View source for Royal Danish Army

{{Short description|Land warfare branch of Denmark's military}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Royal Danish Army
| native_name = {{lang|da|Hæren}}
| image = Coat of arms of the Royal Danish Army.svg
| image_size = 180px
| alt =
| caption = Coat of arms of the Royal Danish Army
| start_date = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1614|11|17}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Det danske forsvar |last=Nørby |first=Søren |year=2006 |publisher=Det historiske hus |location=København |isbn=87-11-11853-9 |page=39}}</ref>
| motto = {{lang|da|Fordi noget er værd at kæmpe for}}<br />({{translation|Because something is worth fighting for}})
| dates =
| disbanded =
| country = {{flag|Kingdom of Denmark}}
| countries = 
| allegiance = {{flagicon|Kingdom of Denmark}} [[Constitution of Denmark]]<br>{{DEN}}<br>{{FRO}}<br>{{GRL}}
| branch =
| type = [[Army]]
| role = [[Ground warfare|Land warfare]]
| size = Active: 25,400<ref>{{cite web|title=The Army|url=http://www2.forsvaret.dk/eng/Organisation/TheDanishArmy/Pages/TheDanishArmy.aspx|website=Forsvaret.dk|publisher=Forsvaret|access-date=11 April 2016}}</ref><br/>Reserve: 63,000 <br> 363 tracked and 257 wheeled armoured vehicles<ref>[http://forsvaret.dk/FKO/eng/Facts+and+Figures/Materiel/Army/ Equipment used in the Army, retrieved June 25th 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607044051/http://forsvaret.dk/FKO/eng/Facts+and+Figures/Materiel/Army/ |date=2008-06-07 }}</ref> 
| command_structure = [[Danish Armed Forces]]
| garrison =
| garrison_label =
| nickname =
| patron =
| colours = 
| colours_label = 
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment = ''[[List of equipment of the Royal Danish Army|See list]]''
| equipment_label =
| battles = [[Thirty Years' War]] (1625–1629)<!-- Denmark didn't participate in all 30 years--><br/>[[Torstenson War]] (1643–1645)<br/>[[Northern Wars|Second Nordic War]] (1657–1660)<br/>[[Scanian War]] (1675–1679)<br/>[[Great Northern War|Great Nordic War]] (1700 & 1709–1720)<br/>[[Napoleonic Wars]] (1807–1814)<br/>[[First Schleswig War]] (1848–1851)<br/>[[Second Schleswig War]] (1864)<br/>[[German invasion of Denmark (1940)]]<br/>[[Operation Bøllebank]] (1994)<br/>[[War in Kosovo]] (1998–1999)<br/> [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]<br/>[[Iraq War]] (2003–2007)
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| flying_hours =
| website = {{url|https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/organisation/army/|Official Website}}<br>[https://www.facebook.com/hokweb/?fref=ts Official Facebook]<br>[https://www.youtube.com/user/hokweb Official YouTube]
<!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander =
| commander1 = Major-General [[Peter Harling Boysen]]
| commander1_label = [[Chief of the Royal Danish Army|Chief of Army Command]]
| commander2 = [[Jesper Madsen Mølgaard]]
| commander2_label = [[Sergeant Major of the Army (Denmark)|Sergeant Major of the Army]]
| notable_commanders = [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]<br/>[[Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve]]<br/>[[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]<br/>[[Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel]]<br/>[[Prince Frederik of Hesse]]<br/>[[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]
<!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = [[Image:Flag of Denmark (state).svg|150px]]
| identification_symbol_label = [[War flag]]
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
}}

The '''Royal Danish Army''' ({{langx|da|Hæren}}; {{langx|fo|Herurin}}; {{langx|kl|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==


Founded in 1614, in the wake of the [[Kalmar War]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nørby |first1=Søren |title=Det danske forsvar|date=2006 |publisher=Det historiske Hus |page=39 |language=da}}</ref> 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|Military history of Denmark}}

[[File:Otto Bache - Soldaternes hjemkomst til København i 1849.jpg|thumb|left|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 [[List of Danish monarchs|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 [[English Wars (Scandinavia)|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 [[Eastern Regional Command (Denmark)|General Command over Zealand, Lolland-Falster, Møn and Bornholm]], the [[Western Regional Command (Denmark)|General Command over Funen]], [[3rd General Command (Denmark)|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===
[[File:Through the lens and down the barrel of Operation Shamali Kamarband 120106-M-DF801-042.jpg|left|thumb|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 peacekeeping|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 (2001–present)|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]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=Danish Ministry of Defence|author-link1=Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|title=The Danish engagement in Afghanistan|url=http://www.fmn.dk/eng/allabout/Pages/ThedanishengagementinAfghanistan.aspx|website=fmn.dk|publisher=Danish Ministry of Defence|access-date=29 September 2017|date=19 September 2017}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thieden|first1=Amalie|title=Soldiers with Rifles in Their Hands Guard the Synagogue in Copenhagen: "It is Like Being in South Europe"|url=https://www.b.dk/politiko/med-gevaer-i-haand-bevogter-soldater-nu-synagogen-i-koebenhavn-det-er-lidt-ligesom|website=Berlingske|publisher=Berlingske Media|access-date=29 September 2017|language=da|date=29 September 2017}}</ref>

== Organization 2025 ==
{{Main|Structure of the Royal Danish Army}}

[[File:Royal Danish Army - Operational organization 2025.png|thumb|right|360px|Royal Danish Army operational organization 2025]]
{{Location map many | Denmark
| width = 360
| float = right
| caption = {{center|Danish Army regiments and major combat unit locations, 2019}}
| label = <small>[[Holstebro|1st Brigade]]</small>
  | pos = right
  | mark = Green pog.svg
  | lat_deg = 56 | lat_min = 21
  | lon_deg = 08 | lon_min = 36
| label2 = <small>[[Slagelse|2nd Brigade]]</small>
  | pos2 = right
  | mark2 = Green pog.svg
  | lat2_deg = 55 | lat2_min = 21
  | lon2_deg = 11 | lon2_min = 25
| label3 = <small>[[Karup|Army Command]]</small>
  | pos3 = bottom
  | mark3 = Green pog.svg
  | lat3_deg = 56 | lat3_min = 16
  | lon3_deg = 09 | lon3_min = 10
| label4 = <small>[[Slagelse|GHR]]</small>
  | pos4 = left
  | mark4 = Red pog.svg
  | lat4_deg = 55 | lat4_min = 21
  | lon4_deg = 11 | lon4_min = 20
| label5 = <small>[[Holstebro|JDR]]</small>
  | pos5 = left
  | mark5 = Red pog.svg
  | lat5_deg = 56 | lat5_min = 21
  | lon5_deg = 08 | lon5_min = 31
| label6 = <small>[[Skive, Denmark|IGR]]</small>
  | pos6 = left
  | mark6 = Red pog.svg
  | lat6_deg = 56 | lat6_min = 34
  | lon6_deg = 09 | lon6_min = 1
| label7 = <small>[[Ålborg|TRR]]</small>
  | pos7 = left
  | mark7 = Red pog.svg
  | lat7_deg = 57 | lat7_min = 04
  | lon7_deg = 09 | lon7_min = 55
| label8 = <small>[[Varde|EFR]]</small>
  | pos8 = bottom
  | mark8 = Red pog.svg
  | lat8_deg = 55 | lat8_min = 37
  | lon8_deg = 08 | lon8_min = 29
| label9 = <small>[[Haderslev|SLFR]]</small>
  | pos9 = left
  | mark9 = Red pog.svg
  | lat9_deg = 55 | lat9_min = 14
  | lon9_deg = 09 | lon9_min = 30
| label10 = <small>[[Fredericia|FSR]]</small>
  | pos10 = left 
  | mark10 = Red pog.svg
  | lat10_deg = 55 | lat10_min = 34
  | lon10_deg = 09 | lon10_min = 45
| label11 = <small>[[Høvelte station|LG]]</small>
  | pos11 = left 
  | mark11 = Red pog.svg
  | lat11_deg = 55 | lat11_min = 51
  | lon11_deg = 12 | lon11_min = 23
| label12 = <small>[[Vordingborg|Vordingborg garrison]]</small>
  | pos12 = bottom 
  | mark12 = Yellow pog.svg
  | lat12_deg = 55 | lat12_min = 00
  | lon12_deg = 11 | lon12_min = 60
| label13 = <small>[[Bornholm Regiment|BHR]]</small>
  | pos13 = bottom 
  | mark13 = Red pog.svg
  | lat13_deg = 55 | lat13_min = 05
  | lon13_deg = 14 | lon13_min = 42
| label14 = <small>[[Oksbøl|DAR]]</small>
  | pos14 = top 
  | mark14 = Red pog.svg
  | lat14_deg = 55 | lat14_min = 37
  | lon14_deg = 08 | lon14_min = 16
}}

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 (Denmark)|Army Command]]''', in [[Karup]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Hærens organisation |url=https://www2.forsvaret.dk/OMOS/ORGANISATION/HAEREN/ORGANISATION/Pages/default.aspx |publisher=Danish Army |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref>
** '''Major HQ's & Combat maneuver units'''
*** [[File:Emblem for the Multinational Division North.svg|25px]] [[Danish Division|Multinational Division North]], in [[Ādaži]] ([[Latvia]]) part of [[Multinational Corps Northeast|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 (Denmark)|Engineer Regiment]], in [[Skive, Denmark|Skive]]
*** [[File:Coat of arms of Telegrafregimentet.svg|25px]] [[Signal Regiment (Denmark)|Signal Regiment]], in [[Fredericia]]
*** [[File:Coat of arms of Logistic Regiment.svg|25px]] [[Train Regiment (Denmark)|Logistic Regiment]], in [[Aalborg]]
*** [[File:Coat of arms for Intelligence Regiment (Denmark).svg|25px]] [[Army Intelligence Centre|Intelligence Regiment]], in [[Varde]]
*** [[File:Coat of arms for Danish Royal Life Guards.svg|25px]] [[Royal Life Guards (Denmark)|Royal Life Guards]], in [[Høvelte]]
*** [[File:Emblem for the Danish Guard Hussar Regiment.svg|25px]] [[Guard Hussar Regiment (Denmark)|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)<ref>{{cite web |title=Bornholm har nu igen et eget regiment |url=https://www.forsvaret.dk/da/nyheder/2025/bornholm-har-nu-igen-et-eget-regiment/ |website=Forsvaret |access-date=18 June 2025 |language=da |date=12 June 2025 |trans-title=Bornholm now has its own regiment again}}</ref>

==Equipment==
{{Main|List of equipment of the Royal Danish Army}}
{{Main|Uniforms of the Royal Danish Army}}

<gallery mode=packed>
File:Machine gun M60E6.JPG|[[M60 Machine gun#M60E6|M60E6]] general-purpose machine gun
File:CROPPED VERSION OF Daiga Mieriņa apmeklē NATO daudznacionālās brigādes mācību paraugdemonstrējumus 2024.gada 14.novembris - 11.jpg|[[Leopard 2|Leopard 2A7DK]] main battle tank
File:Mowag Piranha V Danish.jpg|[[Piranha V|Mowag Piranha V]] armoured fighting vehicle
</gallery>

== Army Aviation Troops ==
The Danish Army Aviation Troops<ref name="The Encyclopedia of Air Warfare">Salamander Books, Ltd. 1974. {{ISBN|0 690 00606 3}}.</ref> (''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 Air Base|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 [[Eskadrille 724|Squadron 724]] of the Air Force in 2003, and the Army Air Service disbanded.

==Ranks and insignia==
{{Main|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army}}
Each regiment and corps has distinctive insignia, such as a [[cap badge]], [[Military beret#Denmark|berets]], [[Formation patch]]s or [[stable belt]].
===Commissioned officer ranks===
The rank insignia of [[commissioned officer]]s.
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OF/Denmark}}
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; width: 100%"
! Danish Pay Grade<ref name=forpers>{{cite web |title=Historik |url=http://forpers.dk/hr/Pages/Historik.aspx |website=forpers.dk |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]] |access-date=26 September 2018 |language=da}}</ref>!! colspan=2 |  !! colspan=2 | M406 !! colspan=2 | M405 !! colspan=2 | M404 !! colspan=2 | M403 !! colspan=2 | M402 !! colspan=2 | M401 !! colspan=2 | M332<br>M331<br>M322 !! colspan=2 | M321 !! colspan=2| M312 !! colspan=2| M311 !! colspan=2| M310
|}

===Other ranks===
The rank insignia of [[non-commissioned officer]]s and [[Enlisted rank|enlisted personnel]].
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Armies/OR/Denmark}}
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; width: 100%"
!Danish Pay Grade<ref name=forpers/>||colspan=6|M232 ||colspan=2|M231 ||colspan=2|M221 ||colspan=6| ||colspan=3|M212 ||colspan=3|M211 ||colspan=4|M113 ||colspan=10|M112 
|}

==Disbanded Regiments of the Royal Danish Army==
[[File:Royal Danish Horse Guards 1848 (Otto Bache).jpg|thumb|right|Painting of the former army regiment ''[[Royal Horse Guards (Denmark)|Livgarden til Hest]]'']]
{{Main|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.<ref name="30 November 2012">{{cite web|author1=Ministry of Defence|author-link1=Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|title=Defence Agreement 2013-2017|url=http://www.fmn.dk/videnom/Documents/Aftale_paa_forsvarsomraadet_2013-2017a.pdf|website=fmn.dk|access-date=5 June 2017|page=3|language=da}}</ref> Likewise, further development of military tactics have led to a streamlining of the regiments.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Dyring, Arne|date=2014|title=The Army Strengthens Intelligence Service with New Centre|url=http://forsvaret.dk/HST/Nyt%20og%20Presse/forlig2013-17/Documents/forlig_12_290114.pdf|access-date=8 December 2015|language=da}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Denmark}}
{{Commons category|Army of Denmark}}
* [[Dancon/Irak]]
* [[International Security Assistance Force]]
* [[Equipment of the Royal Danish Army]]
* [[Royal Danish Navy]]
* [[Royal Danish Air Force]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Military of Denmark}}
{{Regiments of Denmark}}
{{Allied Land Command}}
{{Armies in Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Royal Danish Army| ]]
[[Category:Military of Denmark]]
[[Category:1614 establishments in Denmark]]