OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 10, 2016) - Department of National Defence
Approximately 300 Canadian Army soldiers from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) and 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) from Petawawa, ON, completed a high intensity force-on-force cold weather warfighting exercise with 13 other NATO partners during Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2016 (Ex CR16) which took place in Norway from March 1 to March 9, 2016.
This year's exercise included over 15,000 troops from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, FinlandΓÇï, Germany, Latvia, the NetherlandsΓÇï, PolΓÇïΓÇïΓÇïand, Spain, Sweden, the USA, the United Kingdom and Norway, as well as several participating units from other NATO partners.
The Canadian Army contributed an infantry battalion in addition to staff officers for the enemy force's brigade headquarters. Canadian soldiers exercised joint operations in a complex combined arms scenario and developed their ability to operate with international partners in a unique and challenging winter climate. The Battalion also had two U.S. Army companies attached; one from the State of Georgia and one from Italy.
Quick Facts
- Sponsored by NATO, Ex CR16 was a Norway-led, multi-national joint and combined exercise featuring land, and air and sea elements.
- It provided an arena for participating forces to enhance war-fighting skills and exercised all aspects of winter war-fighting including offensive and defensive operations, patrolling, surveillance, reconnaissance, and battle space management.
- Ex CR16 took place in the Trondheim/Namsos region in Norway, approximately 500 kilometres north of the capital, Oslo.
- As NATO allies, Canada and Norway enjoy a long tradition of cooperation on regional and global security issues.
- A Norwegian civilian was sadly killed in a collision with an armoured vehicle (non-Canadian) March 7, 2016.
- LCol Will Graydon, Canadian Contingent Commander had two American companies under his command for the exercise: one HUMVEE company and one tank company.
Quotes
"3rd Battalion was ready for Exercise Cold Response, and performed well in Norway, alongside our Allied partners. The Challenging mountainous terrain and high intensity warfare offered tremendous training value. Working closely with other Allied nations on a very large and full-spectrum multinational exercise furthers our interoperability and keeps Canadians Army soldiers ready for any kind of mission."
Lieutenant-Colonel Will Graydon, Canadian Contingent Commander, Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2016
Associated Links
Exercise COLD RESPONSE homepage, Norwegian Armed Forces
Related Links
National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces
2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
Canadian Army Links
Contact Information:
Public Affairs Officer
2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
(613) 687-5511 x6351
Mobile: (613) 633-7896
daniel.mazurek@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca