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Camp Viking is a British military training establishment located within the Arctic Circle in Øverbygd, northern Norway.[1] It was established in March 2023, and acts as the United Kingdom's main operations hub for the High North.[1][2][3][4] Previously known as Camp Orange when occupied by the Dutch, it has been substantially rebuilt for British use, and given the name Camp Viking.[2][4] It is primarily used by the Royal Marines (RM) and Army Commandos for Arctic and mountain warfare training, along with testing new equipment. It will also be used as a forward operating base (FOB) for United Kingdom (UK) and NATO forces operating in the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions.[1] It will also be used as an operational support hub by the Littoral Response Group (North) amphibious task group of the Royal Navy (RN).[2][3]
Camp Viking | |
|---|---|
| Øverbygd, Målselv Municipality in Norway | |
| Type | Royal Marines winter training base, forward operating base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Norway |
| Operator | Ministry of Defence (UK) |
| Controlled by | Royal Navy |
| Open to the public | no |
| Condition | active |
| Previously known as | Camp Orange (during former Dutch military occupancy) |
| Site history | |
| Built | March 2023 |
| Built for | British Armed Forces |
Located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometres) south of Tromsø, an area where temperatures can descend to below −50 degrees Celsius (−58 degrees Fahrenheit),[1] the establishment is strategically located near Skjold garrison of the Norwegian Army, the Bardufoss Air Station (which is used by the Commando Helicopter Force), and a sea-port in Sørreisa.[2][3][4] From March 2023, approximately 1,000 Royal Marines had been deployed to the base.[1][2][4][5]
Under the terms of the lease by the Government of Norway to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), Camp Viking is to remain open for ten years.[2][4] Being as Norway is opposed to foreign military bases on its soil; a long-established policy to avoid provocations with Russia,[6] the presence of Camp Viking is politically sensitive in Norway, with the Norwegian government insisting that it is not a new wholly-British military base, but instead, a rebranding of an existing training facility within a Norwegian military base, and therefore does not infringe its policy on foreign military bases.[7] Nevertheless, the facility was described as a military 'base' in a press release by the Royal Navy.[2]
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Camp Viking, and its military personnel and based equipment, was the subject of a two-part Channel 4 television production (produced by North One Television) entitled Guy Martin: Arctic Warrior in 2024, in which Guy Martin from Lincolnshire, England; a truck mechanic by trade, former motorcycle racer, and television personality known for extreme challenges, was embedded with the Royal Marines to test himself against British military Arctic training exercises as a special operations commando. Martin was noted for his 'personal admin' (military speak for the day-to-day management of ones' personal kit) being somewhat lacking; but was highly praised for his participation and enthusiasm for the many drills, exercises, and activities (including live weapons firing) he undertook. The programmes were first broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK during early December 2024.[8][9][10][11][12]
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- Exercise Joint Warrior – British-hosted tri-service biannual multi-national military exercise, which includes Exercise Joint Viking now supported by Camp Viking
- Exercise Nordic Response – biannual multi-national military training exercise
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