Danish Ministry of Defence | Office of Military History and Information

[Danish Commonwealth]

Commonwealth of Denmark
Ministry of Defence
Office of Military History and Information
HRH Herr Søren Jørgensen, HMP, Director-General

Purpose and Task of the Military of Denmark

The purpose and task of the armed military services of Denmark is located in Landkongress Regeriet (LR) 321.586 - The Military Services Act of 2001, in force since March 1, 2001.

Its primary purpose is to prevent conflicts and war, preserve the sovereignty of Denmark, secure the continuing existence and integrity of the independent Commonwealth of Denmark and further a peaceful development in the world with respect to human rights.

According to the act, the primary task of the military is to protect the Commonwealth of Denmark and her consitutencies under any circumstances, including terrorist attacks as defined by LR 345.342 - Terrorism and Acts of Terrorism Against Denmark or her Consitutencies of 2003.

Branches of the Danish Military

Royal Danish Army — Hæren (HRN)
Royal Danish Navy — Søværnet (SVN)
Royal Danish Air Force — Flyvevåbnet (FLV)
Danish Home Guard — Hjemmeværnet (HJV)
Greenlandic Home Guard — Hjemmeværnet Grønland (HJVG)
Norwegian Home Guard —  Hjemmeværnet Norge (HJVN)
Swedish Home Guard —  Hjemmeværnet Sverige (HJVS)
Finnish Home Guard —  Hjemmeværnet Suomi (HJVSu)

Accounting for the Fiscal Year of 2007 for the Danish Ministry of Defence

The Danish military economy is the second largest economy in the Danish National Budget (under the 2006 Finance Law) with a total expenditure of 5.3% of the Danish Gross Domestic Product (GDP Adjusted for Gameplay at 22.3% decrease [total GDPs of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland]: $762.24 bn // Variance of $218.76 bn from IRL) or approximately $40.39 bn. 

Approximately 95% (or $38.37 bn) of the budget goes directly to running the Danish military including the Home guard. Depending on year, 53% (or $20.34 bn) accounts for payment to personnel, roughly 21% ($8.06 bn) on acquiring new material, 2% ($767.4 mil) for larger ships, building projects or infrastructure  and about 19% ($7.29 bn) on other items, including purchasing of goods, renting, maintenance, services and taxes.

The remaining 5% ($2.01 bn) is dedicated to maintaining the Ministry of Defence and its ministers.

Structure of the Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence (FMN)
Defence Command (FKO)
Army Operational Command (HOK)
Navy Operational Command (SOK)
Tactical Air Command (FTK)
Defence Materiel Service (FMT)
Greenland Command (GLK)
Faroe Islands Command (FRK)
Royal Danish Defence College (FAK)
Defence Health Service (FSU)
Home Guard Command (HJK)
Defence Intelligence (FE)
Defence Judge Advocate Corps (FAUK)
Defence Information & Welfare Service (FOV)
Defence Construction Service (FBT)
Defence Internal Revision

Special Forces of the Military

Slædepatruljen Sirius — Arctic dog sled unit patrolling the eastern border of Greenland.
Jægerkorpset — Ground based infiltration unit.
Frømandskorpset — Amphibious attack and infiltration unit.

[Danish Commonwealth]

Additional Income Supplement: As of 02 June 2008, the Danish Revenue Authority has published the Danish Taxation Report for 2008 revealing that it has included a new 5.2% tax for the creation of new military services.  The military's projected revenue from taxation is approximately $1,461.77 per citizen (total population of the Commonwealth: 24,526,477) or $35,852,068,284.29 (in additional revenue per year).

The new total military budget sits at approximately $72.29 billion USD per year.

Danish Military Eligibility Requirements: Per LR 392.192 - The Military Services Enlistment Act of 2008 and LR 120.39 - The Military Services and Military Selection Denmark Act of 1999, all males who turn 18 years of age must register with Military Selection Denmark by the sixth (6th) month of their 18th year.  Failure to comply with the regulation can result in a fine of 20,000 DKK or 3 to 5 years imprisonment. 

According to LR 392.192 - The Military Services Enlistment Act of 2008, the Danish government no longer mandates men of the eligible ages of 18-48 to be enlisted in the active military service of the Commonwealth of Denmark, however this Act has established a 4,500 DKK sign on bonus as well as an extra 589 DKK per year in active military personnel's paychecks.

According to LR 120.39 - The Military Services and Military Selection Denmark Act of 1999, the Danish government makes it known that individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 48 may apply to be in any branch of the Danish Armed Forces or work as military personnel in offices over the age of 48.  The maximum cap year for individuals in the Danish Armed Forces is 65.  An individual who retires with the Danish Armed Forces at age 65 will receive their military paycheck for the rest of their life, plus all military benefits for spouses and children under the age of 21. 

Differences in Serving in the Danish Armed Forces and the Greenlandic Front: Per LR 495.873 - The Danish Armed Forces Act Establishing Forces in the Territory of Greenland of 2008, the Danish government will pay any Danish citizens from the States of Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, or the Territories of the Faeroe and Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, 40,000 DKK to serve in the Greenlandic Front.  The Danish government will also relocate your family, free of charge and offers discounted lodging at the military base at Søndre Strømfjord.  Service personnel in Greenland will also receive a 1,000 DKK bonus in each paycheck as well as free travel back to your state of origin.

Differences in Serving in the Danish Armed Forces and the Finnish Front: Per SE (Suomen Eduskunta) 342 - Compulsory Military Service Act of 2001, all men and women ages 18-46 must be enlisted in the Danish Armed Forces, Finnish Front.  Failure to comply with this regulation could result in imprisonment or charge with treason.

Danish Men and Women of Eligible Age to Serve in the Armed Forces: Per LR 120.39 - The Military Services and Military Selection Denmark Act of 1999, the following figures have been declared as official for the counts of military service men for the Commonwealth of Denmark:

• Number of men and women who are eligible for military service: 9,005,224
• Number of men and women actually enlisted: 180,104
• Total enlisted: 421,387

[Danish Commonwealth]

Danish Men and Women of Eligible Age to Serve in the Armed Forces | AMENDED : Per LR 987.22 - The Danish Military Conscription Act of 2008, the Danish government has ordered that all eligible men and women be conscripted into at least one year's military or civil service ranging from the Danish Border Services and Immigration Authority (DBSIA) or the Danish Armed Forces (DAF).

Number of men and women who are eligible for military service: 9,005,224
Number of men and women actually enlisted from Denmark: 180,104
Number of men and women enlisted by compulsory declaration (Finland): 241,283
Number of men and women enlisted by compulsory declaration (Sweden): 1,699,115
Number of men and women enlisted by compulsory declaration (Norway): 888,101
Number of men and women enlisted by compulsory declaration (Faeroe Islands): 9,735
Number of men and women enlisted by compulsory declaration (Greenland): 10,739
Total enlisted: 3,029,077

[Danish Commonwealth]

Danish Military Equipment: Per 981.29 - The Danish Military Expansion, Notification of Armaments and Vessels Act of 2009, the Danish government hereby releases the following information through the Ministry of Defence, Office of Military History and Information.  This information is not classified, however some projects may be omitted due to their sensitive nature.

Constant Readiness Divisions for Military Mobilisation: The following outlines Denmark's constant readiness divisions by military district (also known as an MD or State):

• Denmark: 2 Divisions
• Norway: 2 Divisions
• Sweden: 2 Divisions
• Finland: 2 Divisions

Constant Readiness Divisions for War: The following outlines Denmark's constant readiness divisions by military district (also known as an MD or State):

• Denmark: 3 Divisions [+1]
• Sweden: 5 Divisions [+3]
• Finland: 5 Divisions [+3]
• Norway: 4 Divisions [+2]

NOTE: These divisions are for war purposes only and will be mobilised in accordance with the Danish High Command.  These divisions are additional troop implements for war mobilisation.

Total Mobilisation in the Event of National Emergency or Invasion: The following outlines Denmark's mobilised divisions in the event of a national emergency or an invasion.  The following are passed by military district (MD or State) and are only made of conscripts, not actually enlisted members of the Danish military:

• Denmark: +3 Divisions
• Sweden: +5 Divisions
• Norway: +4 Divisions
• Finland: +5 Divisions

These are additional divisions that are to be added to the Danish Military Constant Readiness numbers.

[Danish Commonwealth]

LR 900.22: Description of Naval Ships Act of 2008: Denmark and her constituencies, under LR 900.22 are required to provide the international community under Danish law with the vessels in the Royal Danish Navy.  The following squadrons have been comprised:

First Squadron

Domestic Affairs, based at the Frederikshavn Naval Base.

    * 4 Thetis-class ocean patrol vessels; (frigate size) length 112 meters, displacement 3,500 tonnes
          o HDMS Thetis (F357)
          o HDMS Triton (F358)
          o HDMS Vædderen(F359)
          o HDMS Hvidbjørnen(F360)

    * 3 Agdlek-class ocean patrol cutters
          o HDMS Agdlek (Y386)
          o HDMS Agpa (Y387)
          o HDMS Tulugaq (Y388)
          o All 3 to be replaced in 2008 by 2 new patrol ships with a length of 61 meters and a displacement of 1,720 tonnes.

    * 3 Flyvefisken-class patrol vessels;[4] length 54 meters, displacement 450 tonnes
          o HDMS Gribben (P558)
          o HDMS Lommen (P559)
          o HDMS Søløven (P563)

    * 8 Barsø-class patrol vessels
          o HDMS Barsø (Y300)
          o HDMS Drejø (Y301)
          o HDMS Romsø (Y302)
          o HDMS Samsø (Y303)
          o HDMS Thurø (Y304)
          o HDMS Vejrø (Y305)
          o HDMS Farø (Y306)
          o HDMS Rømø (Y308)

    * 3 icebreakers,
          o HDMS Danbjørn (A551)
          o HDMS Isbjørn (A552)
          o HDMS Thorbjørn (A553)

    * 2 Gunnar Thorson-class environmental protection vessels,
          o HDMS Gunnar Thorson (A560) - named for Gunnar Thorson
          o HDMS Gunnar Seidenfaden (A561) - named for Gunnar Seidenfaden

    * 2 Mette Miljø-class environmental protection vessels
          o HDMS Mette Miljø (A562)
          o HDMS Marie Miljø (A563)

    * 2 Miljø-class environmental protection vessels
          o HDMS 'Miljø 101' (Y340)
          o HDMS 'Miljø 102' (Y341)

    * 1 transport vessel,
          o HDMS Sleipner (A559)

    * 2 Holm class multirole boats
          o HDMS Birkholm (A541)
          o HDMS Ertholm (A543)

    * 2 Svanen-class sail training ships
          o HDMS Svanen (Y101)
          o HDMS Thyra (Y102)

    * Royal Yacht,
          o HDMS Dannebrog (A540)

Second Squadron

Foreign affairs, Korsør Naval Base

    * 2 Absalon-class command and support ships; length 137.6 meters, displacement 6,300 tonnes
          o HDMS Absalon (L16)
          o HDMS Esbern Snare (L17)
                + 4 LCP, Landing Craft Personnel; 10 troops, 4 stretchers or 2 tonnes of cargo

    * 3 Niels Juel-class corvettes length 84 meters, displacement 1,320 tonnes
          o HDMS Niels Juel (F354)
          o HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355)
          o HDMS Peter Tordenskiold (F356)

    all 3 to be decommissioned in 2011 and replaced by 3 new frigates.

    * 8 Flyvefisken-class patrol vessels length 54 meters, displacement 450 tonnes
          o HDMS Havkatten (P552)
          o HDMS Laxen (P553)
          o HDMS Makrelen (P554)
          o HDMS Støren (P555)
          o HDMS Glenten (P557)
          o HDMS Ravnen (P560)
          o HDMS Skaden (P561)
          o HDMS Viben (P562)

    * 4 MSF-class drone minehunters
          o HDMS MSF1
          o HDMS MSF2
          o HDMS MSF3
          o HDMS MSF4

    * 6 MRD-class drone minehunters
          o HDMS MRD1
          o HDMS MRD2
          o HDMS MRD3
          o HDMS MRD4
          o HDMS MRD5
          o HDMS MRD6

New Vessels

    * 3 Frigates for 2nd Squadron. length 137.6 meters, displacement 5,850 tonnes[5]
          o Frigate 1 — tentatively F361[6] HDMS Ivar Huitfeldt[7]
          o Frigate 2 — F362
          o Frigate 3 — F363

    * 2 Knud Rasmussen-class vessels
          o HDMS Knud Rasmussen (P570)
          o HDMS Knud Rasmussen-class (P571)

    * 6 MkII Class vessels
          o MkII Class vessel 1
          o MkII Class vessel 2
          o MkII Class vessel 3
          o MkII Class vessel 4
          o MkII Class vessel 5
          o MkII Class vessel 6

    * 6 Holm-class vessels
          o HDMS Birkholm (A541)
          o HDMS Fyrholm (A542)
          o HDMS Ertholm (A543)
          o HDMS Alholm (A544)
          o HDMS Hirsholm (MSD5)
          o HDMS Holm-class (MSD6)

Naval Home Guard

    * 6 (+5) MHV900 class patrol boats,
          o MHV Enø (MHV901),
          o MHV Manø (MHV902),
          o MHV Hjortø (MHV903),
          o MHV Lyø (MHV904),
          o MHV Askø (MHV905),
          o MHV Fænø (MHV906)
          o MHV Hvidsteen (MHV907),

    * 18 MHV800 class patrol boats
          o MHV Aldebaran (MHV801),
          o MHV Carina (MHV802),
          o MHV Aries (MHV803),
          o MHV Andromeda (MHV804),
          o MHV Gemini (MHV805),
          o MHV Dubhe (MHV806),
          o MHV Jupiter (MHV807),
          o MHV Lyra (MHV808),
          o MHV Antares (MHV809),
          o MHV Luna (MHV810),
          o MHV Apollo (MHV811),
          o MHV Hercules (MHV812),
          o MHV Baunen (MHV813),
          o MHV Budstikken (MHV814),
          o MHV Kureren (MHV815),
          o MHV Patrioten (MHV816),
          o MHV Partisan (MHV817),
          o MHV Sabotøren (MHV818),

    * 6 MHV90 class patrol boats
          o MHV Bopa (MHV90),
          o MHV Brigaden (MHV91),
          o MHV Holger Danske (MHV92),
          o MHV Ringen (MHV94),
          o MHV Speditøren (MHV95)

Other

    * 1 Dive tender (converted Barsø class)
          o HDMS Læsø (Y307),

    * 2 Arvak class station tenders
          o HDMS Arvak (Y344),
          o HDMS Alsin (Y345)

    * 2 RO/RO vessels (chartered)
          o Tor Anglia
          o Tor Futura

Norwegian Naval Contributions to the Commonwealth of Denmark

Frigate Branch

    * Fridtjof Nansen class frigate Five vessels under construction.
          o Fridtjof Nansen (F310) Launched June 3, 2004. Commissioned April 5, 2006.
          o Roald Amundsen (F311) Launched May 25, 2005. Commissioned May 21, 2007.
          o Otto Sverdrup (F312) Launched April 28, 2006. Commissioned April 30, 2008.
    * Royal yacht:
          o Norge (A553)

Mine Branch

    * 1st Mine Clearing Squadron
          o Oksøy class mine hunter (1994)
                + Oksøy M340
                + Karmøy M341
                + Måløy M342
                + Hinnøy M343
          o Alta class mine sweeper (1996):
                + Alta M350
                + Otra M351
                + Rauma M352
                + Orkla M353 (Ship sunk on 19.11.2002)
                + Glomma M354
    * Minesweeper/minelayer:
          o Tyr (N50), discovered wreck of U-735 in 1999
    * Mine Clearance Command (divers)

Submarine Branch

The submarine fleet consists of several Ula class submarines.

    * 1st Submarine Squadron Ula class submarines:

        * Ula (S300)
        * Utsira (S301)
        * Utstein (S302)
        * Utvær (S303)
        * Uthaug (S304)
        * Uredd (S305)

MTB Branch

The Coastal Warfare fleet consists of several Hauk class patrol boats, and one brand new Skjold class missile patrol boat.

    * Missile Torpedo Boat Command
          o Missile Patrol Boat (Skjold class):
                + Skjold (P960)
          o 21st Missile Torpedo Boat Squadron (Hauk class):
                + Tjeld (P989)
                + Stegg (P994)
                + Ravn (P996)
                + Geir (P998)
          o 22nd Missile Torpedo Boat Squadron (Hauk class):
                + Terne (P988)
                + Jo (P992)
                + Gribb (P997)
                + Erle (P999)'
          o Out of service:
                + Hauk (P986)
                + Ørn (P987)
                + Teist (P991)
                + Skarv (P990)
                + Lom (P993)
                + Falk (P995)
          o Support vessel:
                + Valkyrien (A535)

Naval Ranger Branch

    * Norwegian Naval Special Operations Commando (Naval Ranger Command)
    * Coastal Ranger Command
    * Norwegian Mine Diver Command
    * Tactical Boat Squadron
          o Combat Boat 90N (1996)
                + Trondenes
                + Skrolsvik
                + Kråkenes
                + Stangnes
                + Kjøkøy
                + Mørvika
                + Kopås
                + Tangen
                + Oddane
                + Malmøya
                + Hysnes
                + Brettingen
                + Løkhaug
                + Søviknes
                + Hellen
                + Osternes
                + Fjell
                + Lerøy
                + Torås
                + Møvik

Coast Guard Squadrons

    * Coast Guard Squadron North
          o Harstad
          o Svalbard
          o Andenes
          o Nordkapp
          o Senja
          o Chieftain
          o Stålbas
          o Åhav
          o Thorsteinson
          o Farm

    * Coast Guard Squadron South
          o Leikvin
          o Ålesund
          o Eigun
          o Lafjord
          o Garsøy
          o Titran
          o Nornen

    * Future Vessels
          o Six vessels of the Nornen class ordered
          o Three new hybrid diesel-LNG vessels, two to be named Barentshav, Sortland and Bergen ordered.

Norwegian Naval Schools

    * Royal Norwegian Naval Basic Training Establishment, KNM Harald Haarfagre, Stavanger
    * Royal Norwegian Navy Officer Candidate School, Horten and Bergen
    * Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, Laksevåg, Bergen
    * Royal Norwegian Naval Training Establishment, KNM Tordenskjold, Haakonsvern, Bergen


Swedish Naval Contributions to the Commonwealth of Denmark

Aircraft Cruisers

    * HMS Gotland

Corvettes

    * HMS Gävle (K22)
    * HMS Göteborg (K21)
    * HMS Helsingborg (K32)
    * HMS Härnösand (K33)
    * HMS Kalmar (K23)
    * HMS Karlstad (K35)
    * HMS Malmö (K12)
    * HMS Nyköping (K34)
    * HMS Stockholm (K11)
    * HMS Sundsvall (K24)
    * HMS Uddevalla (K36)
    * HMS Visby (K31)

Destroyers

Halland Class

    * HMS Halland
    * HMS Småland (J19)

Östergötland Class

    * HMS Östergötland
    * HMS Södermanland
    * HMS Gästrikland
    * HMS Hälsingland

Patrol Vessels

    * HMS Hugin (P151)
    * HMS Kaparen (P159)
    * HMS Magne (P153)
    * HMS Mjölner (P157)
    * HMS Mode (P154)
    * HMS Munin (P152)
    * HMS Mysing (P158)
    * HMS Snapphanen (P161)
    * HMS Spejaren (P162)
    * HMS Starkodder (P164)
    * HMS Styrbjörn (P163)
    * HMS Tirfing (P166)
    * HMS Tordön (P165)
    * HMS Vale (P155)
    * HMS Vidar (P156)
    * HMS Väktaren (P160)

Submarines

    * HMS Gotland (Gtd)
    * HMS Halland (Hnd)
    * HMS Hälsingland (Hgd)
    * HMS Najad II (Nad)
    * HMS Neptun II (Nep)
    * HMS Näcken II (Näk)
    * HMS Södermanland (Söd)
    * HMS Ulven
    * HMS Uppland (Upd)
    * HMS Västergötland (Vgd)
    * URF
    * HMS Östergötland (Ögd)

Mine Layers

    * HMS Visborg (M03)
    * HMS Carlskrona (M04)

Mine Sweepers and Hunters

Class Lansort, Mine hunter

    * HMS Landsort (M71)
    * HMS Arholma (M72)
    * HMS Koster (M73)
    * HMS Kullen (M74)
    * HMS Vinga (M75)
    * HMS Ven (M76)
    * HMS Ulvön (M77)

Class Styrsö

    * HMS Styrsö (M11)
    * HMS Spårö (M12)
    * HMS Skaftö (M13)
    * HMS Sturkö (M14)

Mine sweepers, Trawler type

    * HMS Gåssten (M31)
    * HMS Norrsten (M32)
    * HMS Viksten (M33)
    * HMS Hisingen (M43)
    * HMS Blackan (M44)
    * HMS Dämman (M45)
    * HMS Galten (M46)

Sonar buoy ships

    * HMS Ejdern (B01)
    * HMS Krickan (B02)
    * HMS Svärtan (B03)
    * HMS Viggen (B04)

Transport Ships

    * HMS Tjelvar
    * HMS Ring
    * HMS Grim
    * HMS Heimdal
    * HMS Bore
    * HMS Loke (A344)

Other Ships

    * HMS Belos (A214)
    * HMS "Kronan"
    * HMS Norrköping (R131)
    * HMS Orion (A201)
    * HMS Pelikanen (A247)
    * HMS Pingvinen (A248)
    * HMS Vasa
    * HMS Ystad (R142)

Finnish Naval Contributions to the Commonwealth of Denmark

Patrol

    * 4 Rauma class missile boats
    * 4 Hamina class missile boats

Patrol/ASW

    * 2 Kiisla class patrol/ASW-ships (ex- Coast Guard patrolships)

Mine Warfare

    * 1 Pohjanmaa class minelayer/training ship
    * 2 Hämeenmaa class minelayers/escort ships
    * 6 Kuha class minesweepers
    * 7 Kiiski class minesweepers
    * 3 Pansio class minelayers

Coastal artillery systems

Mainly towed artillery, fixed gun positions at island fortresses are phased out as obsolete, all artillery-based coastal defences are to be phased out.

    * 100 mm cannons
    * 130 mm cannons, both fixed (130 53 TK) and mobile (130 K 54, 130 K 90-60)
    * MTO-85 coastal missiles (SAAB RBS-15SF)
    * Spike-ER missiles
    * BOR-A 550 Ground and coastal Surveillance Radar (GSR)