Norway, equipment pre-positioned in Northern Norway ** 1st Infantry Battalion ** 2nd Infantry Battalion ** 3rd Infantry Battalion ** Field Artillery Battalion with M114 155mm towed howitzers ** Reconnaissance Squadron Bjugn Cave Facility in Norway

NATO would have planned to reinforce Allied Forces North Norway with 2–7 days with the following allied formations: * Allied Land Forces:https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP85S00316R000300040006-9.pdf ** Royal Navy:

3 Commando Brigade 3 Commando Brigade (3 Cdo Bde), previously called the 3rd Special Service Brigade, is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces. It is composed of the Royal Marine Commandos, alongside commando qualified sailors, soldiers and airmen f ...

including 1 Amphibious Combat Group and Whiskey Company of the

Netherlands Marine Corps The Netherlands Marine Corps ( nl, Korps Mariniers) is the elite naval infantry corps of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines trace their origins back to the establishment of the on 10 December 1665, by the then grand pensionary of the Dut ...

. The brigade trained annually in Northern Norway and had large stores of vehicles and supplies pre-positioned there. **

U.S. Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through comb ...

: the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade of the

II Marine Amphibious Force The II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force consisting of ground, air and logistics forces capable of projecting offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without external assistance for a ...

(also known as

Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade Stockpiles of United States Marine Corps weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other equipment have been located in Norway since 1981 as part of what is currently designated the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway (MCPP-N). This material is sto ...

(NALMEB)) had its equipment pre-positioned in eight purpose-built caves near the

Værnes Air Station Værnes Air Station ( no, Værnes flystasjon) is an air station of the Royal Norwegian Air Force located in the municipality of Stjørdal in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is co-located with Trondheim Airport, Værnes, which is owned and operated ...

in Trondheim in central Norway. The eight caves contained material for 15,000 troops and war stocks for 30 days. Three of the caves held ground equipment, three munitions and two held aviation support equipment for two air defense and two ground attack squadrons, as well as for 75 heavy transport and light support helicopters. Exercise Teamwork, held every two years during the 1980s, practiced reinforcement of Norway. After that point Exercise Battle Griffin was held in 1993 and 1996. * Allied Air Forces: ** United States Air Force: eight squadrons ** Royal Air Force: one squadron

U.S. Forces in Northern Norway

The US military maintained three small units in Northern Norway. * United States European Command ** United States Navy *** Fleet Hospital Support Facility 8, in Bogen to maintain the stored Fleet Hospital Eight ** US Coast Guard *** LORAN-C Transmitting Station Bø, in Bø *** LORAN-C Transmitting Station Jan Mayen, on Jan Mayen

References

{{Reflist

External links

*http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/modcwnorwegian.pdf - wargaming source with TOE details. Uncertain reliability. Formations of the NATO Military Command Structure 1952–1994 Military units and formations established in 1952 Military units and formations disestablished in 1994 Military history of Norway