Allied Forces South Norway (SONOR) was a NATO command tasked with the defense of Southern Norway. SONOR's area of responsibility included all of Norway with the adjacent sea territory excluding the three northernmost counties of Norway, which were under Allied Forces North Norway.
Allied Forces South Norway (SONOR) and was activated in 1962 along with Allied Forces North Norway (NON) and Allied Forces Baltic Approaches. Unlike most other NATO commands SONOR was a staffed entirely by members of the Norwegian Armed Forces. It's operational headquarters was located in Stavanger and today houses NATO's Joint Warfare Centre. The commander of SONOR had three deputies: Commander Land Forces South Norway, Commander Air Forces South Norway and Commander Naval Forces South Norway. Incoming allied units would have come under the command of these three deputy commanders.
In case of war SONOR had the following units at its disposal:
Allied Forces South Norway (SONOR), commanded by a Norwegian lieutenant general:Commander Naval Forces South Norway
Naval Forces South Norway (NAVSONOR) was tasked with the defence of Southern Norway's coastal waters against Soviet naval incursions and amphibious landings. Operations to the South of Norway's coastal waters were under the command of NATO's Allied Command Channel and Allied Forces Baltic Approaches. Therefore most major naval units of the Norwegian Navy would have come under other NATO commands, with NAVSONOR retaining control of coastal artillery units and smaller coastal defense boats. NAVSONOR also dispatched a squadron of fast attack crafts to NAVNON on a rotational basis.
Commander Naval Forces South Norway (NAVSONOR), commanded by a Norwegian rear admiral:Fredriksvern Naval Base near LarvikHaakonsvern Naval Base in BergenMarvika Naval Base in KristiansandCoastal ArtilleryNord-Trøndelag county:Ledangsholm Torpedo Battery in Statland on the Namsenfjorden covering the approach to NamsosSør-Trøndelag county:Agdenes Group at the mouth of the Trondheimsfjord to protect TrondheimAustrått Fort in Opphaug (without functioning artillery)Brettingen Fort near FevågHambåra Fort near VassbygdaHysnes Fort in HasselvikaSørviknes Torpedo Battery in HasselvikaKråkvåg Fort with 3x 120mm Tornautomatpjäs m/70 automatic gunsTarva Fort and Signal Station on Husøya islandLøkhaug Fort in LøkhaugSogn og Fjordane county:Nesje Fort in Leirvik covering the entry of the SognefjordHordaland county:Fortress group to cover the Northern approach to BergenHerdla Torpedo Battery on Herdla islandSkjellanger Fort with 2x Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns to defend the HjeltefjordenFortress group to cover the Southern approach to BergenFjell Fortress Fort in Fjell covering landing beaches near BergenKorsnes Torpedo Battery near KrokeidetNeset Fort in NesetTittelsnes Fort near ValevågVisterøy Fort with 2x 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns to defend the KorsfjordenRogaland county:Fortress group defending StavangerBrimse Fort on Brimse islandFjøløy Fort on Fjøløy islandHundvåg Fort on Hundvåg islandMastrafjorden Fort near VikevågNeset FortTau Fort in TauVigdel Fort in SolaVest-Agder county:Fortress group defending KristiansandBeltevika Fort on Flekkerøy islandKrossodden on Flekkerøy islandMøvik Fort in MøvikOdderøya Fort on Odderøya islandRandøya Fort on East Randøya islandVestfold county:Fortress Group LarvikFolehavna Fort in VesterøyveienMalmøya Fort on Malmøya islandOddane Fort in NevlunghavnTangen Fort near Langesund (in Telemark county)Fortress group on the Western side of the OslofjordBolærne Fort near Tønsberg with 3x 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic guns covering the entry to the OslofjordTorås Fort in TjømeSvelvik Fort in Hurum blocking the Svelvikstrømmen Sound (in Buskerud county)Østfold county:Fortress group on the Eastern side of the OslofjordKjøkøy Fort in KråkerøyRauøy Fort on Rauer island with 3x 75mm Tornpjäs m/57 automatic gunsTorgauten Fort to the Southwest of FredrikstadMørvika Fort near the border with SwedenOscarsborg Fortress with an underground torpedo battery (in Akershus county)In 1989 the Royal Norwegian Navy had the following ship and submarines in service. While these units were all based in Southern Norway, in wartime the submarines and frigates might have been dispatched to the various NATO commands defending the North Sea and the Baltic Approaches, while some of the patrol boats would have been sent to reinforce NAVNON in Northern Norway.
Royal Norwegian NavyOslo class frigates: HNoMS Oslo (F300), HNoMS Bergen (F301), HNoMS Trondheim (F302), HNoMS Stavanger (F303), HNoMS Narvik (F304)Sleipner class corvettes: HNoMS Sleipner (F310), HNoMS Æger (F311)Snøgg class patrol boats: HNoMS Snøgg (P980), HNoMS Rapp (P981), HNoMS Snar (P982), HNoMS Rask (P983), HNoMS Kvikk (P984), HNoMS Kjapp (P985)Storm class patrol boats: HNoMS Storm (P960), HNoMS Blink (P961), HNoMS Glimt (P962), HNoMS Skjold (P963), HNoMS Trygg (P964), HNoMS Kjekk (P965), HNoMS Djerv (P966), HNoMS Skudd (P967), HNoMS Arg (P968), HNoMS Steil (P969), HNoMS Brann (P970), HNoMS Tross (P971), HNoMS Hvass (P972), HNoMS Traust (P973), HNoMS Brott (P974), HNoMS Odd (P975), HNoMS Pil (P976), HNoMS Brask (P977), HNoMS Rokk (P978), HNoMS Gnist (P979)Hauk class patrol boats: HNoMS Hauk (P986), HNoMS Ørn (P987), HNoMS Terne (P988), HNoMS Tjeld (P989), HNoMS Skarv (P990), HNoMS Teist (P991), HNoMS Jo (P992), HNoMS Lom (P993), HNoMS Stegg (P994), HNoMS Falk (P995), HNoMS Ravn (P996), HNoMS Gribb (P997), HNoMS Geir (P998), HNoMS Erle (P999)Mine Control Vessels: HNoMS Borgen (N51)Vidar class minelayers: HNoMS Vidar (N52), HNoMS Vale (N53)Sauda class minesweepers: HNoMS Tana (M313), HNoMS Alta (M314), HNoMS Tista (M331), HNoMS Kvina (M332), HNoMS Utla (M334)Kvalsund class amphibious landing ships: HNoMS Kvalsund (L4500), HNoMS Raftsund (L4501)Reinøysund class amphibious landing ships: HNoMS Reinøysund (L4502), HNoMS Sørøysund (L4503), HNoMS Maursund (L4504), HNoMS Rotsund (L4505), HNoMS Borgsund (L4506)Support Ship: HNoMS Horten (A530)ELINT Ship: FS Marjata 2Training vessels: HNoMS Christian Radich, HNoMS Sørlandet, HNoMS Vigra (P359), HNoMS Hessa (P358)All submarines of the navy were under command of the 1st Submarine Flotilla and homeported in Haakonsvern. In 1989 the navy began to replace some of its Kobben class submarines with the more modern Ula class. The Kobben staying in service were extensively modernized.
1st Submarine Flotilla, based in HaakonsvernKobben class submarines: HNoMS Utsira (S301), HNoMS Utstein (S302), HNoMS Sklinna (S305), HNoMS Skolpen (S306) (transferred to Naval Reserve in 1989), HNoMS Stord (S308) (Naval Reserve since 1987), HNoMS Svenner (S309), HNoMS Kaura (S315), HNoMS Kinn (S316), HNoMS Kya (S317) (transferred to Denmark on 7 September 1989), HNoMS Kobben (S318), HNoMS Kunna (S319)Ula class submarines: HNoMS Ula (S300) and 5x more under constructionIn times of war the Royal Norwegian Navy would have been reinforced by the Sea Home Guard, which manned older vessels taken out of service by the navy:
Tjeld class torpedo boats: HNoMS Sel (P343), HNoMS Hval (P348), HNoMS Laks (P349), HNoMS Knurr (P357), HNoMS Skrei (P380), HNoMS Hai (P381), HNoMS Lyr (P387), HNoMS Delfin (P388)Sauda class minesweepers: HNoMS Sira (M312), HNoMS Vosso (M316), HNoMS Glomma (M317)Additionally the Royal Norwegian Navy would have been reinforced in wartime with three offshore patrol vessels of the Coast Guard:
Nordkapp class offshore patrol vessel: KV Nordkapp (W320), KV Senja (W321), KV Andenes (W322)Commander Air Forces South Norway
Commander Air Forces South Norway (AIRSONOR), commanded by a Norwegian major general:Control and Reporting Centre Mågerø managed by the 130th Air WingRygge Air Station137th Air Wing332nd Fighter/Bomber Squadron with 18x F-16A/B336th Fighter/Bomber Squadron with 18x NF-5A720th Helicopter Squadron with 12x UH-1BSearch and Rescue Detachment from the 330th Helicopter Squadron with 2x Sea King Mk43Ørland Air Station138th Air Wing338th Fighter/Bomber Squadron with 18x F-16A330th Helicopter Squadron with 2x Sea King Mk43, detachments at Rygge, Sola, Bodø and BanakNorwegian Adapted Hawk Air-defense Battery with 3x Hawk launchers and 3x 40mm L/70 radar-guided anti-aircraft gunsGardermoen Air Station135th Air Wing335th Transport Squadron, with 6x C-130H and 3x Falcon 20ECM electronic countermeasures aircraftSola Air StationSearch and Rescue Detachment from the 330th Helicopter Squadron with 2x Sea King Mk43Værnes Air StationFlight School with 16x MFI-17 SupporterNorwegian Adapted Hawk Air-defense Battery with 3x Hawk launchers and 3x 40mm L/70 radar-guided anti-aircraft gunsKjeller Air Station, main maintenance facility of the Royal Norwegian Air ForceFlesland Air Station, a US Air Force forward operating base without assigned squadrons in peacetime4x MIM-14 Nike Hercules batteries at Rygge Air Station, Gardermoen Air Station and in Hamnås and Oslo with 32x launchers each to defend OsloCommander Land Forces South Norway
Commander Land Forces South Norway (LANDSONOR), commanded by a Norwegian major general:Distriktskommando Trøndelag in Trondheim covering Central NorwayBrigade 12 (Norwegian Home Guard District 12 mobilization unit) in Trondheim1st Armored Battalion with 26 Leopard 1 tanks, 29x NM135 infantry fighting vehicles2nd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x M106 mortar carriers3rd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x M106 mortar carriers4th Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x M106 mortar carriersField Artillery Battalion with 18x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x NM195 anti-air missile vehicles and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyArtillery Observation Platoon in Setermoen with 2x Cessna O-1A planesBrigade 13 (Norwegian Home Guard District 13 mobilization unit) in Steinkjer1st Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars2nd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars3rd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsField Artillery Battalion with 24x M114 155mm towed howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70 man-portable air-defense systems and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyArtillery Observation Platoon in Setermoen with 2x Cessna O-1A planesNorwegian Home Guard District 11 Møre og Romsdal - Molde and Setnesmoen (Home Guard militia in Møre og Romsdal)Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsArtillery Battery with 8x M101 105mm towed howitzersNorwegian Home Guard District 12 Sør-Trøndelag - Trondheim (Home Guard militia in Sør-Trøndelag)Norwegian Home Guard District 13 Nord-Trøndelag - Steinkjer (Home Guard militia in Nord-Trøndelag)Distriktskommando Sør- og Vestlandet in Bergen covering Southern Norway and Western NorwayBrigade 7 (Norwegian Home Guard District 7 mobilization unit) in Kristiansand1st Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars2nd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars3rd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsField Artillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70 man-portable air-defense systems and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyArtillery Observation Platoon in Setermoen with 2x Cessna O-1A planesBrigade 8 (Norwegian Home Guard District 8 mobilization unit) in Stavanger1st Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars2nd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars3rd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsField Artillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70 man-portable air-defense systems and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyBrigade Vestlandet (Norwegian Home Guard District 9 and 10 mobilization unit) in Bergen1st Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars2nd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars3rd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsField Artillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70 man-portable air-defense systems and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyNorwegian Home Guard District 7 Agder – Kristiansand (Home Guard militia in Agder)Norwegian Home Guard District 8 Rogaland – Vatneleiren (Home Guard militia in Rogaland)Tank Company with 17x M48A5 tanksNorwegian Home Guard District 9 Bergenhus in Ulven (Home Guard militia in Hordaland)Norwegian Home Guard District 10 Sogn og Fjorande in Eid (Home Guard militia in Sogn og Fjordane)Distriktskommando Østlandet in Oslo covering Eastern NorwayBrigade 1 (Norwegian Home Guard District 1 mobilization unit) in Fredrikstad1st Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars2nd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars3rd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsField Artillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70 man-portable air-defense systems and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyBrigade 3 (Norwegian Home Guard District 3 mobilization unit) in Heistadmoen1st Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars2nd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortars3rd Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsField Artillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x RBS 70 man-portable air-defense systems and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyBrigade Sør-Norge (Norwegian Home Guard District 2 and 4 mobilization unit) in Onsrud1st Armored Battalion with 38 M48A5 tanks, 29x NM135 infantry fighting vehicles2nd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x M106 mortar carriers3rd Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x M106 mortar carriers4th Infantry Battalion with Bandvagn 206, 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x M106 mortar carriersField Artillery Battalion with 18x M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzersReconnaissance Squadron with 3x NM135 infantry fighting vehiclesAnti-tank Missile Company with 4x NM142 ATGM carriers and 4x NM116 light tanksAnti-Aircraft Battery with 6x NM195 anti-air missile vehicles and 6x 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gunsEngineer CompanyArtillery Observation Platoon in Setermoen with 2x Cessna O-1A planesNorwegian Home Guard District 1 Østfold – Ravneberget (Home Guard militia in Østfold)Artillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersNorwegian Home Guard District 2 Stor-Oslo – Oslo (Home Guard militia in Greater Oslo Region including Akershus)Hans Majestet Kongens Garde BattalionInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsArtillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersArtillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersTank Company with 13x Leopard 1 tanksNorwegian Home Guard District 3 Telemark og Buskerud – Heistadmoen (Home Guard militia in Telemark and Buskerud)Infantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsArtillery Battalion with 24x M101 105mm towed howitzersNorwegian Home Guard District 4 Hedmark – Kongsvinger (Home Guard militia in Hedmark)Norwegian Home Guard District 5 Opplandske – Terningmoen (Home Guard militia in Oppland), would raise Brigade 5 for Allied Forces North NorwayNorwegian Home Guard District 6 Hønefoss – Hønefoss (Home Guard militia in Greater Oslo Region region), would raise Brigade 6 for Allied Forces North NorwayInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsInfantry Battalion with 4x TOW ATGM missile launchers and 4x M30 107mm mortarsIn 1981 the governments of Norway and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding that in case of war the U.S. Marine Corps' 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade would be deployed to Norway as the Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade (NALMEB). To facilitate a rapid deployment of the brigade and its associated air and logistical units via strategic airlift the two nations agreed to preposition equipment and materiel for 15,000 troops, and war stocks for 30 days in Norway. Because of the harsh Norwegian climate it was decided that unlike the REFORGER depots in Germany, the depots in Norway would be underground facilities. Thus between 1985 and 1989 American and Norwegian engineers drilled nearly 63,000 square meters of underground storage tunnels into the mountains around Trondheim. After the sites had been filled with materiel and equipment, Norwegian troops were tasked with its maintenance, with two exceptions: the two stored fleet hospitals were maintained by two small US Navy detachments.
By 1990 the eight artificial caves were filled with all the equipment and the Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade could have been deployed to Norway within 48h.
The eight underground depots were:
Ørland Air Station, fighter wing reception site and depotVærnes Air Station, rotary wing reception site and depotBjugn Cave Site, in Bjugn, ground equipment and supply depotFrigård Cave Site, in Holtålen, ground equipment and supply depotTromsdal Cave Site, in Verdal, ground equipment and supply depotHammerkammen Cave Site, in Stjørdal ground ammunition depotHammernesodden Cave Site, in Namdalseid ground ammunition depotKalvåa Cave Site, in Bjugn air/ground ammunition depotAdditionally the U.S. military maintained a small number of units in Southern Norway in peacetime:
United States European CommandUnited States NavyFleet Hospital Support Facility 15, in Bjugn to maintain the stored Fleet Hospital Fifteen