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Forsvarets Spesialkommando

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Forsvarets Spesialkommando
File:FSK-HJK-logo.gif
Forsvarets Spesialkommando Insignia
Active1982- current
CountryNorway Norway
BranchNot assigned
TypeSpecial operations forces
RoleSpecial Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SR)
Direct Action (DA)
Military assistance (MA)
Collateral Activities (CA)
Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR)
SizeClassified
Garrison/HQRena leir
EngagementsBosnian war
Kosovo war
2001 Macedonia conflict
Operation Essential Harvest[1]
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Anaconda
Operation Jacana
Uzbin Valley ambush (after action only)
Decorations  Army Presidential Unit Citation

Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK, en. Armed Forces' Special Command) is a special operations forces unit of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. The unit was established in 1982[citation needed] due to the increased risk of terrorist activity against Norwegian interests, including[2] the oil platforms in the North Sea.

History

FSK was first[citation needed] officially revealed to the media after the military's comments regarding the hijacking of an airplane at Fornebu in September 1993.

Outside of Norway

Kosovo

The FSK and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) cooperated in various ways during the Kosovo conflict.[3] FSK / HJK was the first[citation needed] special forces unit to enter Pristina. The HJK's mission was to level the negotiating field between the belligerent parties, and to fine-tune the detailed, local deals needed to implement the peace deal between the Serbians and the Kosovo Albanians.[4]

Claims have been made, that the FSK could not have avoided witnessing war crimes perpetrated by the KLA, given that the FSK were closely monitoring/cooperating with the KLA.[3] Questions asked in connection with FSK's activities, include "How well informed was the Norwegian government about the cooperation between KLA and FSK? ... Did we help criminals get in to power?"[3]

Afghanistan

FSK soldiers during Operation Anaconda
FSK during training in the Oslofjord, entring a ferry by telescopic ladder
FSK during training in the Oslofjord, entering a ferry by telescopic ladder
FSK during training in the Oslofjord

FSK supported U.S. Special Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. They have had missions in the Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of South Afghanistan[5]

FSK has co-operated with other special forces such as the British SAS, Delta Force and DEVGRU of US Special Operations Command and KSK of Germany.[citation needed]

Organization

In 2003, the unit was claimed to consist of about 100 commandos.[6][n 1] (These individual commandos are referred to by various names in the Norwegian media, including kommandosoldat, spesialsoldat and spesialjeger.)

Chain of command

Above the FSK's Commanding Officer, the chain of command includes the Ministry of Defence. The unit commander reports directly to GIH (generalinspektøren for hæren).[7] There is at least one reference claiming the existence of a Chief of special forces (sjefen for spesialstyrkene)[n 2][8]

Relationship with HJK

HJK (Hærens Jegerkommando) and FSK have at times (if not today) shared a Commanding Officer.[n 3][9]

FSK and HJK share training facilities at the military base (Rena leir), where both units are headquartered.

The term "FSK/HJK"

The term "FSK/HJK" is in use.[10][11] FSK/HJK are claimed to be a special force(s) ("en spesialstyrke").[12] FSK/HJK are also claimed to be responsible for preparing/training soldiers for service in spesialjegerkommandoen and fallskjermjegertroppen[13]

HJK received its name in 1997, and records are lacking regarding any subsequent change of the unit's name. Records of FSK, being incorporated into another unit, are also lacking.

FSK/HJK is the name of any task force convened, consisting of the two different units, FSK and HJK.

FSK and HJK, have the capabilities of sharing logistics, training facilities and other resources, including mailing address[14] and e-mail address.[15]

General tasks

In peacetime they are a support element to the Norwegian Police force and law enforcement agencies in allied nations, acting when requested by the Norwegian Police force or the Ministry of Justice and Public Security in serious incidents like hostage situations and aircraft hijacking. During counter-terrorist operations, the commandos are trained to kill their opponents, rather[citation needed] than trying to arrest them.

In wartime, their tasks are mainly:

  • to gather intelligence
  • to localize and identify enemy supplies and activity
  • to carry out offensive operations against very important targets
  • to provide support to rescue missions involving important personnel
  • to provide protection to personnel and departments.

Selection

Soldiers from any branch of the Norwegian military, can be selected to join FSK. Conscripts can not apply[citation needed] for FSK selection.

Previously, the FSK only accepted applicants who had served as a conscript in either Marinejegerkommandoen or HJK.

Training

Candidates for FSK will go through some of the toughest Norwegian military training.

FSK-officers are claimed to receive training at Long Range Reconnaissance School in Germany.[16]

Criticism of the training

Parachute landings on oil platforms in the North Sea

Testimony in court and in the media indicates that training previously included parachute landings on helicopter landing-pads related to oil platforms.[17][18] The SAS (special forces from Britain) considered such as suicide missions.[18]

"Sitting duck" exercises

In the past, the training has included "sitting duck" exercises, where a soldier had to sit still while live rounds were fired, missing the soldier's head by only a few centimeters.[17][19] The stated purpose of the exercise, if any, is lacking from records.

Comments made about the exercise include "There probably is a reason why one does not conduct this exercise today."[n 4][20]

Controversies

Psychological follow-up

Claims have been made, that professional psychological help for traumatized FSK-soldiers, has not been adequate (and sometimes not reasonably available).[21]

Knut Braa has said that in 2002, FSK soldiers who saw combat were not being debriefed adequately.[22] (Pål Herlofsen was (then) in charge of the "psychological follow-up" of the soldiers.[23])

Dagens Næringsliv asked in 2003, if it is a problem that soldiers are prohibited from talking about their experiences during their service for FSK, due to confidentiality (taushetsplikt). Minister of Defence Kristin Krohn Devold replied that "they are not prohibited from discussing their experiences and feelings (opplevelser) during therapy with civilian therapists."

Safety violations

During a FSK training mission a former commando of USA (Kevin Thilgman), died in 2010 when their boat capsized at a speed above 50 knots.[24] A number of safety procedures had been violated, when the "newly"[24] acquired boat was being demonstrated without testing being completed in advance.

Former members

Former commanding officers of FSK include:

Weapons

Various types of weapons used by FSK:

Vehicles

  • Geländewagen/MB270 CDI FAV vehicle armoured and EOD protected with 3 weaponstations (2 MG3 and 1 M2 or GMG). Developed in 2002 and later modernized. Used in operation Anaconda. Lot of space and mounts for equipment and communication.

In fiction

In The Redeemer, part of the Harry Hole detective series, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Oslo Police is taken over by Gunnar Hagen, a veteran of the FSK, whose military style of leadership causes some frictions with the independently-minded protagonist of the series. In one episode of the book, Hagen brings in a sniper from the FSK who shoots and kills a criminal whom Hole wanted to capture alive, and it later turns out to have been a completely innocent man killed by mistake.

FSK is one of 12 different special operations units available to players in the multiplayer part of Medal of Honor: Warfighter.

FSK is featured in a mission in the singleplayer campaign of World in Conflict, where they assist the player in retrieving the crew and intel of a crashed American stealth bomber inside the Soviet Union.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ A previous claim of 40 commandos, as of 2001, with a future increase of 50 % regarding the number of soldiers, was forecast (lacking a timeframe) in the enclosed reference: http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=9958374 Template:WebCite
  2. ^ Colonel Torgeir Gråtrud was Chief of special forces as of October 17, 2007
  3. ^ The Commanding Officer for FSK and HJK, was the same person, in year 2003, at least. Ref: Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,16./21. april 2003,p.29 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf) Template:WebCite
  4. ^ According to former "FSK-Sergeant"/ FSK-veteran of the Kosovo conflict, Knut Harald Hansen

References

  1. ^ Taushet om spesialstyrker : Ny Tid Template:WebCite
  2. ^ "- VIKTIG Å BESKYTTE: Forsvarets spesialkommando (FSK) har jevnlig realistiske øvelser i terror mot norske oljeplattformer i Nordsjøen"
  3. ^ a b c Hjalp vi forbryterne til makten? - Kultur - Dagbladet.no Template:WebCite
  4. ^ Tom Bakkeli - Norges Hemmelige Krigere (ISBN 978-82-489-0722-0)
  5. ^ http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10029382
  6. ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,16./21. april 2003,p.1 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf) Template:WebCite
  7. ^ Glossary of Endgame by Knut Braa,p.270 "FSK er direkte underlagt GIH - generalinspektøren for Hæren - og med det tillagt stor nærhet til strategisk nivå og stor operativ makt.",ISBN 978-82-8143-198-0
  8. ^ Ærverdig avslutning for Lingeklubben - regjeringen.no Template:WebCite
  9. ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,16./21. april 2003,p.29 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf ) Template:WebCite
  10. ^ mil.no | Hæren | Om FSK/HJK
  11. ^ mil.no | Hæren
  12. ^ mil.no | Hæren | Forsvarets spesialkommando/ Hærens Jegerkommando
  13. ^ Glossary of Endgame,p.270,ISBN 978-82-8143-198-0
  14. ^ http://www.fallskjermjeger.no/ "Post: — Forsvarets Spesialkommando- Hærens jegerkommando — Postboks 124—2451 Rena"
  15. ^ http://www.fallskjermjeger.no/
  16. ^ Taushet om spesialstyrker : Ny Tid Template:WebCite
  17. ^ a b Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,16./21. april 2003,p.27 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf ) Template:WebCite
  18. ^ a b Verdens Gang, 14.11.2008 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-14/faksimile_vg_fsk_141108.pdf )
  19. ^ http://www.lokalavisen.no/nyheter/til-kamp-mot-staten-1.4794004 : (translation: "A short time after the accident he was placed in a dark room with an infrared beam pointed at his forehead, and shots were fired around his head.") "Kort tid etter ulykken ble han plassert i et mørkt rom med infrarød stråle i panna, og skutt rundt hodet på."
  20. ^ Dagens Næringsliv, DN Magasinet,16./21. april 2003,p.28 (Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf ) Template:WebCite
  21. ^ "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner", Dagens Næringsliv,16./21.April 2003,p.29 ( Facsimile: http://www.dykkersaken.no/files/dated/2008-11-13/artikkel_sagvolden_dn_210403.pdf ) Template:WebCite
  22. ^ Gjernes, Knut; Hustadnes, Halldor (2003-04-16). "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 29-M. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-02. November 2002 ... Knut Arnljot Braa holder foredrag om senvirkningene. Etter foredraget kommer to menn i 20-årsalderen bort til ham. To spesialtrente soldater. - Bare noen dager tidligere kom de hjem fra slagmarken i Afghanistan. De har skutt for å drepe, og selv blitt beskutt. De har sett døde ligge igjen. Nå forteller de om mangel på oppfølging etter at de kom hjem fra slagmarken i Afghanistan. De har skutt for å drepe, og selv blitt beskutt. De har sett døde ligge igjen. Nå forteller de om mangel på oppfølging av kritiske episoder, som ikke bare er militærfaglig. De forteller også hvor ekstra vanskelig det er å komme hjem til kjæreste og familie med forbud mot å fortelle hva de har opplevd. De er fra Forsvarets Spesialkommando.
  23. ^ Gjernes, Knut; Hustadnes, Halldor (2003-04-16). "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). p. 29-M. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-02. Hemmelige psykologer. Dagens Næringsliv vet at oberstløytnant, psykiater og sjef for Oslo Militære Legekontor, Pål Herlovsen og psykolog Jon Reichelt ved Kontor for Psykiatri ved Forsvarets overkommando har ansvaret for den psykologiske oppfølgingen av Forsvarets Spesialkommando. - Det eneste jeg kan si er at vi har tenkt på det meste. Noe mer om hvordan vi har organisert oss ønsker vi ikke å gå ut med, sier psykiater Pål Herlovsen.
  24. ^ a b Tom Bakkeli (2011-10-06). "- SIKKERHETEN HAR SVIKTET". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 14. "Forsvarets nye hurtiggående RHIB"; RHIB-en ikke var ferdig testet"; "toppfart langt over 50 knop[[{{subst:DATE}}|{{subst:DATE}}]] [disambiguation needed]"; "Båtfører fra FLO Forsvarets Logistikkorganisajon"; Vealøs ... Langøya
  25. ^ "Regjeringens drapsmaskiner", Dagens Næringsliv,16./21.April 2003,p.29
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