TheRoyal Danish Navy (Danish:Søværnet,lit. 'The Navy') is thesea-based branch of theDanish Armed Forces force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining thesovereignty ofDanishterritorial waters (incl.Faroe Islands andGreenland). Other tasks includesurveillance,search and rescue,icebreaking,oil spill recovery and prevention as well as contributions to international tasks and forces.
During the period 1509–1814, when Denmark was in a union with Norway, the Danish Navy was part of theDano-Norwegian Navy. Until the copenhagenization of the navy in 1801, and again in 1807, the navy was a major strategic influence in the European geographical area, but since then its size and influence has drastically declined with a change in government policy. Despite this, the navy is now equipped with a number of large state-of-the-art vessels commissioned since the end of theCold War. This can be explained by its strategic location as theNATO member controlling access to theBaltic.
Danish Navy ships carry theship prefixKDM (Kongelige Danske Marine) in Danish, but this is translated toHDMS (Her / His Danish Majesty's Ship) in English. Denmark is one of the manyNATO member states whose navies do not deploy submarines. However, historically Denmark has operated them, the submarines were retired in 2004 as part of cooperative defence agreement and restructuring. The Royal Danish Navy has operated a wide variety of vessels over the years, including different types of submarines, patrol boats, minesweepers, missile boats, and frigates. It has also operated a variety of aircraft, and the use of helicopters for search and rescue missions and transport, for example, has been a part of its mission.
The geographic layout ofDenmark proper (not including Greenland and the Faroe Islands) has acoastline to land area ratio of 1:5.9. For comparison, the figure for theNetherlands is 1:92.1 and for the United States, 1:493.2.[4] Denmark therefore naturally has long-standing maritime traditions, dating back to the 9th century when theVikings had small but well-organised fleets. They were often based in a small number of villages, usually with a common defence agreement;Viking ships, usually of theKnarr type, were light, and therefore easy to transport from village to village over land. With time, the defence pacts gave rise to larger, more offensive fleets which the Vikings used forplundering coastal areas. In the period after the Vikings, and up to the 15th century, the fleet consisted mainly of merchant vessels. Indeed, it is said thatking Valdemar Sejr had more than 1,000 ships during the conquest ofEstonia in 1219. Together they carried more than 30,000 soldiers with horses and supplies.
Records exist of a unified Danish navy from the late 14th century.Queen Margaret I, who had just founded theKalmar Union (consisting of Denmark, Norway, Sweden,Iceland,Greenland,Faroe Islands,Shetland,Orkney, parts ofFinland and parts of Germany) ordered the building of a navy – mainly to defend the union against theHanseatic League. Earlier the national fleet had consisted of vessels owned and operated by thenobility, but the country as such did not have a navy. The earliermonarchs therefore had to rely onconscription from the nobility, which was not always easy as the monarchy itself often had enemies within the nobility. Queen Margaret I gave instructions for a navy to be constituted and maintained under the control of the monarchy. The nobility still had to provide crews (which consisted mainly of "volunteered" farmers) for these ships, though the core crew-members (i.e.masters,master-at-arms andmaster carpenters) could be employed by the monarch. There were also educationofficers, mainly levied from the nobility.
In the 15th century, especially during the reign ofKing Hans, Danish trade expanded appreciably, increasing the need for the delivery of merchandise. As shipping was the ideal means of transport at the time, Danish maritime interests had to be further protected. King Hans is credited with establishing a jointDano-Norwegian fleet in 1509, substantially increasing the number of professional crewmembers. They were mainly petty criminals, who had to choose between working in the king's navy or imprisonment. They received basic training in seamanship and carpentry, enabling them to sail the ships. Responsibility for weaponry and combat was still in the hands of conscripted farmers. For these, the country was divided into a number of counties – known in Danish asskipæn (the termskip being related to the Danish word for ship,skib), which would later serve as the Danishdioceses. It was also during this period that dedicated naval bases and shipyards were founded. They would build, maintain and fit out the king's navy. The first record of a dedicated naval base isBremerholmd (laterGammelholm) in the year 1500.
The founding of the Royal Danish Navy is often viewed in Denmark as taking place on 10 August 1510, when King Hans appointed his vassalHenrik Krummedige to become "chief captain and head of all our captains, men and servants whom we now have appointed and ordered to be at sea."[5][6]
WhenKing Frederick II was crowned in 1559, he immediately began expanding the navy. The number of bases, yards and vessels rose rapidly and substantial resources were used for new ship designs, weaponry, training and battle tactics. Sweden, which had become an independent country, dominated a large part of theBaltic Sea and threatened Danish merchant interests. In retaliation, Denmark closed theØresund in 1568, laying the first seeds for theScanian War (1675–1679), only eight years after the end of thesecond Nordic War (1657–1660), during which Denmark lost the now Swedish provinces ofSkåne,Halland andBlekinge. During this period, further resources were allocated to the navy.Niels Juel led the Royal Danish Navy to a victory in theBattle of Køge Bay in 1677.
King Christian IV (crowned in 1588) continued in his father's footsteps. In the beginning of the 17th century, he considerably expanded the naval workshops. InCopenhagen, where the navy resided, he built a large number of homes for crewmembers and workshop craftsmen – the most famous beingNyboder (completed in 1631) which still stands in central Copenhagen.
General admiral lieutenantUlrik Christian Gyldenløve was appointed supreme commander of the navy in 1701. He raised the status of the naval profession and establishedSøkadetakademie, the predecessor of theRoyal Danish Naval Academy. In 1709, Peter Jansen Wessel joined the navy. He was later given the rank of admiral as a reward for his many victories – most famously atMarstrand andDynekilden. He was later known asTordenskjold.
In 1712, Tordenskjold succeeded in burning 80 Swedish naval cruisers, which played a large part in the outcome of theGreat Nordic War (1709–1720). SinceScandinavia now was at peace, the navy focused its resources on other parts of the world, partaking in thecolonisation of Africa and theCaribbean. A permanent naval presence of shifting strength was maintained in the Mediterranean Sea – protecting Danish-Norwegian interests in the region – mainly commerces against piracy. The Danish Mediterranean Squadron had numerous minor engagements with The Barbary States during the 1700s and 1800s. On several occasions these hostilities escalated to substantial actions. Some of the more notable can be said to be: the Mediterranean Squadron's bombardment of Algiers in 1770 under the command of rear admiralFrederik Christian Kaas; the then captain, and future Privy Councillor,Steen Andersen Bille's action atTripoli in 1797; and commanderHans Georg Garde in a joint Scandinavian expedition in 1844 – which effectively ended the Barbary states' attacks on Scandinavian merchants in the region. A pact of neutrality was made between Denmark (including Norway) and Sweden, providing a solid basis for commercial expansion.
TheBritish, under pressure from theFrench in theNapoleonic Wars, became increasingly reluctant to allow Denmark to trade overseas as they believedFirst French Consul & General Bonaparte could benefit economically from Danish commerce. In 1801, they decided send a fleet to attack a Danish fleet, in theBattle of Copenhagen, under the command ofAdmiral Hyde Parker. The defence line, under the command ofOlfert Fischer, put up a fierce fight, but was defeated, with the loss of 3 ships sunk and 12 captured. After the battle, the Crown Prince agreed to sign a truce with the British. In the following six years, Denmark managed to stay clear of the Napoleonic Wars, until the events leading to a second confrontation in 1807. Britain was afraid that the Danish fleet might fall under the control of Napoleon, perhaps tipping the balance in his favour.King Christian VII refused to hand over his navy to the British for safekeeping until the end of the war, and the British decided to capture the fleet by force. Copenhagen wasbombarded and the king forced to surrender the fleet.[7]
In 1814, Denmark and Norway were separated relatively peacefully, after more than 300 years together. At the same time, the Common Fleet was split into the Royal Danish Navy and theRoyal Norwegian Navy.
The navy was slowly rebuilt, but it was nowhere near its former size. Faith was nevertheless placed in the navy, interests in Africa and the Caribbean still receiving considerable attention. In 1845, a two-year research expedition was launched on the corvetteGalathea. In theSecond Schleswig War (1864), the navy was still relatively small and old-fashioned, even though thePrussian Navy was even smaller. Only a few steam vessels were at hand and these had a large impact on the war, in the end Prussians were not very successful at sea. As a result, it was considered necessary for the navy to be modernised. By the outbreak ofWorld War I (1914), the Danish navy was a very modern fleet, mainly equipped with armoured steam ships and only a very few sailing ships.[which?]
In the period between the two World Wars, the Royal Danish Navy (as well as the rest of the Danish military forces) had low priority for the politicians, especially between 1929 and 1942 underThorvald Stauning. During the first year of theGerman occupation (1940–1945), the navy assisted the occupying German forces with minesweeping, because of the political demand of keeping the infrastructure (ferry-lines) up and running. The tensions between the German soldiers and the Danish armed forces rose slowly and, on29 August 1943, they managed to scuttle 32 of its larger ships, while Germany succeeded in seizing 14 of the larger and 50 of the smaller vessels. This was due to a secret order, given directly to the captains by word of mouth by commander of the navy, Vice AdmiralA. H. Vedel "to try to flee to the nearest neutral or Nazi-opposed port. If that was not possible, the ship should be scuttled at as deep a location as possible." The Germans later succeeded in raising and refitting 15 of the sunken ships. A number of vessels had been ordered to attempt to escape to Swedish waters, and 13 succeeded.[8][9] The fleet flagship,Niels Juel, attempted to break out in theBattle of Isefjord but the crew was forced to beach and partly scuttle her. The score for the larger vessels was therefore: 32 vessels were sunk, 2 were in Greenland, 4 reached Sweden, 14 were captured by the Germans. As for the smaller vessels: 9 "patruljekuttere" reached Sweden, 50 others were captured by the Germans.[9] By the autumn of 1944, these ships officially formed a Danish navalflotilla in exile.[10] In September 1943, A. H. Vedel was fired by order of the prime ministerVilhelm Buhl because of his hostile actions towards the Germans.
In the post-war years, Denmark joined NATO in 1949. As a result, Denmark received large amounts of material and financing through theMarshall Plan. Furthermore, several ships were purchased from the British and a number of vessels were transferred from the disarmedKriegsmarine.
Duringthe Cold War, the Danish navy was rebuilt and modernised, with the main assignment being to repel an invasion fromthe Warsaw Pact. Typical operations requiring training wereminelaying (the now disbanded minelayers of theFalster class (17knots (31 km/h; 20 mph), 2,000 GRT), were the world's largest minelayers at their time – each had a complement of 280 900 kg mines) and sting attacks with small but fast combat craft (such as theSøløven-class fasttorpedo boats (54 kn (100 km/h; 62 mph), 158 GRT) andWillemoes-classmissile torpedo boats (45 kn (83 km/h; 52 mph), 260 GRT) and a self-sustaining mobile missile battery (MOBA) equipped with targeting and guidance, capable of firingHarpoon missiles.[11] The Danish intelligence capabilities were also expanded and the Danishsubmarines trained forvery shallow water operations, while a special naval force – theDanish Frogman Corps was created. The naval bases inFrederikshavn andKorsør plus the fortresses atLangeland andStevns were created through NATO funds in the 1950s. In case of war all Danish combat vessels were assigned toNATO'sAllied Forces Baltic Approaches's naval commandNAVBALTAP.
Since the end of the Cold War, the navy has been in a transitional phase, from local defence to global operations, with fewer but larger vessels able to operate for long periods at sea. It has also been more self-sustaining. Under the defence agreement (1995–1999) that initiated the process, several of the old "Cold War" frigates and minesweepers were decommissioned. Thesquadron structure prior to this defence agreement was as follows:
In the defence agreement of 2000–2004, further restructuring of the navy was ordered, as well as the decommissioning of several units. Furthermore, the only unit ofBeskytteren class was donated tothe Estonian Navy asAdmiral Pitka. With the decommissioning of the torpedo boats, the 4th squadron was disbanded and the remnants were transferred to the 2nd squadron. Other units were also decommissioned. The squadron structure now looked like this:
On 1 January 2006, a major reorganisation was carried out as a part of the defence agreement of 2005–2009 (which also put an end to the 95-year-old submarine service, with no intention of developing future submarine capability), when the former four squadrons were divided into two squadrons:[12]
On 18 August 2022, theDefence Ministry announced the start of a major naval shipbuilding project, with a commitment ofUS$5.5 billion in funding to build new warships, in part as a response to the recentRussian invasion of Ukraine. The funding is expected to be committed to programs that will roll out to ship commissioning over a 20 to 25 year period, and is a part of the government of Denmark's recent publicly stated plan to increase defence spending to two percent of the country'sgross domestic product (GDP).[13]
TheNaval Staff (in DanishMarinestaben), led by aRear Admiral, theAdmiral Danish Fleet, is directly responsible to theDanish Defence Command. Since 2014, it has been placed atKarup Air Base.
TheDanish Task Group is a headquarters tasked with commanding, educating and training maritime forces in peace,crisis andwar. It is a mobile unit that is experienced in orchestrating exercises, organising insertions (search and rescue,non-combatant evacuation operations,disaster relief operations, etc.) and commanding naval, aerial and land-based units. Danish Task Group was created to expand Denmark's level of competency and quality of material, by participating in international maritime operations. The Danish Task Group has commandedcombined maritime forces in both exercises (such asBALTOPS andJoint Warrior) and operations (Combined Task Force 150 (2008) andCombined Task Force 151 (2012)) a number of times.
Today the fleet is divided into threesquadrons:
The Naval Operational Logistic Support Structure (OPLOG), includes the naval bases inFrederikshavn andKorsør as well as several naval stations. The naval bases' task is to provide logistic support for the ships and vessels, through the OPLOGs. This includes configuration, maintaining and repairing the units. Furthermore, similar support is provided to civilian agencies (i.e. theDanish police) and allied units like the United Nations
The support is mainly provided within the geographical areas of the naval bases. For Naval BaseKorsør that isZealand,Funen,Bornholm as well as the surrounding waters. For Naval Base Frederikshavn it isJutland,Greenland and theFaroe Islands. Moreover, general support is provided for units participating in international operations in peacetime, as well as all units in crisis and wartime.
The navy maintains a number of naval stations. These are smaller stations with limited support functions. The best known is the publicly accessibleNaval Station Holmen inCopenhagen. There are also naval stations located inKongsøre
Runs three main schools, with five special schools:
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The navy headquarters was located inAarhus, tasked to train, maintain and prepare the navy for war. Operational command in peacetime rested with the Navy Operational Command. In war the commander of the Royal Danish Navy would have assumed his appointment as "Flag Officer Denmark (FOD)" under the command ofAllied Naval Forces Baltic Approaches (NAVBALTAP), which was commanded alternatingly by a Danish or Germanvice admiral. However Danish ships and units based inGreenland and theFaroe Islands would have come under command of NATO's CommandEastern Atlantic Area (EASTLANT), who would also have taken command ofIsland Command Greenland andIsland Command Faroes.
Together with the German Fleet under the Flag Officer Germany (FOG), the RDN would have tried to keep theWarsaw Pact'sUnited Baltic Sea Fleets, consisting of the SovietBaltic Fleet,Polish Navy andEast GermanVolksmarine bottled up in theBaltic Sea by blocking theDanish straits and thus ensuring NATOs unchallenged control of theNorth Sea. Additionally NAVBALTAP was to prevent amphibious landings on the Danish coast. To fulfill its mission the navy fielded a large number ofminelayers andfast attack crafts. The first would have been used tomine all sealanes and potential landings beaches, while the latter would have harassed the enemy fleet with continuous hit and run attacks.
At the beginning of 1989 the Royal Danish Navy consisted of the following ships:[14]
Main bases:
Minor naval bases:
Coastal fortifications:
Sea surveillance stations:
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(January 2023) |
The contemporary Royal Danish Navy has participated in the following international operations:
| Year | Operation | Participating units |
|---|---|---|
| 1990–91 | Operation Desert Shield | Olfert Fischer (F355) (Niels Juel class) |
| 1993–96 | Operation Sharp Guard | Niels Juel F354 (Niels Juel class) |
| 1999 | Operation Allied Harvest | Lindormen N43 (Lindormen class) |
| 29 November 2002 – 4 March 2003 | Prestige Cleanup | Gunnar Seidenfaden A561 (Gunnar Thorson class) |
| 2001–2002 | Operation Active Endeavour | Olfert Fischer F355 (Niels Juel class) andSælen S323 (Tumleren class) |
| 2003 | Operation Active Endeavour | Viben P562 andRavnen P560 (Flyvefisken class) |
| 2003 | Operation Iraqi Freedom | Sælen S323 (Tumleren class),Olfert Fischer F355 (Niels Juel class) |
| 2006–08 | United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) | Glenten P557,Ravnen P560 (Flyvefisken class), Peter Tordenskiold F356 (Niels Juel class) |
| 2007 | Standing NRF Maritime Group 1 | Olfert Fischer F355 (Niels Juel class) |
| 2008 | WFP protection force atthe Horn of Africa | Thetis (F357) (Thetis class) |
| 2008 | Task Force 150 | Danish Task Group (flag) andAbsalon (L16) (flagship,Absalon class) |
| 2009 | FlagshipSNMCMG1 | Thetis F357 (Thetis class) |
| 2009 | Task Force 151 | Absalon L16 (Absalon class) |
| 2010 | FlagshipSNMG1 | Esbern Snare (L17) andAbsalon L16 (bothAbsalon class) |
| 2011– | Operation Ocean Shield | Absalon L16 andEsben Snare L17 (Absalon class)Iver Huitfeldt F361 (Iver Huitfeldt class)[16] |
| 2012 | Task Force 150 | Danish Task Group (flag)[17] |
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The Danish navy currently operates:
as well as a number ofrigid-hulled inflatable boats, boats etc.
The navy ship programs are generally of the "newer but fewer" type. Many of the vessels are of more recent dates (Absalon class from 2004 to 2005,Thetis class from 1991 to 1994 andFlyvefisken class from 1986 to 1995) or under replacement, i.e. the corvettes of theNiels Juel class (1978–1980) have been replaced with three newIver Huitfeldt-classfrigate for 2nd Squadron and theBarsø class (1969–1973) has been replaced with 6Diana-class small patrol crafts. Finally all threeAgdlek class vessels (1973–1979) have been replaced with the newKnud Rasmussen-class vessels.
In addition, the Royal Danish Navy and theGerman Navy are in cooperation in the "Ark Project". This agreement made the Ark Project responsible for the strategic sealift of Danish and German armed forces where the full-time charter of threeroll-on-roll-off cargo and troop ships are ready for deployments. Furthermore, these ships are also kept available for the use of the other European NATO countries.[18] In 2025, the Ark Project agreement withDFDS was extended for a further 6 years, beginning in 2026, and now covers up to 8 ships.[19]
The Royal Danish Navy has operated aircraft since 1912 either as a functional part of the navy or as flights conducted by theRoyal Danish Air Force. Aviation pioneerRobert Svendsen purchased the first aircraft, a Henry Farman, and gave it to the navy who subsequently named itGlenten (kite). Later the same year, a private funding effort made it possible to purchase twoDonnet-Leveque flying boats namedMaagen (gull) andTernen (tern).
At the outbreak of World War One the navy had two operational flying boats and five trained pilots making it possible to make daily reconnaissance flights overthe Sound, monitoring German mine-laying activities.
From 1914 to 1917,Orlogsværftet (Danish naval yard) produced eight OV-flying boats and in 1915 and 1916 two naval flying stations were established in Copenhagen and Nyborg, mainly focusing on the two international seaways Øresund andStorebælt.
After the war the Danish production of aircraft was stopped due to several crashes and an international surplus of warplanes. Following British advice, fiveAvro 504s were purchased for training purposes, and based inRingsted between the two important straits.
In 1925, three land-based fighter aircraft were purchased to be based in Ringsted. A modified version of theHawker Woodcock, the Hawker Danecock, was initially delivered from the UK while a following series of 12 aircraft werelicense-built by the Orlogsværft.
In 1928 the naval air service procured sixHeinkel HE 8 floatplanes, with another 16 to be license-built by the Orlogsværft. As Germany were not allowed to produce military aircraft, the planes were labelled asmail planes, but they could easily be refitted with dual machine guns, radio equipment and a capacity for eight bombs.
The Heinkel had an unexpected Arctic employment in the early 1930s when adispute over East Greenland caused the first deployment of aircraft, along with three naval ships, in Greenland. Following settlement of the dispute between Denmark and Norway the Heinkels were used in the efforts to map the frontiers of the island.[20]
In 1933, twoHawker Nimrods were acquired to keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology of naval aircraft . A further ten aircraft were to be produced under licence at the Orlogsværft. The new aircraft made the air base in Ringsted inadequate and the naval air service was moved to theAvnø peninsula at southernZealand.[21]
In 1932, the navy purchased its first offensive capacity, twoHawker Horsleytorpedo bombers with an option to produce a following series on the Orlogsværft. After four years of testing and practice, the naval air service had agreed to expand the offensive capacities with the Horsley, but at this time funding from the Danish government had been cut and no further torpedo bombers were acquired.[21]
In the late 1930s, the government changed plans and increased the budget for military purchases following the German expansions in central Europe. In 1938, 12Fairey P.4/34s were to be produced atOrlogsværftet, along with 12 ItalianMacchi C.200 fighters. None of these were produced before theGerman invasion of Denmark on April 9, 1940.[21]
Helicopters are deployed to Danish naval ships fromEskadrille 723 of theRoyal Danish Air Force. When initiated in 1962, the naval helicopters consisted of a flight of Alouette III helicopters of RDAF squadron 722.
Primarily for use on theThetis class in operations inGreenland and theFaeroe Islands, but also onAbsalon class in international operations andKnud Rasmussen class off Greenland as well as participating in exercises. The independent unit was established in 1977 as "Søværnets Flyvetjeneste" operating (Aérospatiale Alouette III (1977–1982) andWestland Lynx (1980–2018) helicopters. In 1989, the Navy had oneLynx 23, sixLynx 80, and twoLynx 90.[22]
On 6 December 2012, the Royal Danish Air Force officially ordered nineMH-60R Seahawk helicopters, with all delivered in 2018,[23] following a competition on the procurement involving theNH90,AgustaWestlandsAW159 Wildcat and theAW101 along with Sikorsky's other bidH-92 Superhawk.[24]
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Danish Navy[25] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Admiral | Viceadmiral | Kontreadmiral | Flotilleadmiral | Kommandør | Kommandørkaptajn | Orlogskaptajn | Kaptajnløjtnant | Premierløjtnant | Løjtnant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Danish Pay Grade[26] | M406 | M405 | M404 | M403 | M402 | M401 | M332 M331 M322 | M321 | M312 | M311 | M310 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officers andenlisted personnel.
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Danish Navy[25] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chefsergent | Seniorsergent | Oversergent | Sergent | Sergent SØ | Korporal | Marinespecialist | Marineoverkonstabel | Marinekonstabel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Danish Pay Grade[26] | M232 | M231 | M221 | M212 | M211 | M113 | M112 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
