List of Royal Norwegian Navy bases explained

A list of Royal Norwegian Navy bases both past and present.

Active

• Haakonsvern orlogsstasjon established 1962, the main base.
• Ramsund Naval Base is a Norwegian logistics base and holds a detachment of Norwegian Naval EOD Commandos and includes training facilities for the Norwegian Naval Special Operations Command.^[1] While having no permanent troops stationed there, the US Navy rotates contractors and military personnel in order to maintain facilities and service US ships.^[2]
• Trondenes Fort established 1943, main base for the Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command.
• Sortland Naval Base, base for Coast Guard Squadron North of the Norwegian Coast Guard.
• KNM Harald Haarfagre at Madla, Royal Norwegian Navy (and Air Force) Basic Training Establishment.
• Karljohansvern former main base, minor units still present.
  • Including Norske Løve Fortress

Ceremonial commands

Places where the Navy has the formal command and maintains a commandantship, but where the military activity beyond administration and ceremony is very low.

• Bergenhus Fortress (ca. 1200–today)
  • Including Sverresborg
• Vardøhus Fortress (1306–today)

Former bases

• Olavsvern (?–2009) auxiliary base.
• Fredriksvern (1677–2002), was the main base until 1864.
• Hysnes orlogsstasjon (?–2002)
• Marvika orlogsstasjon(?–2002)
• Ulsnes orlogsstasjon(?–2002)

Coastal artillery forts and fortresses

Coastal artillery was part of the Navy organisation from 1934 until it was disbanded in 2002.

• Agdenes Fortress 1898 -
  • Brettingen Fort
  • Hysnes Fort
  • Hambara Fort
• Bolærne Fort (1916–2005) Located outside Tønsberg, outer oslofjord. Disbanded.
• Breiviknes Fort Disbanded
• Fjell Fortress (1942–2004), disbanded 1999, sold 2004.
• Grøtsund Fort Disbanded.
• Herdla Fort (1940–2001) Disbanded, now a museum.
• Korsnes Fort Disbanded, and demolished
• Krossodden Fort
• Kråkvåg Fort Disbanded and demolished
• Kvalvik Fort
• Malangen Fort Disbanded and demolished
• Meløyvær Fortress Disbanded, now a museum.
• Nes Fort (?–2001) Disbanded and demolished
• Nesje Fort (1940–2004), in the Sognefjord, the fort was handed over to the Norwegian Home Guard in 1958 and was operated by that organisation until 2004.
• Oddane Fort - maintained as a possible future museum.
• Odderøya Fort (1667–1999), at Odderøya near Kristiansand.
• Oscarsborg Fortress (1643–2003)
• Rauøy Fort Disbanded and partly demolished. Now a training ground for Norwegian special forces.
• Rødbergodden Fort
• Skjellanger Fort Disbanded
• Vigdel Fort, near Stavanger
• Visterøy Fort Disbanded
• Årøybukt Fort Disbanded

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ramsund . Norwegian Armed Forces . 15 January 2021 . 8 October 2022 . Norwegian.
2. News: Norway, US Bolster Russian Sub Watching With New Bases . McLeary. Paul . . 21 April 2021 . 8 February 2023.