Sirius Dog Sled Patrol

Sirius Dog Sled Patrol
Slædepatruljen Sirius
Badge of the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol
Founded1941; 83 years ago (1941)
Country Kingdom of Denmark
Allegiance Kingdom of Denmark
BranchJoint Arctic Command
RoleReconnaissance
Enforcing national sovereignty
Information operations
Size14[1]
Garrison/HQDaneborg (74° 18'N 20° 14'W)
Nickname(s)Siriuspatruljen
Mascot(s)A sled dog
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Chief of DefenceGeneral Flemming Lentfer
Chief of Joint Arctic CommandMaj. Gen. Kim Jesper Jørgensen

The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol (Danish: Slædepatruljen Sirius), known informally as Siriuspatruljen (the Sirius Patrol) and formerly known as North-East Greenland Sledge Patrol and Resolute Dog Sled Patrol,[1] is an elite Danish naval unit. It conducts long-range reconnaissance patrolling, and enforces Danish sovereignty in the Arctic wilderness of northern and eastern Greenland, an area that includes the Northeast Greenland National Park, which is the largest national park in the world.[2] Patrolling is usually done in pairs and using dog sleds with about a dozen dogs, sometimes for four months and often without additional human contact.

The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol has the ability to engage militarily, and has done so historically. Its purpose is to maintain Danish sovereignty and police its area of responsibility.[3] The physical and psychological demands for acceptance into the unit are exceptional.

  1. ^ a b "Slædepatruljen Sirius". Forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Nationalpark i Grønland - verdens største naturreservat". Archived from the original on 2014-05-03. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  3. ^ Formål og opgaver Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Forsvaret, Grønlands Kommando