Arctic Warfare

War is by no means fought under ideal conditions, or it wouldn’t be called war. Most wars are fought amidst mud, rain, and many other elements, but no type of warfare quite compares to the treacheries that encompass the idea behind arctic warfare. The principles of arctic warfare are really quite simple, but the actual task of war amidst arctic conditions tends to be extremely difficult.

Arctic wars are fought amidst snowy, icy, and extremely cold terrain. Although most people think of foot soldiers when they think of war, arctic warfare also involves large, frozen, bodies of water when the naval fighters take part in this sort of combat. Arctic warfare is also known as “winter warfare,” but this name tends to be a bit of a misnomer given the fact that winter is not always a valid month in many cold regions of the world. Arctic warfare can take place on either mountainous or prairie-like land, but neither type of land exclusively, which is why arctic warfare should not be confused with alpine warfare.

Arctic warfare tends to take place, most of the time, in Northern and Eastern Europe. Various countries have been involved in this sort of warfare ranging from Sweden and Denmark to Russia and Finland. One famous example of arctic warfare is the ski troops that were deployed by the Finnish Army in 1939. Often times, those wars fought within severely cold areas must be adapted to the environment. Equipment used during other, warmer, wars will often malfunction during arctic wars, therefore, the devices used vary greatly.

Imagine the dangers that come along with arctic warfare. Sometimes, during such cold battle, the enemy is only a minor issue. Many soldier freeze to death without proper gear, and many battles would simply be lost if it were not for specialized equipment. Troops must use special camouflage, tents, sleeping bags, heaters, and fuel. Additionally, arctic warfare depends upon various forms of transportation including skis, snowshoes and specially studded tires.

Although arctic warfare may not come to mind when you think of a battlefield, arctic wars have been fought throughout the centuries. When it comes to war, warmer climates are optimal, but when the war must be fought on frozen ground, arctic warfare tactics tend to be the only logical solution.