Ski warfare
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ski warfare, the use of ski-equipped troops in war, is first recorded by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus in the 13th century. The speed and distance that ski troops are able to cover is comparable to that of light cavalry.
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[edit] Place in Military History
[edit] Napoleonic Wars
Denmark-Norway (though mostly Norwegians) ski troops were used against Sweden during the 1807-1814 Napoleonic Wars.
[edit] World War I
During WWI the Italian Army raised 88 Alpini Battalions. Their purpose was to fight summer and winter in the highest regions of the Alpine Arch. Most of the battalions were dissolved after WWI. Only 16 Alpini regiments remain in service today, and only three actively train every soldier in ski warfare: the 6° Alpini, 4° Alpini Paracadutisti, and 5° Alpini Regiment.
[edit] The Winter War and the Lapland War
Ski troops played a key role in maintaining Finnish independence from The Soviet Union during the Winter War (1939)
[edit] World War II
Perhaps learning from the Finns, the Soviet Union deployed several ski battalions during World War II, notably in their 1941 counter attack in the Battle of Moscow. The most common transportation for Norwegian soldiers during the German invasion of Norway in 1940 was using skis and sled, and in Operation Gunnerside, Norwegian commandos dropped by parachute skied long distances in order to reach and destroy a heavy water plant Vemork at Rjukan in Telemark, Norway, which was being used by the Germans as part of their nuclear research programme. Also during WWII, the United States Army 10th Mountain Division was activated and trained for ski combat. They were deployed in Italy.
[edit] Today's situation
Finnish defence forces use ski's normally in cross country skiing but also by pulling squad of soldier with tracked transport vehicles. Two ropes hang from the end of vehicle and troops hold the rope with their hands. This is especially difficult if one is carrying the normal heavy-backpack.
[edit] Other information
The Norwegian military have held skiing competitions since the 1670s. The sport of Biathlon was developed from military skiing patrols.
The United States ski patrol plays a vital role in the plot to the book A Separate Peace.
Many nations still train troops in skiing and winter warfare, including:
- Austrian Army -- Certain soldiers are trained in ski combat.
- Finnish Army--majority of soldiers are trained in ski combat.
- French Army 27th Chasseurs Alpins Brigade
- German Bundeswehr Gebirgsjäger
- Indian Army which trains some of its soldiers for high altitude warfare also trains them in ski combat.
- Israeli Defense Forces' has one ski unit on Mount Hermon.
- Italian Army 4°, 5°, 6° Alpini Regiments
- Norwegian Army, every soldier is trained in ski combat.
- Romanian Army - Vânători de Munte
- Sweden's K4 - Norrlands dragonregemente (K4 - Norrlands Dragoon Regiment)
- Switzerland's 3rd Mountain Army Corps (Corps d’armée de montagne 3)
- United States - the United States Army 10th Mountain Division and the Northern Warfare Training Center
Also the United Kingdom/Netherlands Landing Force consisting of:
- annual exercises taking place in the interior of Northern Norway
