The Royal Danish Army is the ground-based branch of the Danish
Defence, together with the Danish Home Guard. For the last decade, the Royal
Danish Army has undergone a massive transformation of structures, equipment
and training methods, abandoning its traditional role of anti-invasion
defence, and instead focusing on out of area operations by, among other
initiatives, reducing the size of the conscripted and reserve components and
increasing the active component, changing from 60% support structure and
40% operational capability, to 60% combat operational capability and 40%
support structure. When fully implemented, the Danish Army will be
capable of deploying 1,500 troops permanently on three different
continents continuously, or 5,000 troops for a shorter period of time, in
international operations without any need for extraordinary measures such as
parliamentary approval of a war funding bill.
Brief organizational history The Royal Danish Army was originally
designed to prevent conflicts and war, maintain Denmark's sovereignty and
protect her interest. With time, these goals have developed into also
encompassing the need to protect freedom and peaceful development in the world
with respect for human rights. Originally, the Danish King commanded
the Army into battle himself and fought on the battlefield. In 1815, however, as
a result of continued evolution and division of command, four general
commands were created with the King as the supreme authority: Zealand and
adjacent islands, Funen Langeland, Jutland and the duchies of Schleswig and
Holstein. At the same time, the need for maintenance of the army in peacetime
became pertinent, and the Army Operational Command was established.
The Royal Danish Army has historically been an integral part of the defence of
Denmark and thus involved in warfare, skirmishes and battles continuously to
protect her interests. Most notably various territorial wars with Sweden,
Russia and Prussia, the Napoleonic Wars on the side of France, and the Second
World War, controversially and famously against the wishes of the Danish
government, which had ordered immediate surrender to Germany. In modern times
the Royal Danish Army has also become the backbone of Danish international
missions, such as those in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Recent deployments The Royal Danish Army has been committed
to a number of United Nations and NATO peacekeeping and unconventional warfare
operations since becoming involved in the Yugoslav Wars under UN mandate in
1994, most notably in the famous Operation Bøllebank. The Royal Danish
Army was also engaged in the Kosovo War and continues to this day to maintain
peacekeeping operations in Kosovo as part of the United Nations Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo, together with the Danish Home Guard.
Furthermore, the Royal Danish Army was involved in the War in Iraq from
2003-2007 with a significant contingent of soldiers responsible for creating and
maintaining peace in the province of Basra, together with the British.
Denmark lost its first soldier in Iraq on 17 August 2003: Preben Pedersen a
34-year-old Lance Corporal with the Jutland Dragoon Regiment became the
first coalition soldier not from the United States or Britain to die in the
Iraq War. Starting in 2001, the Royal Danish Army has also been involved in
the War in Afghanistan. For the past few years, the Royal Danish Army and the
British Army have been involved in heavy clashes with the Taliban in the Helmand
Province, where about 760 Danish soldiers control a large battlegroup.
The Danish army withdrew its combat forces from Afghanistan in May 2014.
Structure of the Royal Danish Army The structure of the Danish army changed
in 2015, leaving Danish Division without brigades or support troops directly
under irs command. The two brigades have only command over combat battalions, as
combat support and logistic support units are now grouped under various
support centers. 1st Brigade consists of four combat battalions and is tasked
with providing troops for international deployments. 2nd Brigade consists of
five battalions and is tasked with the defense of Danish territory. Support
Centers contain the Army's combat support, combat logistic and general
support units, and in some cases perform also tasks for the entire Danish Defense
structure: i.e. the Logistic Regiment, Army Logistics Center and Defense
Military Police Center provides operational units for the Army and
overall logistic services to Army and Military Police units and functions for
all of the Danish defense establishment. Army Staff in KarupJægerkorpset Special
Forces in Aalborg Danish Division in Haderslev
1st Brigade - Army International Center in Haderslev
I Armored Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment
II Armored Infantry Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment
III Reconnaissance Battalion, Gardehusarregimentet(includes one
training company) V Training Battalion, Jydske
Dragonregiment 2nd Brigade - Army Combat Center in
Slagelse I Armored Infantry Battalion,
Gardehusarregimentet I Armored Infantry Battalion, Den
Kongelige Livgarde II Armored Infantry Battalion,
Gardehusarregimentet II Armored Infantry Battalion, Den
Kongelige Livgarde V Training Battalion,
Gardehusarregimentet Army Combat and Fire Support Center in
Oksbøl Army Combined Operations Training Center
1st Danish Artillery Battalion Engineer Regiment, Defense Engineering
and CBRN Center in Skive 1st Armored Engineer Battalion
2nd EOD Battalion 3rd Defense Construction Battalion
Driving School Midland Signal Regiment, Defense Command Support
Center in Fredericia 1st HQ Battalion in Haderslev
2nd CIS Battalion Logistic Regiment, Army Logistics Center
and Defense Military Police Center in Aalborg
1st Logistic Battalion 2nd Logistic Battalion
3rd Maintenance Battalion 4th National Support Battalion in
Vordingborg(includes one training company)
5th Military Police Battalion Driving School North
Army Intelligence Center in Varde 1st Military Intelligence Battalion
2nd Military Intelligence Battalion Electronic Warfare Company in
Fredericia(Part of 1st MIBTN) Other units:
Army NCO School in Varde Royal Danish Military Academy in
Copenhagen administrative HQ at Forsvarsakademiet.
Jydske Dragonregiment administrative HQ in Holstebro
Gardehusarregimentet administrative HQ in Slagelse
Mounted Squadron Driving School South
Den Kongelige Livgarde administrative HQ in Høvelte
Royal Guard Company, Den Kongelige Livgarde in Copenhagen
III Training Battalion, Den Kongelige Livgarde
Home Guard Defense Regions Defense Region North Jutland and Central
Jutland Defense Region Funen, Southern Jutland
Defense Region Zealand Equipment
Army Air Corps The Danish Army Air Corps was
established in 1923 following the rapid development of military aircraft
technology. The air corps was based on two squadrons of Fokker C.V
reconnaissance aircraft from 1923 to 1932, when 17 Gloster Gauntlet fighters
were purchased to form two new squadrons. In 1937, ten Fokker D.XXI
fighters were built on licence in the Royal Army Aircraft Factory at Værløse.
As a result of the establishment of the Royal Danish Air Force in 1950, the Army
Air Corps was closed and activities transferred to the new service. During
the Cold War the Army created the Army Air Service in 1971, which flew
anti-tank and transport helicopters. But with the end of the Cold War and the
reduction of forces the last 12 Eurocopter Fennec AS 550 helicopters
were transferred to the Royal Danish Air Force in 2003 and the Army Air Service
disbanded. Insignia
Regiments of the Royal Danish Army After the end of the Cold War the Royal
Danish Army began to reduce the number of brigades and combat units. Ultimately
also most of the Army's regiments were disbanded, leaving just three of the
oldest regiments in Europe in active service:
Jydske Dragonregiment - Jutland Dragoon Regiment
Gardehusarregimentet - Guard House Regiment
Den Kongelige Livgarde - Royal Life Guards
Disbanded regiments include: Infantry
Danske Livregiment, Slesvigske Fodregiment,
Prinsens Livregiment, Sjællandske Livregiment,
Falsterske Fodregiment, Fynske Livregiment,
Kongens Jydske Fodregiment, Dronningens Livregiment,
Fodfolkets Pionererkommando, Feltherrens Fodregiment,
Marineregimentet, Regiment) Cavalry
Livgarden til Hest, 1st Dragoon Regiment,
2rd Dragoon Regiment, 3rd Dragoon Regiment,
4th Dragoon Regiment, 5th Dragoon Regiment,
6th Dragoon Regiment, Artillery
Kronens Artilleriregiment, Sjællandske Artilleriregiment,
Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment, Sønderjyske Artilleriregiment,
Kongens Artilleriregiment, Dronningens Artilleriregiment,
Danish Artillery Regiment, Engineers
Sjællandske Ingeniørregiment Jydske Ingeniørregiment
Signals Sjællandske Telegrafregiment,
Jydske Telegrafregiment, Logistic
Sjællandske Trainregiment, Jydske Trainregiment,
Danish International Logistical Center, Air Defence
Sjællandske Luftværnsregiment, Jydske Luftværnsregiment,
Aviation Hærens Flyvertropper,
Hærens Flyvetjeneste, See also
Dancon/Irak International Security Assistance Force
Equipment of the Royal Danish Army Royal Danish Navy
Royal Danish Air Force References