The Telemark Battalion (Norwegian: Telemark bataljon, abbreviated as TMBN) is a mechanised infantry battalion of the Norwegian Army. It was established in 1993, and is a part of Brigade Nord and stationed at Rena, Hedmark. The battalion consists of five companies/squadrons.
The battalion was moved to a new camp at Rena and converted to mechanised infantry. Presented with its new colours in 2002, the Telemark Battalion was operational on 1 July 2003.
The unit participated in Operation Karez in Afghanistan, in May 2008.[1]
One soldier died in Afghanistan in 2004,[2][3] and one died there in 2010.[4]
Cavalry Squadron 2: The battalion's armoured reconnaissance and scout unit, equipped with CV9030infantry fighting vehicles, ATVs and different sensors like UAVs etc.
In addition, the Telemark Battalion frequently trains with the rest of the Norwegian Army High Reaction Force. This is a composite unit made up of the Telemark Battalion, as well as enlisted personnel from support capabilities, ranging from artillery to military police.
Telemark Battalion is the primary source of international contributions from the Norwegian Army. The battalion has almost constantly been involved in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan since 2003.
Incidents in Afghanistan
Since the summer of 2009, there have been several instances of soldiers from the unit spray painting a Punisher skull (in part inspired[5] by the character from comic books and movie – the Punisher) on houses and property belonging to Afghans whom soldiers suspected of having ties to the insurgency. The purported purpose was to "send a message",[6] to leaders of the insurgency, that the Norwegian soldiers would not allow them to continue their offensive.
In September 2010, Verdens Gang reported that some soldiers were still using a Punisher skull that had been prohibited by the leadership of Norway's military.[7]
The alleged crimes of threatening and spray painting the property of suspected insurgents did not lead to any criminal charges.[6]
Tjostolv Moland, convicted of murder and espionage in the DRC along with Joshua French and given a death sentence, later died in prison while on death row[12][10]
^http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10036791 "FORBUDT: Til tross for gjentatte forbud fra forsvarsledelsen, fortsetter noen av soldatene fra Telemark bataljon å bruke dette merket, dødninghodet «The Punisher». Merket fikk påskriften «Jokke – we will never forget» etter at Claes Joachim Olsson ble drept av en veibombe i januar."
^"Leder: Skjult krig, snikende sannhet : NY Tid". Archived from the original on 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2011-12-11. "Lurte nordmenn — Noe av fordømmelsen kan nok bunne i at norsk offentlighet ble forledet fra å få vite hvilken krig landet deltok i. Statsminister Kjell Magne Bondevik (KrF) sendte jo ikke ut soldater i krig, kun personell til en «fredsbevarende operasjon». Er det rart mediene ble overrasket over at norske soldater hadde på seg hjelm og ropte vikingslagord?"
