Pentagon stuffs caves in Norway full of tanks
What you need to know:
- In addition, the Pentagon saves money by not having to keep a large force in Norway year-round. Washington already spends billions each year running huge bases across Europe.
- In August, the military added M-1A1 Abrams tanks and a number of Assault Breacher Vehicles to the bunkers. The latter are heavily armoured tracks designed to blow up minefields and push through other obstacles.
The Pentagon has sent tanks, armoured vehicles, and containers full of other military gear to caves in Norway. It’s all for the US Marine Corps, which wants to update and expand its Scandinavian stockpile.
The Corps has stashed weapons and equipment in the Norwegian countryside since the 1980s. With this setup, Marines can fly in and be ready for a fight in no time.
In addition, the Pentagon saves money by not having to keep a large force in Norway year-round. Washington already spends billions each year running huge bases across Europe.
But in the past, Marines rushing toward the sound of gunfire might have lacked firepower. Five years ago, Humvees with machine guns and missiles were the only combat vehicles in Norwegian storage, according to tables in an official Marine Corps handbook quoted by TheWeek.com.
HEAVILY AMOURED
In August, the military added M-1A1 Abrams tanks and a number of Assault Breacher Vehicles to the bunkers. The latter are heavily armoured tracks designed to blow up minefields and push through other obstacles.
The Pentagon also added M-88 tank retrievers, amphibious assault vehicles, up-armored Humvees, and various upgraded trucks to the cache. The Corps was expected to finish moving the new materiel under the mountains by the end of the month.
The American military storehouses in Norway have all the other basic equipment a Marine Expeditionary Brigade needs to get up and running. The Pentagon began planning to update the equipment in Norway last year. But the Marine Corps probably is especially happy now to have the extra vehicles as the crisis in Ukraine smoulders.
Earlier this year, Russian troops took control of Ukraine’s Crimea region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainians voted on Sunday for a new parliament in elections meant to complete a historic shift from Russia’s sphere of influence, but which will sharpen the war-torn country’s internal divisions.
The snap election, eight months after a street revolt overthrew Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovych, is expected to result in ‘‘a legislature filled with reformers and nationalists backing President Petro Poroshenko’s drive to bring Ukraine closer to the West,’’ say analysts. (AFP, Agencies)
