Royal Danish Army
TheRoyal Danish Army(Danish:Hæren;Faroese:Herurin;Greenlandic:Sakkutuut) is the land-based branch of theDanish Armed Forces,together with theDanish 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 (standing army) 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
[edit]Founded in 1614, in the wake of theKalmar War,[4]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.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Otto_Bache_-_Soldaternes_hjemkomst_til_K%C3%B8benhavn_i_1849.jpg/220px-Otto_Bache_-_Soldaternes_hjemkomst_til_K%C3%B8benhavn_i_1849.jpg)
TheDanish Kingremained commander in chief throughout the Early Modern period, in theThirty Years' War,theDano-Swedish War (1657–58)and theScanian War(1675–1679), theGreat Northern War(1700–1721), theTheatre Warof 1789/9 and theNapoleonic Wars. 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:Zealandand adjacent islands,FunenLangeland,Jutlandand the duchies ofSchleswigandHolstein.At the same time, the need for maintenance of the army in peacetime became pertinent, and theArmy Operational Commandwas 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 withSweden,RussiaandPrussia,theNapoleonic Warson the side of France, and theSecond 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
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Through_the_lens_and_down_the_barrel_of_Operation_Shamali_Kamarband_120106-M-DF801-042.jpg/220px-Through_the_lens_and_down_the_barrel_of_Operation_Shamali_Kamarband_120106-M-DF801-042.jpg)
The Royal Danish Army has been committed to a number ofUnited NationsandNATO peacekeepingandunconventional warfareoperations since becoming involved in theYugoslav Warsunder UN mandate in 1994, most notably in the famousOperation Bøllebank.The Royal Danish Army was also engaged in theKosovo Warand continues to this day to maintain peacekeeping operations in Kosovo as part of theUnited Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo(UNMIK), together with theDanish Home Guard.In addition, the Royal Danish Army was involved in theWar in Iraqfrom 2003 to 2007 with a significant contingent of soldiers responsible for creating and maintaining peace in the province ofBasra,together with the British.
Denmark lost its first soldier in Iraq on 17 August 2003 when Preben Pedersen, a 34-year-old Lance Corporal with theJutland Dragoon Regiment,became the first coalition soldier not from the United States or Britain to die in theIraq War.Starting in 2001, the Royal Danish Army was also involved in theWar in Afghanistanand the Royal Danish Army and the British Army have been involved in heavy clashes with the Taliban in theHelmand Province,where about 760 Danish soldiers controlled a large battlegroup. The Danish army withdrew its combat forces from Afghanistan in May 2014. After theAfghan National Armytook responsibility for the security in Afghanistan in 2015, the Danish army has provided training, advisory and security support as part ofResolute Support Mission.[5]
In an effort to relieve police officers in Copenhagen and at the border control, Danish soldiers replaced police officers in 2017 at different locations, marking the first time in 86 years soldiers were used to keep order in cities.[6]
Structure of the Royal Danish Army
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Royal_Danish_Army_-_Organization_2021.png/360px-Royal_Danish_Army_-_Organization_2021.png)
The structure of the Danish army changed in 2015, leavingDanish Divisionwithout brigades or support troops directly under its command. The two brigades had only command over combat battalions, as combat support and logistic support units were grouped under various support centres. 1st Brigade consisted of four combat battalions and was tasked with providing troops for international deployments. 2nd Brigade consisted of five battalions and was tasked with the defence of the Danish territory. Support centres contained the army's combat support, combat logistic and general support units. This structure was changed in
Army Command,inKarup[7]
- Major HQ's & Combat maneuver units
- Regiments
Equipment
[edit]-
M60E6general-purpose machine gun
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Leopard 2A7DKmain battle tank
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Mowag Piranha Varmoured fighting vehicle
Army Aviation Troops
[edit]The Danish Army Aviation Troops[8](Hærens Flyvertropper) were established in 1923 following the rapid development of military aircraft technology. The Aviation Troops flew two squadrons ofFokker C.Vreconnaissance aircraft from 1923 to 1932, when 17Gloster Gauntletfighters were purchased to form two new squadrons. In 1937, tenFokker D.XXIfighters were built on licence in the Royal Army Aircraft Factory atVærløse. As a result of the establishment of the Royal Danish Air Force in 1950, the Army Aviation Troops were disbanded and activities transferred to the new service. During theCold Warthe Army created the Royal Danish Army Air Corps (Hærens Flyvetjeneste) in 1971 with 12Hughes OH-6 Cayuselight observation helicopters. In 1974, an additional 4Hughes OH-6 Cayusewere added. The Army bought 12Eurocopter Fennecas anti-tank helicopters in 1990. But with the end of the Cold War and the reduction of forces, the 12Eurocopter FennecAS 550 and 10Hughes OH-6 Cayuse(both as utility helicopters) were transferred to theSquadron 724of the Air Force in 2003, and the Army Air Service disbanded.
Ranks and insignia
[edit]Each regiment and corps has distinctive insignia, such as acap badge,berets,Formation patchsorstable belt.
- Officers
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General | Generalløjtnant | Generalmajor | Brigadegeneral | Oberst | Oberstløjtnant | Major | Kaptajn | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | Sekondløjtnant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish Pay Grade[10] | M406 | M405 | M404 | M403 | M402 | M401 | M332 M331 M322 |
M321 | M312 | M311 | M310 |
- Other ranks
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chefsergent | Seniorsergent | Oversergent | Sergent | Sergent (Officerselev) |
Korporal | Overkonstabel af 1. grad | Overkonstabel | Konstabel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish Pay Grade[10] | M232 | M231 | M221 | M212 | M211 | M113 | M112 |
Disbanded Regiments of the Royal Danish Army
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Royal_Danish_Horse_Guards_1848_%28Otto_Bache%29.jpg/220px-Royal_Danish_Horse_Guards_1848_%28Otto_Bache%29.jpg)
The Army has throughout its long history had many different regiments that have either changed names, been disbanded, or been amalgamated or merged. Since the end of the Cold War has seen many cuts to military expenditure, many regiments have been downsized and merged.[11]Likewise, further development of military tactics have led to a streamlining of the regiments.[12]
See also
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Dancon/Irak
- International Security Assistance Force
- Equipment of the Royal Danish Army
- Royal Danish Navy
- Royal Danish Air Force
References
[edit]- ^Nørby, Søren (2006).Det danske forsvar.København: Det historiske hus. p. 39.ISBN87-11-11853-9.
- ^"The Army".Forsvaret.dk.Forsvaret.Retrieved11 April2016.
- ^Equipment used in the Army, retrieved June 25th 2008Archived2008-06-07 at theWayback Machine
- ^Søren NørbyDet danske forsvarDet historiske Hus (2006), p. 39.
- ^Danish Ministry of Defence(19 September 2017)."The Danish engagement in Afghanistan".fmn.dk.Danish Ministry of Defence.Retrieved29 September2017.
- ^Thieden, Amalie (29 September 2017)."Soldiers with Rifles in Their Hands Guard the Synagogue in Copenhagen:" It is Like Being in South Europe "".Berlingske(in Danish). Berlingske Media.Retrieved29 September2017.
- ^"Hærens organisation".Danish Army.Retrieved28 April2019.
- ^Salamander Books, Ltd. 1974.ISBN0 690 00606 3.
- ^ab"Hærens Gradstegn"(PDF).forsvaret.dk(in Danish).Danish Defence.October 2021.Retrieved22 August2023.
- ^ab"Historik".forpers.dk(in Danish).Ministry of Defence.Retrieved26 September2018.
- ^Ministry of Defence."Defence Agreement 2013-2017"(PDF).fmn.dk(in Danish). p. 3.Retrieved5 June2017.
- ^Dyring, Arne (2014)."The Army Strengthens Intelligence Service with New Centre"(PDF)(in Danish).Retrieved8 December2015.