Telemark Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Telemark Bataljon


caption=Insignia of the Telemark Battalion
country=Norway
allegiance=
type=Infantry
branch=Army
dates=1993-2002 and 2003-
specialization=Mechanised Infantry
command_structure=Hærens styrker
size=One battlegroup
current_commander=Lieutenant colonel
Rune Solberg
garrison=Rena
ceremonial_chief=HM The King
ceremonial_chief_label=Commander-in-Chief
nickname=
motto=
colors=Emerald green beret
march=
mascot=
battles=Bosnian War
Kosovo War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Karez
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The Telemark Bataljon (Telemark Battalion, TMBN) is an infantry unit of the Norwegian Army. It is one of the active units, and is part of the 6th Division, stationed at Rena. The battalion (strictly speaking a battlegroup) currently serves in the mechanized infantry role with two infantry companies, an armoured squadron, a combat engineer company and a combat service support squadron.

Established in 1993, the Telemark Battalion was a motorised infantry unit, tasked as an Immediate Reaction Force with the Norwegian Army, stationed at Heistadmoen in southern Norway, manned mainly by conscripts. Following the unit's experiences in Bosnia, it was decided to reform the battalion into an all volunteer unit. The battalion was moved to a new camp at Rena and converted to mechanised infantry. Presented with its new colours in 2002, the Telemark Battalion was operational on July 1 2003. The unit first saw combat when it engaged hostile forces in Afghanistan in May 2008. [ [http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2448302.ece Telemark Battalion in new combat with Taliban] , Aftenposten, 27 May 2008 en icon]

Organization

*Armoured Squadron - the armoured squadron is the battalion's main strike weapon. It has a Headquarters troop and three tank troops, with a total of thirteen tanks assigned. The armoured squadron's main equipment is the Leopard 2 main battle tank.
*Mechanised Infantry Company 3 - the infantry company is organised along similar lines to the armoured squadron, with an HQ platoon and three rifle platoons. The company is equipped with the CV90/30 infantry fighting vehicle. however, as infantry, the soldiers of this company can get to areas that are inaccessible to both MBTs and IFVs, with the consequence that it is the most flexible unit.
*Mechanised Infantry Company 4 - A second Mech Inf-company was established in August 2006. This company is equipped with SISU XA-203's. It also has a sniper squad.
*Field Artillery Battery - artillery support is provided by Battery Piraja of the Army's Artillery Battalion. This is equipped primarily with the M109 SPG.
*Combat Engineer Company - the engineers company has three platoons, each with a different task:
**Combat Engineer Platoon - this is the ordinary engineers unit, equipped with the M113 vehicle to directly support the infantry and armour.
**Special Armoured Platoon - this is equipped with various armoured engineers vehicles, including bridgelayers and mine clearance vehicles.
**Staff Support Platoon - this contains the company HQ, as well as divers, explosive ordnance disposal and NBC clearance.
*Staff Support Company - this is the battalion's support unit, and consists of six platoons:
**HQ Platoon - this runs the battalion's communications and information systems.
**Armoured Reconnaissance Troop - this is equipped with the CV90/30 in the armoured reconnaissance role.
**Armoured Mortar Platoon - the battalion's heavy mortar capability.
**Forward Air Controller and Fire Direction Platoon - this allows heavy fire to be directed in support of the battalion's other assets, not only from the battalion's mortars, but also from artillery and air support.
**Armoured Medical Platoon - this is the battalion's forward medical aid unit, equipped with armoured ambulances and an armoured aid post.
**Logistic Platoon - this supports the battalion through fuel, ammunnition and food supply, as well as transport and recovery.

The Telemark Battalion was one of the infantry battalions assigned to the NATO Response Force during the NRF-4 rotation from January to July 2005; the others were Regiment Johan Willem Friso and Regiment Van Heutsz of the Dutch Army and Fallschirmjägerbataillon 373 of the German Army.

As an élite unit, the Telemark Battalion wears a different coloured beret to the majority of the rest of the army - couloured emerald green.

Telemark Battalion is one of the Norwegian military's most sought after capabilities.

International Service

* 1997–1999: SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina
* 1999–2002: KFOR in Kosovo
* 2003: in Iraq
* 2003–2004: Kabul in Afghanistan
* 2005–2006: Kabul in Afghanistan
* 2006: Mazar-E-Sharif in Afghanistan
* 2006–2007: Meymaneh in Afghanistan
* 2008: Camp Nidaros in Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan

Notes

External links

* [http://www.mil.no/haren/tmbn/start/;jsessionid=Q3TTUSOOL22KLFOUN3NCFEQ?_requestid=2182579 Norwegian Army page on Telemark Battalion (in Norwegian)]
* [http://www.1gnc.de/hq%20magazine/2004/spring/PR01-06-Telemark%20Bn.pdf Article on Telemark Battalion from 1(GE/NL) Corps website] (dead link)