The White Falcon - 26.06.1987, Page 7

IW'
.4-*" ’ ' mm?
Decked in desert camouflage uniforms some Defense
Force Marines played the part of 'aggressors' during
Northern Viking ‘37.
Northern Viking 87
photos by PH2 Jane Hogbin
by JOC John Petersen
Most units and elements of the Iceland Defense
Force (IDF), particularly the IDF headquarters
staff, were deeply involved from June 18-26 in
Exercise Northern Viking '87.
Northern Viking '87 is sponsored by the U.S.
Commander in Chief Atlantic but conducted by the
Iceland Defense Force and is scheduled every other
year to test the plans and procedures for
reinforcing Iceland in times of hostilities. Other
objectives of the exercise are to evaluate
communications and to test air defense plans for
Iceland.
The 3,100 members of the Defense Force were
joined by 350 additional military personnel
representing the much larger number of forces
designated to reinforce Iceland should the need
arise.
For most NATO Base residents, the most visible
reinforcement forces were the 110 members of "B"
Company, 3rd Battalion, 16th Infantry from
Rockland, Maine—Army reservists on their two-
week annual training—who pitched their tents near
the softball field, and the mobile missile launchers
of the 5th Battalion, 200th Air Defense Artillery
Regiment, New Mexico National Guard which were
set up at various areas around the base.
However, most of the reinforcements were from
active or reserve units who augmented the IDF
headquarters staff and served in other admin-
istrative capacities. Some of these people worked
in the Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik training room
on 12-hour watches in a simulated joint command
post controlling exercise events.
Although most events were simulated, existing
only on paper, some were live. There was a de-
ployment of the IDF Ground Defense Force (GDF) and
its relief in place by Army reinforcements. There
were several simulated skirmishes between the GDF
and Defense Force Marines playing the role of
aggressors. And there were emergency aircraft
refueling, rapid runway repair and mass casualty'
drills.

Army reservists from Rockland, Maine came to
Iceland last week to participate in Northern Viking
’87. They lived in a pup tent village near the gym
softball field.
The air defense of Iceland was one aspect of Northern
Viking '87 tested during last week's exercise. This is a
partially camouflaged missile launcher.
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The White Falcon
June 26, 1987
7