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"Norway was never really a US area during the Cold War, was it?"
Not at first, but later, increasingly so. It depends on what you mean by a US area. If you mean permanently stationed US Army Corps, then no. The Northern Flank was very different from the Central Front. https://twitter.com/Taurevanime/status/1291480479464644608
Not at first, but later, increasingly so. It depends on what you mean by a US area. If you mean permanently stationed US Army Corps, then no. The Northern Flank was very different from the Central Front. https://twitter.com/Taurevanime/status/1291480479464644608
"General Eisenhower has in mind that the two flank commands, Northern Europe and Southern Europe, are going to be primarily naval and air commands."
Chief of Staff, General Alfred Gruenther
Chief of Staff, General Alfred Gruenther
Not a universally accepted opinion, btw.
"our known weaknesses in Italy are bad enough, but when we look at the North Flank we see almost no strength there and very little in prospect. Talk of a Northern "bulwark" is rubbish."
Deputy SACEUR Montgomery
"our known weaknesses in Italy are bad enough, but when we look at the North Flank we see almost no strength there and very little in prospect. Talk of a Northern "bulwark" is rubbish."
Deputy SACEUR Montgomery
Although Norway had been recognized by the WW2 victors as belonging to a British sphere of interest, the British immediate post-war policy towards Norway was one of commitment ambiguity.
At the time (1945-50), British Chiefs of staff (COS) placed even greater importance on the middle east than the defence of Western Europe, of which Norway was just a subsidiary of.
In the early 1950s, Admiralty-thinking started shifting towards greater emphasis on northern waters and the defence of Norway.
Note: One can speculate that this had more to do with the defence of the Fleet Air Arm and Large Carriers.
Note: One can speculate that this had more to do with the defence of the Fleet Air Arm and Large Carriers.
The Three Pillar Strategy (adopted by COS, 1947) had seen the post-war navy focused on: protection of sea communications, defence of the home base and the Middle East.
But by 1951, the admiralty-thinking was moving away from what the navy had been doing, counter-mine and convoy escort forces to protect shipping. To offensive strike fleet operations, alongside US carriers.
This direction of thinking might have been a cultural preference for the Mahanian "command of the sea through decisive fleet action" mindset, in a fleet accustomed to aggressive boldness and great power instincts,
and partly a response to Russian technological advancements and naval growth.
1957, Exercise STRIKE BACK.
"I say this as a professional man with over 40 years' experience — I cannot carry out my task as given to me at the moment without more forces."
Vice-Admiral Sir John Eccles
"I say this as a professional man with over 40 years' experience — I cannot carry out my task as given to me at the moment without more forces."
Vice-Admiral Sir John Eccles
The exercise had seen USS Nautilus wreck havoc and successfully simulate attacks on sixteen vessels including destroyers and carriers.
@sworrall
@sworrall
Exercise STRIKE BACK had exposed the value of Norwegian shore installations to Strike Fleet operations in the Atlantic, the threat from nuclear submarines, and confirmed Britains weakened position.
1957/58 was a transitional period when America became more involved on the Northern Flankto offset British reductions and supplanted Britain as Norway's primary defence pillar. https://twitter.com/Taurevanime/status/1291480479464644608
This was really the end 
but just to add some fun fact to @BO3673 @war_student @blagden_david
1957 was the year when the "commonly accepted myth" that GB could command it's own backyard was busted. 1957 was also a year of increasing eastward naval activity.
but just to add some fun fact to @BO3673 @war_student @blagden_david 1957 was the year when the "commonly accepted myth" that GB could command it's own backyard was busted. 1957 was also a year of increasing eastward naval activity.
