U.S. Marines with 1st Platoon, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and Norwegian Kystjegerkommandoen Coastal Ranger Commandos (KJKs) mount and dismount a F470 Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) and conduct water casting training aboard a CB90-class fast assault craft during Exercise Platinum Ren, at Fort Trondennes, Harstad, Norway.
1st Battalion 1st Marines (1/1) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California, consisting of anywhere from 800 to 2,000 Marines and Sailors, but the number fluctuates depending on the Battalion’s mission. They fall under the command of the 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.
Kystjegerkommandoen (Coastal Ranger Commando) is a Norwegian amphibious unit trained to operate in littoral combat theatres, filling the role of a marine corps and coastal artillery.
The unit was created when it became clear that the coastal fortresses had to be abandoned due to their vulnerability to modern precision guided weapons. This was a gradual development, as the old coastal artillery branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces had been increasingly focusing on mobile operations, and less on coastal fortresses, for many years. With the establishment of the Ranger Command, this transition was complete.
KJK operatives are trained to be highly mobile in the littoral environment, using the Combat Boat 90 and occasionally helicopters. The CB90 is capable of landing troops directly on the shore. Max payload is 16 armed troops, and max speed is 40 knots (74 km/h). Their main weapon against enemy vessels is the AGM-114 Hellfire missile, using a blast-fragmentation warhead. This can easily be carried in the CB90, but will (usually) be launched from ashore, taking advantage of Norway’s numerous islands and rugged coast. KJK maintain a strong focus on the ISTAR concept, and train to fight asymmetrical enemy tactics.
The exercise is a theater security cooperation training evolution with KJKs held to sustain mission essential tasks in a harsh operating environment and strengthen coalition partnerships.
