The Navy kicked off two exercises in the Acrtic region this month, one planned in San Diego and involving an ice camp to support submarine operations, and the other a NATO exercise on the Norwegian Coast.
Ice Exercise 2016 began with construction of Ice Camp SARGO on March 2 some 200 miles north of the Alaskan coast. The Navy’s Arctic Submarine Laboratory, based in San Diego, serves as the lead organization for the exercise involving four nations and more than 200 participants over five weeks.
“The Arctic environment plays a key role in national defense. With over a thousand miles of Arctic coastline, the U.S. has strong national security and homeland defense interests in the region,” said Vice Adm. Joseph E. Tofalo, commander of the Navy’s submarine forces.
The Arctic is experiencing a trend of diminishing sea ice extent and thickness creating the likelihood of increased maritime activity in the region, including trans-oceanic shipping and resource extraction.
The second operation, Exercise Cold Response, began March 3 involving maritime, land and air forces in an extreme cold-weather environment.
The USS Fort McHenry, a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, is participating in that exercise. More than 3,000 U.S. service members, approximately 6,500 members of the Norwegian Armed Forces and nearly 6,500 troops from 10 other allied and partner nations are involved.
Marines attached to 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, embarked with the Fort McHenry, recovered gear stowed 14 years ago in caves in Verdal, Norway, for use in the exercise. The Marines store and maintain gear in strategic locations all over the world to be recovered during combat operations.
As the exercise continues, more than 300 Marines from 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion and troops from partner countries will conduct two amphibious assaults in which they will storm a beach and take up positions overnight.
The biennial exercise is intended to demonstrate NATO’s ability to defend against any threat in any environment.
