1 Introduction 7

  1.1 Purpose and research questions 8

  1.2 Method 8

  1.3 Concepts and assumptions 9

  1.4 Delimitations 11

  1.5 Reader’s guide 12

2 The High North as an area of operations 13

  2.1 Background and strategic significance 13

  2.2 Climate and terrain 14

  2.3 Infrastructure 17

  2.4 Summary of the operational area from a military perspective 21

3 Capability requirements for operating in the High North 22

  3.1 Cold-weather capability 22

    3.1.1 Operations and tactics 22

    3.1.2 Equipment 24

  3.2 Ability to operate in wilderness conditions 26

    3.2.1 Low-density battlefield and large areas 26

    3.2.2 Wilderness as a channelling environment 29

  3.3 Analysis of capability development for High North units 30

    3.3.1 Training 30

    3.3.2 Logistics 31

    3.3.3 Particularly suitable capabilities 32

4 Units capable of operating in the High North 34

  4.1 Finland 34

  4.2 Norway 38

  4.3 United States 40

    4.3.1 US Army 40

    4.3.2 US Marine Corps 45

  4.4 Canada 47

  4.5 United Kingdom 49

  4.6 The Netherlands 52

5 Conclusions 54

  5.1 Summary and results 54

  5.2 Discussion and further research 55

6 References 59

7 Annex 1: Estimate of the Finnish wartime order of battle 75

  7.1 Assumptions and calculations 75

8 References 78