'''Allied Forces Northern Europe''' ('''AFNORTH''') was the northern Major Subordinate [[command (military formation)|Command]] of [[NATO]]'s [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe|Allied Command Europe]] (ACE), located at [[Kolsås]] outside [[Oslo]]. In the case of war with the Soviet Union, AFNORTH would assume supreme command of all Allied forces in northern Europe (Norway and Denmark) and Germany north of [[Elbe]]/[[Hamburg]] and adjacent sea territory.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Aviation |first=David W. |last=Wragg |isbn=9780850451634 |edition=first |publisher=Osprey |year=1973 |page=11}}</ref>
'''Allied Forces Northern Europe''' ('''AFNORTH''') was the northern Major Subordinate [[command (military formation)|Command]] of [[NATO]]'s [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe|Allied Command Europe]] (ACE), located at [[Kolsås]] outside [[Oslo]]. In the case of war with the Soviet Union, AFNORTH would assume supreme command of all Allied forces in northern Europe (Norway and Denmark) and West Germany north of [[Elbe]]/[[Hamburg]] and adjacent sea territory.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Aviation |first=David W. |last=Wragg |isbn=9780850451634 |edition=first |publisher=Osprey |year=1973 |page=11}}</ref>
==History==
==History==
The headquarters was established in Volksenlia Station and the previous "Voksenkollens Hospits" building, in Kolsaas. The first Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, transferred command of AFNORTH to Lieutenant General Sir [[Robert Mansergh]] on 1 April 1951.<ref>https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/41863</ref> In accordance with naval tradition Admiral Brind's car was "towed by a large group" after the ceremony.
The headquarters was established in Volksenlia Station and the previous "Voksenkollens Hospits" building, in Kolsås. The first Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, transferred command of AFNORTH to Lieutenant General Sir [[Robert Mansergh]] on 1 April 1951.<ref>https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/41863</ref> In accordance with naval tradition Admiral Brind's car was "towed by a large group" after the ceremony.
For much of its existence its commander-in-chief (CINCNORTH) was a British Admiral or General. The chief-of-staff was always a German [[Vice Admiral]]. The central Air Force Commander Northern Europe, who would assume command of all NATO air forces in AFNORTH's area in the case of war, was directly subordinated to CINCNORTH and was always a general from the [[U.S. Air Force]]. The leadership of AFNORTH additionally included a ''Land Deputy'', a ''Sea Deputy'', and an ''Air Deputy'', who were for a period Danish or Norwegian [[Major General]]s or [[Rear Admiral]]s.
For much of its existence its commander-in-chief (CINCNORTH) was a British Admiral or General. The chief-of-staff was always a West German [[Vice Admiral]]. The central Air Force Commander Northern Europe, who would assume command of all NATO air forces in AFNORTH's area in the case of war, was directly subordinated to CINCNORTH and was always a general from the [[U.S. Air Force]]. The leadership of AFNORTH additionally included a ''Land Deputy'', a ''Sea Deputy'', and an ''Air Deputy'', who were for a period Danish or Norwegian [[Major General]]s or [[Rear Admiral]]s.
Headquarters Allied Air Forces Northern Europe was created by SHAPE on 29 March 1951. Major General R.K. Taylor, U.S. Air Force, was assigned as its commander on 2 April 1951. The Headquarters was established in London on 1 June 1951 and later transferred to Oslo, Norway on 22 June 1951. By June 1952 no units had been earmarked or allocated for it.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report on Allied Air Forces |url=http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_archives/20121128_19520710_NU_AFNE--537-2542-03-52_Report_on_Allied_Air_Forces.pdf|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> Major General Homer L. Sanders held command September 1954-September 1957.<ref>{{cite web|title=Major General Homer L. Sanders |url=https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/105718/major-general-homer-l-sanders.aspx|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> Major General Carl D. Peterson became Air Deputy in June 1977.
Headquarters Allied Air Forces Northern Europe was created by SHAPE on 29 March 1951. Major General R.K. Taylor, U.S. Air Force, was assigned as its commander on 2 April 1951. The Headquarters was established in London on 1 June 1951 and later transferred to Oslo, Norway on 22 June 1951. By June 1952 no units had been earmarked or allocated for it.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report on Allied Air Forces |url=http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_archives/20121128_19520710_NU_AFNE--537-2542-03-52_Report_on_Allied_Air_Forces.pdf|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> Major General Homer L. Sanders held command September 1954-September 1957.<ref>{{cite web|title=Major General Homer L. Sanders |url=https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/105718/major-general-homer-l-sanders.aspx|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> Major General Carl D. Peterson became Air Deputy in June 1977.
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Until the formation of BALTAP around 1962, AFNORTH comprised Allied Land Forces Norway, Allied Land Forces Denmark, and Allied Air Forces and Allied Naval Forces, Northern Europe (four commands).<ref>Bernd Lemke, Dieter Krüger, Heinz Rebhan, Wolfgang Schmidt: Die Luftwaffe 1950 bis 1970. Konzeption, Aufbau, Integration. Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München 2006, {{ISBN|3-486-57973-8}}, S. 489.</ref>
Until the formation of BALTAP around 1962, AFNORTH comprised Allied Land Forces Norway, Allied Land Forces Denmark, and Allied Air Forces and Allied Naval Forces, Northern Europe (four commands).<ref>Bernd Lemke, Dieter Krüger, Heinz Rebhan, Wolfgang Schmidt: Die Luftwaffe 1950 bis 1970. Konzeption, Aufbau, Integration. Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München 2006, {{ISBN|3-486-57973-8}}, S. 489.</ref>
In 1989 at the end of the [[Cold War]] AFNORTH's major subordinate commands were Allied Forces North Norway; Allied Forces South Norway; and [[Allied Forces Baltic Approaches]] ([[Karup]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Gov/NATO-HB/part.07 |title=NATO Handbook, uploaded 1993 |access-date=2007-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611073025/http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Gov/NATO-HB/part.07 |archive-date=2016-06-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> BALTAP comprised AIRBALTAP, NAVBALTAP, LANDZEALAND, responsible for the land defence of Zealand and the other Danish islands, and Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland ([[LANDJUT]]). From 1962 LANDJUT had been responsible for the land defence of the Baltic Approaches from a headquarters at [[Rendsburg]], Germany. LANDJUT comprised the [[6th Panzergrenadier Division (Bundeswehr)|6th Panzergrenadier Division]] and the Danish [[Jutland Division]]. LANDJUT was planned to be reinforced in time of war by the United Kingdom Mobile Force, primarily [[1st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|1st Infantry Brigade]] and the [[US Army]]'s [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/rep/PRO/DEFE/5/194/DEFE-5-194-28.html#annexa|title=DEFE 5/194/28|author=David Newton|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> In case of war with the [[Warsaw Pact]] AFNORTH would have moved its headquarter to the subterranean command center at [[Kolsås]].
In 1989 at the end of the [[Cold War]] AFNORTH's major subordinate commands were Allied Forces North Norway; Allied Forces South Norway; and [[Allied Forces Baltic Approaches]] ([[Karup]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Gov/NATO-HB/part.07 |title=NATO Handbook, uploaded 1993 |access-date=2007-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611073025/http://wiretap.area.com/Gopher/Gov/NATO-HB/part.07 |archive-date=2016-06-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> BALTAP comprised AIRBALTAP, NAVBALTAP, LANDZEALAND, responsible for the land defence of Zealand and the other Danish islands, and Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland ([[LANDJUT]]). From 1962 LANDJUT had been responsible for the land defence of the Baltic Approaches from a headquarters at [[Rendsburg]], West Germany. LANDJUT comprised the [[6th Panzergrenadier Division (Bundeswehr)|6th Panzergrenadier Division]] and the Danish [[Jutland Division]]. LANDJUT was planned to be reinforced in time of war by the United Kingdom Mobile Force, primarily [[1st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|1st Infantry Brigade]] and the [[US Army]]'s [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/rep/PRO/DEFE/5/194/DEFE-5-194-28.html#annexa|title=DEFE 5/194/28|author=David Newton|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> In case of war with the [[Warsaw Pact]] AFNORTH would have moved its headquarter to the subterranean command center at [[Kolsås]].
HQ AFNORTH Kolsås closed on the morning of 30 June 1994.<ref name=commander>{{citation| last = North Atlantic Treaty Organization| title = Senior officials in the NATO military structure, from 1949 to 2001| url = http://www.nato.int/cv/ace-k-p.pdf}}</ref> The HQ that replaced it, HQ Allied Forces Northwestern Europe (AFNORTHWEST), located at [[RAF High Wycombe]] in the United Kingdom, was activated in the afternoon of 30 June 1994.<ref>For more on AFNORTHWEST, see [http://www.nato.int/related/afnw/ Office of Public Information] accessed February 2009</ref> AFNORTHWEST directed three Principal Subordinate Commanders: Commander Allied Air Forces Northwestern Europe (COMAIRNORTHWEST), Commander Allied Naval Forces Northwestern Europe (COMNAVNORTHWEST) (the former EASTLANT/CINCHAN), and Commander Allied Forces Northern Europe (COMNORTH), an amalgamation of Allied Forces North and South Norway. In addition, in various circumstances Baltic Approaches naval forces would report to either CINCNORTHWEST or COMNAVNORTHWEST.
HQ AFNORTH Kolsås closed on the morning of 30 June 1994.<ref name=commander>{{citation| last = North Atlantic Treaty Organization| title = Senior officials in the NATO military structure, from 1949 to 2001| url = http://www.nato.int/cv/ace-k-p.pdf}}</ref> The HQ that replaced it, HQ Allied Forces Northwestern Europe (AFNORTHWEST), located at [[RAF High Wycombe]] in the United Kingdom, was activated in the afternoon of 30 June 1994.<ref>For more on AFNORTHWEST, see [http://www.nato.int/related/afnw/ Office of Public Information] accessed February 2009</ref> AFNORTHWEST directed three Principal Subordinate Commanders: Commander Allied Air Forces Northwestern Europe (COMAIRNORTHWEST), Commander Allied Naval Forces Northwestern Europe (COMNAVNORTHWEST) (the former EASTLANT/CINCHAN), and Commander Allied Forces Northern Europe (COMNORTH), an amalgamation of Allied Forces North and South Norway. In addition, in various circumstances Baltic Approaches naval forces would report to either CINCNORTHWEST or COMNAVNORTHWEST.
Latest revision as of 13:57, 23 June 2025
Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Short descriptionAllied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) was the northern Major Subordinate Command of NATO's Allied Command Europe (ACE), located at Kolsås outside Oslo. In the case of war with the Soviet Union, AFNORTH would assume supreme command of all Allied forces in northern Europe (Norway and Denmark) and West Germany north of Elbe/Hamburg and adjacent sea territory.[1]
The headquarters was established in Volksenlia Station and the previous "Voksenkollens Hospits" building, in Kolsås. The first Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, transferred command of AFNORTH to Lieutenant General Sir Robert Mansergh on 1 April 1951.[2] In accordance with naval tradition Admiral Brind's car was "towed by a large group" after the ceremony.
For much of its existence its commander-in-chief (CINCNORTH) was a British Admiral or General. The chief-of-staff was always a West German Vice Admiral. The central Air Force Commander Northern Europe, who would assume command of all NATO air forces in AFNORTH's area in the case of war, was directly subordinated to CINCNORTH and was always a general from the U.S. Air Force. The leadership of AFNORTH additionally included a Land Deputy, a Sea Deputy, and an Air Deputy, who were for a period Danish or Norwegian Major Generals or Rear Admirals.
Headquarters Allied Air Forces Northern Europe was created by SHAPE on 29 March 1951. Major General R.K. Taylor, U.S. Air Force, was assigned as its commander on 2 April 1951. The Headquarters was established in London on 1 June 1951 and later transferred to Oslo, Norway on 22 June 1951. By June 1952 no units had been earmarked or allocated for it.[3] Major General Homer L. Sanders held command September 1954-September 1957.[4] Major General Carl D. Peterson became Air Deputy in June 1977.
Until the formation of BALTAP around 1962, AFNORTH comprised Allied Land Forces Norway, Allied Land Forces Denmark, and Allied Air Forces and Allied Naval Forces, Northern Europe (four commands).[5]
In 1989 at the end of the Cold War AFNORTH's major subordinate commands were Allied Forces North Norway; Allied Forces South Norway; and Allied Forces Baltic Approaches (Karup).[6] BALTAP comprised AIRBALTAP, NAVBALTAP, LANDZEALAND, responsible for the land defence of Zealand and the other Danish islands, and Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland (LANDJUT). From 1962 LANDJUT had been responsible for the land defence of the Baltic Approaches from a headquarters at Rendsburg, West Germany. LANDJUT comprised the 6th Panzergrenadier Division and the Danish Jutland Division. LANDJUT was planned to be reinforced in time of war by the United Kingdom Mobile Force, primarily 1st Infantry Brigade and the US Army's 9th Infantry Division.[7] In case of war with the Warsaw Pact AFNORTH would have moved its headquarter to the subterranean command center at Kolsås.
HQ AFNORTH Kolsås closed on the morning of 30 June 1994.[8] The HQ that replaced it, HQ Allied Forces Northwestern Europe (AFNORTHWEST), located at RAF High Wycombe in the United Kingdom, was activated in the afternoon of 30 June 1994.[9] AFNORTHWEST directed three Principal Subordinate Commanders: Commander Allied Air Forces Northwestern Europe (COMAIRNORTHWEST), Commander Allied Naval Forces Northwestern Europe (COMNAVNORTHWEST) (the former EASTLANT/CINCHAN), and Commander Allied Forces Northern Europe (COMNORTH), an amalgamation of Allied Forces North and South Norway. In addition, in various circumstances Baltic Approaches naval forces would report to either CINCNORTHWEST or COMNAVNORTHWEST.
AFCENT, located in Brunssum in the Netherlands, was renamed AFNORTH. AFNORTHWEST was disestablished on 3 March 2000, CINCNORTHWEST transferring his authority to RHQ AFNORTH the same day. In the year 2004, it was again renamed, to Joint Force Command Brunssum.
The headquarters facility at Kolsås is now used by the Norwegian defence logistics organization.
↑Bernd Lemke, Dieter Krüger, Heinz Rebhan, Wolfgang Schmidt: Die Luftwaffe 1950 bis 1970. Konzeption, Aufbau, Integration. Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, München 2006, Template:ISBN, S. 489.
