Synopsis
NATO Allies and partners are proving themselves against the extreme elements in the north of Norway during Exercise Cold Response 22.
During the long-planned exercise, troops are required to push through demanding terrain against an entrenched simulated opposing force, all while coping with cold, wet and windy conditions. The exercise area stretches north from the coastal fjords near Narvik to Bardufoss, where NATO Allies frequently conduct cold-weather training.
More than 30,000 troops from 27 NATO Allies and partners have gathered in northern Norway for the drills, which started in early March and will continue until end March.
Footage includes shots of Finnish, Italian, Norwegian and Swedish troops and US helicopters during the exercise, as well as interviews including with Lieutenant General Michael Claesson, Chief of Joint Operations, Swedish Armed Forces.
Transcript
(00:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINE EH-101-410 MERLIN TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS LAND IN NORTHERN NORWAY
(00:22) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES EXIT HELICOPTERS
(01:09) WIDE SLOW MOTION SHOT (MUTE) – ITALIAN HELICOPTER TAKES OFF
(01:19) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES STRAP ON SNOW SHOES IN THE NORWEGIAN FOREST
(01:43) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES PATROL THROUGH THE NORWEGIAN FOREST
(02:05) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES TAKE UP SHOOTING POSITIONS IN THE FOREST
(02:19) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES IN FOREST TAKE FIRE FROM OPPOSING FORCE DURING EXERCISE COLD RESPONSE
(02:32) WIDE SHOT – ITALIAN MARINE FIRES BLANK AMMUNITION AT OPPOSING FORCE
(02:36) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES NAVIGATE THE NORWEGIAN FOREST TERRAIN
(02:48) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES PRACTISE USING A SHOULDER-MOUNTED ANTI-AIR MISSILE LAUNCHER DURING A SIMULATED ENGAGEMENT
(03:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN MARINES STAND READY IN VIKING AMPHIBIOUS AMOURED ALL-TERRIAN VEHICLES IN NORWAY
(03:19) VARIOUS SHOTS – US MARINES HELICOPTERS PROVIDE AIR SUPPORT TO ITALIAN MARINES DURING A SIMULATED ENGAGEMENT
(03:45) VARIOUS SLOW MOTION SHOTS (MUTE) – US MARINES AH-1Z VIPER ATTACK HELICOPTER FLIES OVERHEAD IN NORWAY
(04:18) VARIOUS SHOTS – SWEDISH SOLDIERS PREPARE TO TAKE UP DEFENSIVE POSITIONS DURING EXERCISE COLD RESPONSE
(05:04) VARIOUS SHOTS – SWEDISH ARMOURED VEHICLES MOVE TOWARDS POSITIONS
(06:05) VARIOUS SHOTS – FINNISH SOLDIERS PREPARE VEHICLES TO TAKE UP DEFENSIVE POSITIONS DURING EXERCISE COLD RESPONSE
(06:46) VARIOUS SHOTS – FINNISH SOLDIERS PLACE SIMULATED MINES ON A BRIDGE STRUT DURING EXERCISE COLD RESPONSE
(06:55) VARIOUS SHOTS – FINNISH SOLDIERS CHOP WOOD IN THEIR CAMP DURING EXERCISE COLD RESPONSE
(07:27) VARIOUS SHOTS – NORWEGIAN SOLDIERS PREPARE TO TAKE UP ATTACKING POSITIONS DURING EXERCISE COLD RESPONSE
(07:39) VARIOUS SHOTS – NORWEGIAN CV-90 INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES MOVE TOWARDS ATTACKING POSITIONS ON A ROAD IN NORWAY
(08:33) VARIOUS SHOTS – NORWEGIAN SOLDIERS TAKE UP ATTACKING POSITIONS
(09:50) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - LIEUTENANT COLONEL EGIL HAUKLAND, EXERCISE REFEREE
“We have a saying in Norway that if you master these conditions, you master everything and it’s most about getting familiarised with the environment, climate, weather, terrain and the equipment you have. So that is the most. The next level is basically cooperation between the nations, align procedures, align orders, understand, translate, everything over to good military operations. So familiarisation with the terrain, climate and then the drill of the rehearsal, of procedures basically.”
(10:32) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - LIEUTENANT COLONEL EGIL HAUKLAND, EXERCISE REFEREE
“I think it’s even more important than ever at this for a very, very long time now with the situation we have elsewhere in Europe and showing that we are standing together, we are training together, we are strong, we are skilled. So it’s important.”
(10:51) SOUNDBITE (ITALIAN) – COMMANDER DANIELE LUCIDI, ITALIAN MARINES
“The Marines are the first responders, so they must be ready to reach land by sea in any situation and under any weather conditions. What we are experiencing here in Norway is important because, in this case, the weather is the enemy, and we must be ready for this situation as never before.”
(11:12) SOUNDBITE (FINNISH) – LIEUTENANT PETTERI PARTIO, FINNISH KAINUU BRIGADE
“I think it is important to be able to train and show our strong bond to the other countries participating in this training so that we’re able to also show that our work will continue as usual, even though the situation is what it is at the moment.”
(11:30) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – LIEUTENANT GENERAL MICHAEL CLAESSON, CHIEF OF JOINT OPERATIONS, SWEDISH ARMED FORCES
“We share the operational environment with Norway and Finland and of course other European countries, as well as Arctic nations basically. So in that regard, the operational environment is the same for us regardless if we are members of NATO or partners so it makes sense to train together and to operate together in this environment simply.”
(11:53) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – LIEUTENANT GENERAL MICHAEL CLAESSON, CHIEF OF JOINT OPERATIONS, SWEDISH ARMED FORCES
“It feels even more relevant to work and operate and train together with free European forces and also underpinning the transatlantic link so it makes real sense, more than ever this time. I really have to underline that. And then again, it also makes sense to stick to what is planned and not deviate from our plans and would we deviate from our plans, we would also deviate from how we build capability, military capability among our nations so it’s highly relevant.”
