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Weeks 37-38: Hectic in Kandahar
The Norwegian Armed Forces were asked to assist the Canadian field hospital in Kandahar and said yes. The medical personnel have had much more to do than what they are used to in quiet Mazar-e Sharif.
| | BREAK: The medics (from left) Erla, Thorild and Bent Salberg have busy days in Kandahar. Here they take a well-deserved break. (Photo by Fredrik Bøhn) |
At the Norwegian field hospital in North Afghanistan, things have so far been quiet. It is responsible for the ISAF forces, but has so far not seen any injured personnel. Between two and three patients need treatment every day in Kandahar.
2Down here in South Afghanistan, injured people are flown in throughout the day. It cannot be compared with Mazar-e Sharif," says Major Bent Salberg.
There to help allies
A NATO request to send the Norwegian quick reaction force (QRF) to South Afghanistan was rejected by the Norwegian Defence. This because the QRF should be used for its main mission: to support allies in case of emergencies.
| | RAPID REACTION: The QRF should react quickly to be able to help allies when needed. (Photo by Torbjørn Kjosvold) |
"The QRF in Mazar is supposed to help allies spread across North Afghanistan in case they need it. We therefore said no when ISAF asked us to use the force for a static guard mission in South Afghanistan," said the Chief of Defence Sverre Diesen.
Take-off for Orion
The Norwegian contribution to NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour, a P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft, took off toward Sicily on 15 September.
| | TOOK OFF: The Orion-plane took from Andøya air station and will stay on Sicilia until December. (Photo by Jørn Aune) |
"The crew is well motivated for this mission, and we are looking forward to spending time under the command of a new and international headquarter,2 said detachment commander Håvard Berg-Olsen.
The aircraft was on Sicily last year too, and NATO needed Orion to come back. The crew will stay on Sicily until 15 December.
Started tests of cargo ammunition
The scheduled testing of cargo ammunition started at Hjerkinn shooting range in week 37. About 350 grenades will be fired over the next four weeks.
Non governmental organisations have criticised the Armed Forces for using cargo ammunition. Their concern is the number of undetonated objects which are left after firing, causing problems for those that are to use the area afterwards.
The Armed Forces are now testing to see how many objects are left after shooting, and the government has set the maximum at one percent.
Successful test of missile
The new Norwegian frigate KNM Fridtjof Nansen fired the first Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) in the middle of September. All systems worked well, and the missile hit its target.
| | SUCCESSFUL: The first ESSM leaves the frigate. |
ESSM is a self defence missile, and is the result of cooperation between Norway and nine other countries. The first missile was produced in 2000, but this is the first time Norway has tested one.
Launched new plan
Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen launched a new directive on ethics, attitudes and management for the entire defence sector last Monday.
| | TRUST: The Chief of Defence and the Minister of Defence both agree that ethics is a prerequisite if they want the general public to have faith in them. (Photo by Vegard Breie) |
"I know that our employees take this seriously, but we have still seen some incidents which show that things are not like they should be. This action plan will create common values for the sector and kick-start a discussion," said the minister.
Cooperation at sea
The Russian coast guard trained together with the Norwegian in the Vestfjord outside Svolvær in week 37. The exercise showed the two forces worked well together despite the linguistical and cultural differences.
| | "FIRE": The Russian coast guard ship MGS Ural puts out a ficional fire on the Norwegian ship KV Kongsøy during the exercise. (Photo by John Espen Lien) |
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