15 February: Cargo ship with US Army MLRS artillery and Short Range Air Defence arrival at Sørreisa port
Media is hereby invited to join us at Sørreisa port in Troms county, Northern Norway, when a cargo ship with MLRS Rocket Artillery and Stryker Short Range Air Defense from the U.S. Army arrives.
These will shortly thereafter be transported to Setermoen upon later participation in Exercise Joint Viking 23 (JV 23).
The MLRS belongs to the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, while the Strykers are from the 4th Air Defence Artillery Regiment. Both units / weapon systems will be integrated and attached to the Norwegian Army and Brigade North during JV 23.
– We work closely with our allies and partners to improve individually and collectively through joint training and operations. Activities such as JV 23 provide unique opportunities to hone our skills and retain the ability to operate and communicate across services, says Major General Lervik, Chief of The Norwegian Army.
The U.S. and Norway share a very close military relationship with more than 600 Norwegians traveling to the U.S. each year for training and educational exchange programs under the longest-running military exchange partnership between any two nations, according to US Army Major Vonnie Wright.
– Our security relationship with Norway is truly special, both bilaterally and through our close cooperation as NATO allies, the Major says.
Norwegian Army operations during JV 23 may be described as the training of a system. All units varying from our tank battalion, via artillery battalion, to engineer battalion, medical battalion and so forth operate in a coordinated manner as one vast system. Now including the two U.S. Army units.
Additionally, units from UK Royal Marines, UK Army, Dutch Marines and US Marine Corps will participate in JV 23.
Also, the transport of allied forces to Norway is valuable deployment training.
MLRS are donated to Ukraine by the U.K., and the U.S. has donated Strykers (although not air defence Strykers).
Media will be able to interview representatives from the Norwegian Army and
representatives from the U.S. Army as well.
Time of arrival of the cargo ship may be altered. Media that have signed up for the event will be notified of any change.
Point of contact: Attendance inquiries and questions may be directed to Public Affairs Officer, Senior Chief Petty Officer Rolf Ytterstad: rytterstad@mil.no or cell phone +47 99 55 66 14.
- When: February 15th, 2023
- Where: Sørreisa ISPS port, Troms County
- Time: Will be forwarded to registered media when we know the exact time for the ships arrival.
- Registration: To rytterstad@mil.no or +47 99 55 66 14
- Registration deadline: No later than February 14th at 1200 hours.
