Royal Danish Army

Land warfare branch of Denmark's military

Royal Danish Army

Hæren

Coat of arms of the Royal Danish Army

Founded| 17 November 1614; 410 years ago (1614-11-17)[1]
Country|  Kingdom of Denmark
Allegiance|  Constitution of Denmark
Denmark
Faroe Islands
Greenland
Type| Army
Role| Land warfare
Size| Active: 25,400[2]
Reserve: 63,000
363 tracked and 257 wheeled armoured vehicles[3]
Part of| Danish Armed Forces
Motto(s)| Fordi noget er værd at kæmpe for
(transl. Because something is worth fighting for)
Equipment| See list
Engagements| Thirty Years' War (1625–1629)
Torstenson War (1643–1645)
Second Nordic War (1657–1660)
Scanian War (1675–1679)
Great Nordic War (1700 & 1709–1720)
Napoleonic Wars (1807–1814)
First Schleswig War (1848–1851)
Second Schleswig War (1864)
German invasion of Denmark (1940)
Operation Bøllebank (1994)
War in Kosovo (1998–1999)
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Iraq War (2003–2007)
Website| Official Website
Official Facebook
Official YouTube
Commanders
Chief of Army Command| Major-General Peter Harling Boysen
Sergeant Major of the Army| Jesper Madsen Mølgaard
Notable
commanders| Christian IV
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve
Frederick IV
Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel
Prince Frederik of Hesse
Frederick VI
Insignia
War flag|

Military unit

The Royal Danish Army (Danish: Hæren; Faroese: Herurin; Greenlandic: Sakkutuut) is the land-based branch of the Danish Armed Forces, 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 (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.

## History

[edit]

Founded in 1614, in the wake of the Kalmar War,[4] 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.

Further information: Military history of Denmark

Danish military veterans are welcomed home and greeted as victors in the streets of Copenhagen, upon return from the First Schleswig War, 1849. The banner reads 'Thank you, you who fell, and you who survived'

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

[edit]

A Danish soldier surveys the Afghan plains while halted during a foot patrol in the district of Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on January 6, 2012

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 and 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 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.[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

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Main article: Structure of the Royal Danish Army

Structure of the Royal Danish Army in 2021

1st Brigade

2nd Brigade

Army Command

GHR

JDR

IGR

TRR

EFR

SLFR

FSR

Vordingborg garrison

BHR

DAR

class=notpageimage|

Danish Army regiments and major combat unit locations, 2019

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

* Army Command, in Karup[7]
* Major HQ's & Combat maneuver units
* Multinational Division North, in Ādaži (Latvia) part of MNC(NE) force structure.
* 1st Brigade, in Holstebro
* 2nd Brigade, in Slagelse
* Regiments
* Danish Artillery Regiment, in Oksbøl
* Engineer Regiment, in Skive
* Signal Regiment, in Fredericia
* Logistic Regiment, in Aalborg
* Intelligence Regiment, in Varde
* Royal Life Guards, in Høvelte
* Guard Hussar Regiment, in Slagelse
* Jutland Dragoon Regiment, in Holstebro
* Schleswig Foot Regiment, in Haderslev
* Bornholm's Regiment, on Bornholm (from 12 June 2025)[8]

## Equipment

[edit]

Main article: List of equipment of the Royal Danish Army

Main article: Uniforms of the Royal Danish Army

* M60E6 general-purpose machine gun

* Leopard 2A7 main battle tank

* Mowag Piranha V armoured fighting vehicle

## Army Aviation Troops

[edit]

The Danish Army Aviation Troops[9] (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

[edit]

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

[edit]

The rank insignia of commissioned 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[11] |  | M406 | M405 | M404 | M403 | M402 | M401 | M332
M331
M322 | M321 | M312 | M311 | M310

### Other ranks

[edit]

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

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[11] | M232 | M231 | M221 |  | M212 | M211 | M113 | M112

## Disbanded Regiments of the Royal Danish Army

[edit]

Painting of the former army regiment Livgarden til Hest

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.[12] Likewise, further development of military tactics have led to a streamlining of the regiments.[13]

## See also

[edit]

* Denmark portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Denmark.

* Dancon/Irak
* International Security Assistance Force
* Equipment of the Royal Danish Army
* Royal Danish Navy
* Royal Danish Air Force

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Nørby, Søren (2006). Det danske forsvar. København: Det historiske hus. p. 39\. ISBN 87-11-11853-9.
2. ^ "The Army". Forsvaret.dk. Forsvaret. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
3. ^ Equipment used in the Army, retrieved June 25th 2008 Archived 2008-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ Nørby, Søren (2006). Det danske forsvar (in Danish). Det historiske Hus. p. 39.
5. ^ Danish Ministry of Defence (19 September 2017). "The Danish engagement in Afghanistan". fmn.dk. Danish Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
6. ^ 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. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
7. ^ "Hærens organisation". Danish Army. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
8. ^ "Bornholm har nu igen et eget regiment" [Bornholm now has its own regiment again]. Forsvaret (in Danish). 12 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
9. ^ Salamander Books, Ltd. 1974. ISBN 0 690 00606 3.
10. ^ a b "Hærens Gradstegn" (PDF). forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Danish Defence. October 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
11. ^ a b "Historik". forpers.dk (in Danish). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
12. ^ Ministry of Defence. "Defence Agreement 2013-2017" (PDF). fmn.dk (in Danish). p. 3. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
13. ^ Dyring, Arne (2014). "The Army Strengthens Intelligence Service with New Centre" (PDF) (in Danish). Retrieved 8 December 2015.

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Danish Defence

* Royal Danish Army
* Royal Danish Navy
* Royal Danish Air Force
* Danish Home Guard

Command organisations|

* Defence Command
* Defence Staff
* Army Command
* Naval Command
* Air Command
* Joint Arctic Command
* Home Guard Command
* Special Operations Command

Leadership|

* Chief of Defence
* Chief of the Defense Staff
* Army
* Chief of the Army
* Sergeant Major of the Army
* Navy
* Chief of the Navy
* Master chief petty officer
* Air Force
* Chief of the Air Force
* Chief Master Sergeant of the RDAF
* Home Guard
* Chief of the Home Guard
* Command Sergeant Major of the Home Guard

Joint Service|

* Acquisition and Logistics Organization
* Administration of Conscientious Objector
* The Ark Project
* Emergency Management Agency
* Estates and Infrastructure Organisation
* Financial Management Agency
* Health Services
* Intelligence Service
* Internal Auditor
* Judge Advocate Corps
* Maintenance Service
* Personnel Service

Higher education facilities|

* Royal Danish Defence College
* Royal Danish Military Academy
* Royal Danish Naval Academy
* Royal Danish Air Force Academy

Units|

| Army|

* Danish Artillery Regiment
* Engineer Regiment
* Guard Hussar Regiment
* Intelligence Regiment
* Jutland Dragoon Regiment
* Royal Life Guards
* Schleswig Foot Regiment
* Signal Regiment
* Logistic Regiment

|

Navy|

* 1st Squadron
* 2nd Squadron
* Sirius Dog Sled Patrol
* Danish Task Group

Air Force|

* Air Squadron 515
* Air Squadron 660
* Air Squadron 690
* Air Squadron 721
* Air Squadron 722
* Air Squadron 723
* Air Squadron 724
* Air Squadron 727
* Air Squadron 730
* Mobile Air Control Centre
* Control and Reporting Centre Karup
* Combat Support Wing

Special Forces|

* Jaeger Corps
* Frogman Corps
* Sirius Dog Sled Patrol
* SSR (Home Guard)

Ranks and insignia|

* Ranks
* Army
* Navy
* Air Force
* Home Guard
* Badges of the Danish Military

* v
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Former regiments of the Royal Danish Army

Infantry|

* 10th Regiment
* 11th Regiment
* 12th Regiment
* 13th Regiment
* 14th Regiment
* 15th Regiment
* Bornholm's Defence
* Danish Life Regiment
* Falster Regiment of Foot
* Funen Life Regiment
* Halberdier Guard
* Jutlandic Regiment of Foot
* King's Regiment of Foot
* Marine Regiment
* Prince's Life Regiment
* Queen's Life Regiment
* Scanian Regiment
* King's Jutlandic Regiment of Foot
* Zealand Life Regiment

Cavalry|

* 1st Dragonregiment
* 2nd Dragonregiment
* 3rd Dragonregiment
* 4th Dragonregiment
* 5th Dragonregiment
* 6th Dragonregiment
* Holstein's Lancers Regiment
* Oldenburg's Cuirassier Regiment
* Royal Horse Guards
* Schleswig's Cuirassier Regiment
* Zealand Dragoon Regiment

Support|

| Signal|

* Jutlandic Signal Regiment
* Zealand Signal Regiment

|

Engineer|

* Jutlandic Engineer Regiment
* Zealand Engineer Regiment

Logistic|

* Army Materiel Command
* Danish International Logistical Center
* Jutlandic Logistic Regiment
* Zealand Logistic Regiment

Artillery|

* Coastal Artillery Regiment
* Crown's Artillery Regiment
* Danish Artillery Regiment
* Fortress Artillery Regiment
* Jutlandic Air Defence Regiment
* King's Artillery Regiment
* North Jutland Artillery Regiment
* Queen's Artillery Regiment
* Southern Jutland Artillery Regiment
* Zealand Air Defence Regiment
* Zealand Artillery Regiment

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Sovereign states|

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