Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Heraldry of the armies, navies and airforces of the world
Marcus Karlsson
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Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 Oct 2012, 20:29

The Norwegian Armed Forces makes great use of Heraldry. The Joint Armed Froces Units, Army Units and Navy Units have Shields (those of the Navy surrounded by a rope and toped på a Royal Crown resting on a name plate). The Air Force have Royal Air Force inspired Badges ensigned by a Norwegian Royal Crown and a Scoll with a Motto (The other Services have not included mottos).

Some Higher Officers have Arms of Office that includes a Crest, which is othervise not used in Norwegian Military Heraldry.

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Arms of the Chief of the Defence Forces, which used the Shield with the Arms of the Defence Forces (the three Swords symbolising the Army, Navy and Air Froce in the Norwegian Colours of Gules and Or). To this is added a Crest based on the Lion in the Norwegian State Arms.

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Arms of the Inspector-General of the Army, based on the Arms of the Army.

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The Arms of the Inspector-General of the Navy uses traditional Navy symbolism. The Lion in the Crest alludes to the Lion in the State Arms, but is shown wielding a Trident for the Naval Connection.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 Oct 2012, 20:48

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Arms of the Joint Defence Command South. The meaning of the Wyvern/Dragon is not clear to me.

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Arms of the Joint Defence Command North. The Lion is from the Arms of Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarköy Military Commander and Regent of Norway in 1323. Known to have strengthen the Defences of the northern part of Norway.

The JDC South has been disbanded and probably also JDF North.

The Norwegian Army has following the end of the Cold War been much reduced and has today only a hadfull Battalions. One of these is the Armoured Battalion:

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Arms of the Battalion, showing the Head of a Mink. Like Armour Minks are known to deal its enemies fierce blows in fighting, hence the symbol chosen.

The Different Squadrons of the Battalion also have separate Arms:

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The Cavalry Squadron, which is the Recon Unit of the Battalion.

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Tank Sqn 2 (Tank Sqn 1 forms part of the Telemark Battalion).

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Assault Sqn 3.

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Assault Sqn 4.

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Battle Support Sqn 6.
Last edited by Marcus Karlsson on 08 Feb 2016, 18:42, edited 1 time in total.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 17 Oct 2012, 20:59

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Emblem of His Majesty the King's Guards. In the middle the chyper of the present King of Norway HM Harald V. The Sword symbolises the role of the Guards to defend the King.

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Arms of the Telemark Battalion.

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Arms of the 2nd Battalion, approved by HM King Harald V in 2003.

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Arms of the Engineer Battalion.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 18 Oct 2012, 19:34

It should be noted that the colours of the Armoured Battalion originaly was the Mink's Head Argent on a Vert Field.

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Arms of the Artillery Battalion.

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Arms of the Signals Battalion.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 12 Nov 2012, 18:39

Arms of some Joint Forces Schools:

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Doghandling School.

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Military Police School.

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Defence Administration School.

Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 12 Nov 2012, 18:46

Some examples of Naval Heraldry:

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KNM Harald Haarfagre, Recruit Training School for the Norwegian Navy and Air Force. Like the Royal Navy the Norwegian Navy practices the tradition in commissioning Land Bases as Ships. KNM = Kongelige Norske Marine (Royal Norwegian Navy) is the prefix used in Norwegian for Naval Ships.

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Frigate KNM Fridtjof Nansen, shows the Eagle fron the Nansen Arms combined with a wavy base to denote the Sea where the Ship operates.

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Fast Missile Boats.

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steven harris
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby steven harris » 05 Dec 2012, 21:01

Marcus Karlsson wrote:Image
Arms of the Chief of the Defence Forces, which used the Shield with the Arms of the Defence Forces (the three Swords symbolising the Army, Navy and Air Froce in the Norwegian Colours of Gules and Or). To this is added a Crest based on the Lion in the Norwegian State Arms.

The blue and gold helm is an interesting touch - nationalistic, I assume.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 27 Mar 2014, 19:50

steven harris wrote:
Marcus Karlsson wrote:Image
Arms of the Chief of the Defence Forces, which used the Shield with the Arms of the Defence Forces (the three Swords symbolising the Army, Navy and Air Froce in the Norwegian Colours of Gules and Or). To this is added a Crest based on the Lion in the Norwegian State Arms.

The blue and gold helm is an interesting touch - nationalistic, I assume.


No I don't think its nationalistic as the colours Blue and Gold are associated with Sweden (and also the Ukraine, Brasil amongst others).

On the Official Norwegian Defence Forces site one can find the Heraldry presently in use by the Joint Defence Units, The Army, the Navy, The Air Force and the Home Guard.

https://forsvaret.no/fakta/uniformer-medaljer-heraldikk/heraldikk
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 27 Mar 2014, 20:16

Firstly the Joint Units:

Hæren = The Army, Forsvaret = The Defence Forces, Sjøforsvaret = The Navy, Luftforsvaret = The Air Force, Forsvarssjef = Chief of the Defence Forces and Heimevernet = The Home Guard.

First Row below these Dexter to Sinister - Defence Staff, Defence Operative HQ, Cyber Defence, Intelligence Service, Defence Medical (Service), Defence Logistics Organisation, Defence Personnel and Conscript Centre, Defence Office for Culture and Traditions, Chaplains Corps, Defence Audit Administration, Defence Pay Administration, Defence College, Defence Security Office, Defence Media Centre and Defence Forum.

Second Row dexter to sinister - Internal Revision of the Defence Chief, Veterans Office, Defence Material Mangement, Defence Commission of Inquiry, Defence Special Forces, Allied (Winter) Training Centre, Office of Cyber Services and Operations of the Cyber Defence, Cyber Defence Competence and Transformation Office, Defence Intelligence College, Defence Military Geographic Services, Defence Museums, Defence Commandantship, Defence Music, Defence Staff Music Corps, Northern Norway Defence Music Corps, Oslo Garrison Administration and the Defence Staff College.

Third row dexter to sinister - Akershus Commandantship, Bergenshus Commandantship, Kongsvinger Commandantship, Kristiansten Commandantship, Oscarsborg Commandantship, Vardøhus Commandantship, Karljohansvern Commandantship, Defence Competence Center for Logistics, Defence Transport School, Defence MP Section, Defence Logistics School, NBC Defence School, Munitions and EOD School, Defence Doghandling School and the Defence Winter School.

Pleace note that this refers to the Arms shown in the Link mentioned above.
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Marcus Karlsson
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Re: Some Norwegian Military Heraldry

Postby Marcus Karlsson » 27 Mar 2014, 20:27

The Army

Heraldisk våben Hæren = Heraldic Arms of the Army, Embetsvåben GIH = Arms of Office of teh Inspector General of the Army, Hærstaben = Army Staff.

First row dexter to sinister - War School, Army Weapons School, Army Commanders School, Defence Doghandling School, Defence Winter School, Operations Support Unit, Defence Competance Center for Logistics, Defence Transport School.

Second Row dexter to sinister - Defence MP Unit, Defence Ammunitions and EOD School, Logistics School, Technical Department, HM the King's Guards, Garison in South Varanger, Brigade North, Telemark Battalion, 2nd Battalion.

Third Row dexter to sinister - Armoured Battalion, Intelligence Battalion, Artillery Battalion, Engineer Battalion, Signals Battlion, Combat Service Support Battalion, Medical Battalion, MP Company and Logistics Base Land.
Last edited by Marcus Karlsson on 08 Feb 2016, 19:07, edited 1 time in total.


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