Icelandic Coast Guard

The Icelandic Coast Guard (Icelandic: Landhelgisgæsla Íslands, Landhelgisgæslan or simply Gæslan) is the service responsible for Iceland's coastal defence and maritime and aeronautical search and rescue. Its origins can be traced to 1859, when the corvette Ørnen started patrolling Icelandic waters. In 1906, Iceland's first purposely built guard-ship, Islands Falk, began operation. Iceland's own defense of its territorial waters began around 1920 and the Icelandic Coast Guard was formally founded on 1 July 1926.[1] The first cannon was put on the trawler Thor in 1924 and on 23 June 1926 the first ship built for the Coast Guard, named Óðinn, arrived in Iceland. Three years later, on 14 July 1929 the coastal defence ship Ægir was added to the Coast Guard fleet.

Icelandic Coast Guard
Icelandic Coast Guard emblem
Active	1926
Country	Iceland
Type	Coast guard
Role	Coastal defence, maritime law enforcement
Size	200 officers
Motto(s)	Always Prepared
Website	www.lhg.is/english/
Commanders
Director General	RADM Georg Kr. Lárusson
Chief of Operations	CDRE Ásgrímur L. Ásgrímsson
Chief of Maritime Division	CAPT Auðunn F Kristinsson
Chief of Aeronautical Division	CDR sg Sindri Steingrímsson
Chief of Defence Division	CAPT Jón B Guðnason
Insignia
Ensign
Racing stripe
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	Airbus H225 AS332 Super Puma
Patrol	Bombardier Dash 8

The Icelandic Coast Guard played its largest role during the Cod Wars between 1972 and 1975, when the Coast Guard ships would cut the trawl wires of British and West German trawlers and engaged in confrontations with Royal Navy warships, in order to enforce a disputed expansion of Iceland's exclusive economic zone.

The Coast Guard also maintains the Iceland Air Defence System which conducts ground surveillance of Iceland's air space.[2][3]

The Icelandic Coast Guard is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting.

Operations

From left to right: Captain of Thor Cdr. s.g. Sigurður Steinar Ketilsson, Director of the Icelandic Coast Guard R.Adm. Georg Kr. Lárusson, President of Iceland Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, and former Minister of the Interior Ögmundur Jónasson

The Icelandic Coast Guard's (ICG) primary mission is the defending the Icelandic sovereignty, integrity of the territorial waters, maintaining Icelandic law and order inside the 200-nautical-mile (370 km; 230 mi)-wide economic zone as well as other vital missions such as Search and Rescue. The Coast Guard operates JRCC-Iceland which is responsible for search and rescue of vessels and aircraft in Iceland's search and rescue region (SRR) according to International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual. Additionally the ICG is in the charge of defusing naval mines, most of which were laid during the Second World War, and monitoring fisheries in international waters outside of the Icelandic economic zone in order to blacklist any vessel partaking in unregulated fishing and thus bar them from receiving services from any member of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission[4] in order to make unregulated fishing unprofitable. The Icelandic Coast Guard also occasionally operates within Greenlandic and Faeroese waters, following a bilateral agreement with Denmark regarding mutual aid in security, rescue and defence matters.

The Coast Guard accomplishes these tasks with the use of offshore patrol vessels (OPV), helicopters, surveillance aircraft, satellites and a network of land based surface scanning radar.

The Icelandic Coast Guard is also in charge of the Iceland Air Defence System, which operates four ground-based AN-FPS(V)5 air surveillance radars and a control and command centre.

In the 1990s the Coast Guard started hosting exercises such as "Northern Challenge" which had military units from Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom, among others, participating along with the Icelandic Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has also taken part in peacekeeping operations on behalf of the Icelandic Crisis Response Unit, although while usually using their own rank insignia, uniforms and weapons.

The fleet also takes part in Frontex operations, and in that role ICGV Týr played a major part in the rescue of over 300 Syrian refugees in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in January 2015.[5]

Fleet

Currently the Icelandic Coast Guard fleet consists of three OPVs, one coastal hydrographic and patrol vessel and an independent fast rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), as well as numerous smaller boats assigned to the larger units. In 2011 the Coast Guard received ICGV Thor, built by the Asmar shipyard in Talcahuano, Chile.[6][7]

ICGV Týr, an Ægir-class offshore patrol vessel, the second youngest, built by Århus Flydedok a/s and launched in 1975. ICGV Ægir, lead ship of the Ægir class, is ICGV Týr's sister ship, built by Ålborg Værft a/s and launched in 1968. Each ship is equipped with two or more RHIBs of various sizes and armed with a 40 mm Bofors cannon. Various kinds of small arms as well as other man portable weapons are also carried onboard each of the ships. Týr and Thor are also equipped with sonar systems and the Ægir-class vessels have flight decks and a hangar for a small helicopter. While the Coast Guard currently doesn't operate small enough helicopters to use the hangars, the flight decks are often used by the helicopters of the Aeronautical Division on various missions.

The coastguard has as well a 73-ton patrol and hydrographic survey vessel, named Baldur, built by Vélsmiðja Seyðisfjarðar shipyard in 1991. This vessel has no mounted weaponry but it has nonetheless been used for port security and fishery inspection.

Aeronautical division

The Coast Guard's Aeronautical Division was founded on 10 December 1955 when a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina flying boat was acquired. It was originally from the Iceland Defense Force but was damaged near Langanes in 1954. It was registered as TF-RAN and nicknamed Rán.

Until 2019, the Icelandic Coast Guard operated three Aerospatiale AS-332L1 Super Puma helicopters, which were registered as TF-LIF, TF-SYN and TF-GNA. As a response to the withdrawal of the Iceland Defense Force in 2006, the Coast Guard operated four helicopters, including a leased Aérospatiale SA-365N-1 Dauphin 2 TF-EIR, but this number was reduced to the three Super Pumas as of 2015. In 2019 the Icelandic Coast Guard received two Airbus Helicopters H225 helicopters, leased from Norwegian company Knut Axel Ugland Holding AS, to replace the three AS332L1 Super Pumas until permanent replacement helicopters are purchased in 2022.[8]

The Coast Guard also operates a single Bombardier DHC-8-Q314, registered as TF-SIF, modified for maritime surveillance and reconnaissance. This plane has been extensively modified by FIELD to carry a modern Mission Management System and suite of surveillance sensors, air operable door and communications/navigation equipment. It is occasionally also used for surveillance of volcanic eruptions, such as the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull.

Unlike the fleet, aircraft of the Icelandic Coast Guard have standard Icelandic civilian registers, as the Althing (parliament) has never agreed on laws for military or government aircraft. Over the time since the division was formed the regulations for standard civilian aircraft have become more restrictive. As a result, the Coast Guard can no longer operate military aircraft like it did in the past. Nevertheless, current helicopters are outfitted with the latest generation U.S. night vision equipment, reserved for U.S. armed forces and the armies of their allies and thus the only civilian registered aircraft in the world, so equipped.

Ships and aircraft

All major vehicles of the Icelandic Coast Guard are currently named after beings from Norse mythology.

Currently operated vessels

Ship name	Type	Class	Note	Photo
ICGV Þór	Offshore patrol vessel	UT 512L Type	Chilean-built UT 512L Type (enlarged UT 512 Type) offshore patrol vessel commissioned in late 2011 and the flagship of the service. Named after Thor, the god of thunder, lightning and troll slaying.
ICGV Týr	Offshore patrol vessel	Ægir class	Danish-built Ægir-class offshore patrol vessel named after Týr, the god of combat and heroism.
ICGV Ægir	Offshore patrol vessel	Ægir class	Danish-built Ægir-class offshore patrol vessel named after Ægir, the king of the sea.
ICGV Baldur	Hydrographic survey and patrol vessel	Baldur class	Icelandic-built Baldur-class hydrographic survey and patrol vessel named after Baldur, god of beauty and more.

Currently operated aircraft/helicopters

• TF-SIF is a Bombardier DHC-8-Q314 named after Sif, goddess and wife of Thor, the god of thunder and trollslaying. Used for maritime surveillance and replaced Fokker F-27.
  

  Helicopter TF-LIF, an AS 332L1 Super Puma[9]
• TF-LIF is an Aérospatiale AS-332L1 Super Puma named after Líf, the only woman who will survive Ragnarök. Used for maritime surveillance and search and rescue operations.

Currently operated leased aircraft

• TF-EIR and TF-GRO are Eurocopter EC225 Super Pumas on long-term lease from Knut Axel Ugland Holding of Norway and were brought into service to augment the Coast Guard-owned TF-LIF.

Decommissioned vessels

• ICGV Óðinn (I)
• ICGV Gautur, originally named Óðinn (II) but renamed when a new Óðinn (III) arrived, Gautur is one of Óðinn's pseudonyms.
• ICGV Óðinn (III) an offshore Patrol Vessel named after Óðinn the all-seeing father of the gods.
• ICGV Baldur (I), a fast patrol boat used for less than a year and returned because of bad characteristics in rough seas.
• ICGV Baldur (II), an armed trawler.
• ICGV Bragi, named after Bragi the god of poetry. A fast patrol boat used for less than a year and returned because of bad characteristics in rough seas.
• ICGV Njörður, named after Njörðr the god of wind, fertile land along the seacoast, as well as seamanship, sailing and fishing. A fast patrol boat used for less than a year and returned because of bad characteristics in rough seas.
• ICGV Týr (I), a whaler (Hvalur 9) borrowed during the second Cod War usually called Hval-Týr.
• ICGV Thor (I)
• ICGV Thor (II)
• ICGV Thor (III) (is)
• ICGV Ægir (I)
• ICGV Albert, patrol and rescue vessel. Joint ownership by the ICG and the National Life-saving Association of Iceland, now ICE-SAR. Operated by the ICG. Decommissioned in the mid 1970s.
• ICGV Árvakur, a lighthouse tender and patrol ship decommissioned in the 1980s.
• ICGV María Júlía, patrol and rescue vessel, named after one of those who financed her construction. Joint ownership by the ICG and the National Life-saving Association of Iceland. Operated by the ICG. Decommissioned in the late 1960s.
• ICGV Sæbjörg, a patrol and rescue ship owned by the National Life-saving Association of Iceland but operated by the ICG. Decommissioned in the mid 1960s.
• ICGV Ver, an armed trawler. Operated by the ICG in the last Cod War in 1975-1976.

In addition the Coast Guard has rented or borrowed a number of civilian vessels and aircraft for shorter periods, which are not listed.

De-commissioned aircraft

Former Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter

• TF-RAN (I) Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina, named after Rán.
• TF-SIF (I) Douglas C-54 Skymaster.
• TF-SYR Fokker F27 Friendship-200.
• TF-EIR Bell 47J. Joint ownership by the ICG and the National Life-saving Association of Iceland. The very first Iceland registered SAR helicopter.
• TF-GNA Sikorsky S-62. Joint ownership by the ICG and the National Life-saving Association of Iceland.
• TF-HUG Bell 47G named after Huginn one of Odin's ravens who flew over the world every morning to gather information for him.
• TF-MUN Bell 47G named after Muninn one of Odin's ravens who flew over the world every morning to gather information for him.
• TF-GRO (I) Hughes 500C Defender.
• TF-RAN (II) Sikorsky S-76 Spirit.
• TF-GRO (II) Hughes 500C Defender.
• TF-GRO (III) Eurocopter AS 350B Ecureuil.
• TF-SIF (II) was an Aérospatiale SA 365N Dauphin II, which was operated from 1984 to 1985.
• TF-SIF (III) was an Aérospatiale SA 365N Dauphin II It was bought new in 1985 but was destroyed after an emergency sea landing in July 2007[10]
• TF-SYN was a Fokker F-27-200 Friendship, which was bought new in 1976 and used until 2009. Currently preserved at the Aviation Museum of Akureyri.
• TF-EIR is an Aérospatiale SA-365N-1 Dauphin 2.

Radars

Keflavik

Miðnesheiði

Gunnolfsvík

Stokksnes

Bolafjalli

Iceland Air Defense System radar stations
Radar station with AN/FPS-117(V)5
Control and Reporting Centre

The Iceland Air Defense System monitors Iceland's airspace. Air Defense is provided by fighter jets from NATO allies, which rotate units for the Icelandic Air Policing mission to Keflavik Air Base. The Iceland Air Defense System's Control and Reporting Centre is at Keflavik Air Base and reports to NATO's Integrated Air Defense System CAOC Uedem in Germany.

• Iceland Air Defense System, at Keflavik Air Base[11]
  • Control and Reporting Centre, at Keflavik Air Base
  • H1 Radar Station, at Miðnesheiði, with AN/FPS-117(V)5
  • H2 Radar Station, on Mount Gunnolfsvík, with AN/FPS-117(V)5
  • H3 Radar Station, at Stokksnes, with AN/FPS-117(V)5
  • H4 Radar Station, on Mount Bolafjalli, with AN/FPS-117(V)5

Weaponry

The Icelandic Coast Guard possess 207 firearms, 111 of which are in storage.[12][13][14]

Currently in use

Model	Image	Calibre	Type	Origin	Quantity	Details
Bofors 40 mm L/70		40mm	Autocannon	Sweden	4	Purchased from Norway and refurbished.
Bofors 40 mm L/60		40mm	Autocannon	Sweden	4	Model year 1936. Gift from Denmark.
Glock 17		9mm	Pistol	Austria	20	Model years 1990, 2006 and 2012. Bought from a dealership in Reykjavík.
H&K MP5A2N		9mm	Submachine gun	West Germany  Norway	50	Model year 1990. Gift from Norway 2011.
Rheinmetall MG 3		7.62mm	General-purpose machine gun	West Germany  Norway	10	Model year 1990. Gift from Norway 2013.
Steyr SSG 69		7.62mm	Sniper rifle	Austria	8	Model year 1989. Bought from a dealership in Reykjavík.

Currently in storage

Model	Image	Calibre	Type	Origin	Quantity	Details
Browning M2		.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	United States	3	Model year 1939. Came with a seaplane which the ICG had in operation.
H&K G3		7.62mm	Battle rifle	West Germany	20	Model year 1959. Gift from Denmark 2006.
Cannon 37 mm	N/A	37mm	Cannon	N/A	3	Model year 1898. Gift from Denmark.
Cannon 47 mm	N/A	47mm	Cannon	N/A	3	Model year 1909. Gift from Denmark.
Cannon 57 mm	N/A	57mm	Cannon	N/A	5	Model year 1892. Gift from Denmark.
M1 carbine		7.62mm	Carbine	United States	30	Model year 1940. Lent to the Reykjavík Police 1986.
M2 carbine		7.62mm	Carbine	United States	20	Model year 1940. Lent to the Reykjavík Police 1986.
QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss		47mm	Cannon	France	1	Model year 1912. At a museum in Ísafjörður.
Remington Model 870		12-gauge	Shotgun	United States	4	Model year 2000. Bought from a dealership in Reykjavík.
SMLE Lee-Enfield		.303	Bolt-action Repeating rifle	United Kingdom	10	Model year 1910. Unknown origin.
S&W .38 Police Special		.38 Special	Pistol	United States	12	Model year 1940. Marshall aid.

Ranks

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Iceland (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
							Rear Admiral General Director		Commodore Chief of Operations		Captain Deputy Chief of Operations, head of divisions		Commander sg. 1° CO of department, vessel or aircraft	Commander 2° CO of department, vessel or aircraft	Lieutenant Commander Commanding Officer		Lieutenant Officer (after 6 years of service)		Lieutenant jg. Officer (after 2 years of service)			Sub-Lieutenant Officer (first 2 years of service)

Enlisted

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Iceland (Edit)							No equivalent				No equivalent												No equivalent
	Petty officer/specialist (after 12 years service)								Petty officer/specialist (after 6 years service)								Petty officer/specialist										Enlisted (after 6 years service)		Enlisted (after 3 years service)			Enlisted (after 1 year service)			Enlisted

See also

• Military of Iceland
• Iceland Defense Force (United States Armed Forces in Iceland)
• Cod Wars

References

1. "The Icelandic Coast Guard" (PDF). Retrieved 18 May 2020.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "NATO Air Policing". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
4. "North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
5. USA Today-Arizona RepublicJan 4, 2015, Section B page2
6. "Til hamingju með daginn! Þór kominn til Íslands". Retrieved 14 December 2014.
7. "Nýtt varðskip Þór". Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
8. https://www.janes.com/article/87583/iceland-coastguard-receives-new-helos
9. "TF-LIF". Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
10. "All Articles".
11. "Iceland Air Defense System". Icelandic Coast Guard. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
12. "Landhelgisgæslan á 212 vopn - Vísir".
13. "869/144 svar: vopnaöflun og vopnaeign Landhelgisgæslunnar". Alþingi.
14. "Fallbyssur á Sæbraut: Vegfarendur ráku upp stór augu - DV". Archived from the original on 2 January 2018.

External links

• Official Site in English
• Landhelgisgæsla Íslands in Icelandic.
• Coast Guard laws in Icelandic.
• Info on Icelandic Coast Guard
• Randburg discussion on Icelandic Coast Guard
• Ranks of the Icelandic Coast Guard