Royal Danish Army

History

Founded in 1614, in the wake of the Kalmar War, the Royal Danish Army was originally designed to 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.

The Danish King remained commander in chief throughout the Early Modern period, in the Thirty Years' War, the Dano-Swedish War (1657–58) and the Scanian War (1675–1679), the Great Northern War (1700–1721), the Theatre War of 1789/9 and the Napoleonic 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: the General Command over Zealand, Lolland-Falster, Møn and Bornholm, the General Command over Funen, General Command of the Duchies and General Command for Langeland, Ærø and Tåsinge.

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.

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 (UNMIK), together with the Danish Home Guard. In addition, the Royal Danish Army was involved in the War in Iraq from 2003 to 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 when 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 was also involved in the War in Afghanistan with the Royal Danish Army and the British Army involved in heavy clashes with the Taliban in Helmand Province, where about 760 Danish soldiers controlled a large battlegroup. The Danish army withdrew its combat forces from Afghanistan in May 2014. After the Afghan National Army took responsibility for the security in Afghanistan in 2015, the Danish army has provided training, advisory and security support as part of Resolute Support Mission.

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.

Organization 2025

Main article: 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 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

• [[File:Coat of arms for the Danish Army Staff.svg|25px]] Army Command, in Karup
  • Major HQ's & Combat maneuver units
    • [[File:Emblem for the Multinational Division North.svg|25px]] Multinational Division North, in Ādaži (Latvia) part of MNC(NE) force structure.
    • [[File:Coat of arms for the King's Jutlandic Regiment of Foot.svg|25px]] 1st Brigade, in Holstebro
    • [[File:Emblem for the Danish 2 Brigade.svg|25px]] 2nd Brigade, in Slagelse
  • Regiments
    • [[File:Coat of arms for Danish Artillery Regiment.svg|25px]] Danish Artillery Regiment, in Oksbøl
    • [[File:Coat of arms of the Engineer Regiment (Denmark).svg|25px]] Engineer Regiment, in Skive
    • [[File:Coat of arms of Telegrafregimentet.svg|25px]] Signal Regiment, in Fredericia
    • [[File:Coat of arms of Logistic Regiment.svg|25px]] Logistic Regiment, in Aalborg
    • [[File:Coat of arms for Intelligence Regiment (Denmark).svg|25px]] Intelligence Regiment, in Varde
    • [[File:Coat of arms for Danish Royal Life Guards.svg|25px]] Royal Life Guards, in Høvelte
    • [[File:Emblem for the Danish Guard Hussar Regiment.svg|25px]] Guard Hussar Regiment, in Slagelse
    • [[File:Coat of arms of Jutland Dragoon Regiment.svg|25px]] Jutland Dragoon Regiment, in Holstebro
    • [[File:Coat of arms of Schleswig Foot Regiment.svg|25px]] Schleswig Foot Regiment, in Haderslev
    • [[File:Coat of arms for Bornholm's Defence.svg|25px]] Bornholm Regiment, on Bornholm (activated 12 June 2025)

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Royal Danish Army

Main article: Uniforms of the Royal Danish Army

File:Machine gun M60E6.JPG|M60E6 general-purpose machine gun File:CROPPED VERSION OF Daiga Mieriņa apmeklē NATO daudznacionālās brigādes mācību paraugdemonstrējumus 2024.gada 14.novembris - 11.jpg|Leopard 2A7DK main battle tank File:Mowag Piranha V Danish.jpg|Mowag Piranha V armoured fighting vehicle

Army Aviation Troops

The Danish Army Aviation Troops (Hærens Flyvertropper) were established in 1923 following the rapid development of military aircraft technology. The Aviation Troops flew 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 Aviation Troops were disbanded and activities transferred to the new service. During the Cold War the Army created the Royal Danish Army Air Corps (Hærens Flyvetjeneste) in 1971 with 12 Hughes OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopters. In 1974, an additional 4 Hughes OH-6 Cayuse were added. The Army bought 12 Eurocopter Fennec as anti-tank helicopters in 1990. But with the end of the Cold War and the reduction of forces, the 12 Eurocopter Fennec AS 550 and 10 Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (both as utility helicopters) were transferred to the Squadron 724 of the Air Force in 2003, and the Army Air Service disbanded.

Ranks and insignia

Main article: Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army

Each regiment and corps has distinctive insignia, such as a cap badge, berets, Formation patchs or stable belt.

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Disbanded Regiments of the Royal Danish Army

Main article: List of Danish regiments

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. Likewise, further development of military tactics have led to a streamlining of the regiments.

References

References

1. Nørby, Søren. (2006). "Det danske forsvar". Det historiske hus.
2. "The Army". Forsvaret.
3. [http://forsvaret.dk/FKO/eng/Facts+and+Figures/Materiel/Army/ Equipment used in the Army, retrieved June 25th 2008] {{webarchive. link. (2008-06-07)
4. (2006). "Det danske forsvar". Det historiske Hus.
5. (19 September 2017). "The Danish engagement in Afghanistan". Danish Ministry of Defence.
6. (29 September 2017). "Soldiers with Rifles in Their Hands Guard the Synagogue in Copenhagen: "It is Like Being in South Europe"". Berlingske Media.
7. "Hærens organisation". Danish Army.
8. (12 June 2025). "Bornholm har nu igen et eget regiment".
9. Salamander Books, Ltd. 1974. {{ISBN. 0 690 00606 3.
10. "Historik". [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark).
11. "Defence Agreement 2013-2017".
12. (2014). "The Army Strengthens Intelligence Service with New Centre".