The following is a hierarchical outline for the Danish armed forces at the end of the Cold War. It is intended to convey the connections and relationships between units and formations. In wartime all Danish military units would have come under the joint West German/Danish NATO command Allied Forces Baltic Approaches (BALTAP). BALTAP was a principal subordinate command under the Allied Forces Northern Europe Command (AFNORTH). The commander-in-chief of (BALTAP) was always a Danish Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral, who had the designation Commander Allied Forces Baltic Approaches (COMBALTAP). In peacetime BALTAP had only a few communication units allocated and all other units remained under national command of West Germany's Bundeswehr and Denmark's Forsvaret.
Forsvaret Forsvaret (Danish Defence) was the unified armed forces of the Kingdom of Denmark, charged with the defence of Denmark and its overseas territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Forsvaret had four service branches:
Royal Danish Army Royal Danish Navy Royal Danish Air Force Danish Home Guard
The Forsvaret headquarters also had operational control of the following entities:
Danish Defence Intelligence Service Dueodde SIGINT station, on Bornholm Royal Danish Defence College Judge Advocate Corps Lyngby Radio
Royal Danish Army The Royal Danish Army Command was based in Karup and tasked to train, maintain and prepare the army for war. However operational control in peacetime rested with the Western and the Eastern Regional Command. In wartime the former would have transferred its units to LANDJUT, while the latter would have become the LANDZEALAND command.
Royal Danish Army, Karup Jaegerkorpset, at Aalborg Air Base, (Long range reconnaissance and special operations) Army Material Command, Hjørring Army Depot Service Army Maintenance Service Army Ammunition Arsenal
Western Regional Command
The Western Regional Command was based in Aarhus and commanded by a major general. In case of war it would have transferred command of all its units to NATO's Commander, Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland (LANDJUT). The command was responsible for the South Jutland, Ribe, Vejle, Ringkjøbing, Viborg, North Jutland and Aarhus counties, which together form the Danish part of the Jutland peninsula, and also for the island of Funen, which with the surrounding islands formed the Funen County.
Western Regional Command, Aarhus Jutland Division, Fredericia 3rd Signal Battalion 1st Jutland Brigade, Fredericia 1st Brigade Staff Company (5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 1st Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (20 × Leopard 1A3, 21 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125 mortar carriers, 2 × TOW on Land Rover) 1st Battalion, Kongens Jyske Fodregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 1st Battalion, Fynske Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Kongens Jyske Fodregiment, (Light Infantry) 6th Artillery Battalion, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3 howitzer, 8 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer, 15 × M113) 1st Armoured Engineer Company (6 × M113) 1st Logistic Battalion 1st Military Police Detachment 2nd Jutland Brigade, Skive 2nd Brigade Staff Company (5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (20 × Leopard 1A3, 21 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 2 × M125) 1st Battalion, Dronningens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Dronningens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 3rd Battalion, Dronningens Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 3rd Artillery Battalion, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3 howitzer, 8 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer) 2nd Armoured Engineer Company 3rd Logistic Battalion 2nd Military Police Detachment 3rd Jutland Brigade, Haderslev 3rd Brigade Staff Company (5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 3rd Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (20 × Leopard 1A3, 21 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 2 × M125) 1st Battalion, Prinsens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Prinsens Livregiment, (10 × Leopard 1A3, 32 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 4 × M125, 4 × TOW on Land Rover) 3rd Battalion, Prinsens Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 7th Artillery Battalion, Sønderjyske Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3 howitzer, 8 × M114/39 howitzer) 3rd Armoured Engineer Company 7th Logistic Battalion 3rd Military Police Detachment Divisional Artillery Regiment, Skive Staff and Target Acquisition Battery 23rd Artillery Battalion, (18 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer) 24th Artillery Battalion, (18 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer) 18th Heavy Battery, (4 × M115 203 mm howitzer) 19th Heavy Battery, (4 × M115 203 mm howitzer) 4th Battalion, Fynske Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 5th Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (Reconnaissance: 18 × M41 DK-1, 9 × M113, 9 × M125) 6th Battalion, Jydske Dragonregiment, (Tank destroyer Battalion: 50 × Centurion Mk V (84 mm gun)) 33rd Artillery Battalion, Skive, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment (18 × M59 155 mm gun, would have joined LANDJUT's Corps Artillery) 14th Air Defence Battalion, (Stinger, Bofors 40 mm L/70) 3rd Engineer Battalion 8th Logistic Battalion Long Range Reconnaissance Company, Dronningens Livregiment Electronic Warfare Company Heavy Transport Company 1st Military Police Company
Western Regional Command reserve units: Jutland Battle Group, Holstebro 7th Staff Company 4th Btn, Jydske Dragonregiment, (Armored) 1st Btn, Slesvigske Fodregiment, (Light Infantry) 2nd Btn, Slesvigske Fodregiment, (Light Infantry) 3rd Btn, Slesvigske Fodregiment, (Light Infantry) 8th Artillery Btn, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment, (6 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer, 12 × M101 105 mm howitzer) 7th Engineer Company 5th Logistic Battalion 7th Military Police Detachment 4th Artillery Battalion, Skive, Nørrejyske Artilleriregiment (24 × M101 105 mm howitzer, would have joined LANDJUT's Corps Artillery) 10th Artillery Battalion, Varde, Sønderjyske Artilleriregiment (24 × M101 105 mm howitzer, would have joined LANDJUT's Corps Artillery) 11th Artillery Battalion, Varde, Sønderjyske Artilleriregiment (24 × M101 105 mm howitzer, would have joined LANDJUT's Corps Artillery) 5th Signal Battalion 5th Engineer Battalion Host and Support Battalion (Supporting arrival of NATO reinforcements in Jutland and northern Germany) Rear and Sustainment Battalion Logistics Support Group West (LSG-W) Supply Battalion Transport Battalion Medical Battalion (incl. Medical Train) Maintenance Battalion Field Replacement Commando
Eastern Regional Command
The Eastern Regional Command was based in Ringsted and commanded by a major general, who in case of war would have become Commander, Allied Land Forces Zealand (LANDZEALAND). The command was responsible for the Copenhagen and Frederiksberg municipalities, and the Copenhagen, Frederiksborg, Roskilde, West Zealand and Storstrøm counties.
Eastern Regional Command, Ringsted 1st Signal Battalion 1st Zealand Brigade 4th Brigade Staff Company (5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 1st Btn, Gardehusarregimentet, (30 × Centurion (105 mm L7 gun), 21 x M113 (including 4 with TOW), 2 × M106) 2nd Btn, Danske Livregiment, (10 × Centurion (105 mm L7 gun), 46 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 6 × M106, 4 TOW on Land Rover) 1st Btn, Den Kongelige Livgarde, (10 × Centurion (105 mm L7 gun), 46 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 6 × M106, 4 TOW on Land Rover) 4th Btn, Den Kongelige Livgarde, (Light Infantry) 1st Btn, Kongens Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3, 8 × M114/39) 4th Armoured Engineer Company 2nd Logistic Battalion 4th Military Police Detachment 2nd Zealand Brigade 5th Brigade Staff Company (5 × M113, 8 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Btn, Sjællandske Livregiment, (30 × Centurion (105 mm L7 gun), 21 x M113 (including 4 with TOW), 2 × M106), 1st Btn, Danske Livregiment, (10 × Centurion (105 mm L7 gun), 46 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 6 × M106, 4 TOW on Land Rover) 1st Btn, Sjællandske Livregiment, (10 × Centurion (105 mm L7 gun), 46 × M113 (including 4 with TOW), 6 × M106, 4 TOW on Land Rover) 5th Btn, Sjællandske Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 5th Btn, Kongens Artilleriregiment, (12 × M109A3, 8 × M114/39) 5th Armoured Engineer Company 4th Logistic Battalion 5th Military Police Detachment Corps Artillery Staff and Target Acquisition Battery 2nd Artillery Battalion, (18 × M114/39 155 mm howitzer) 32nd Artillery Battalion, (18 × M59 155 mm gun) 17th Heavy Battery, (4 × M115 203 mm howitzer) 3rd Btn, Gardehusarregimentet, (Reconnaissance: 18 × M41 DK-1, 12 × M113, 9 × M106) 4th Btn, Danske Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 13th Air Defence Battalion, (Stinger) 1st Engineer Battalion 6th Logistic Battalion Electronic Warfare Company 6th Military Police Company
Eastern Regional Command reserve units: 1st Zealand Battle Group 1st Antitank Squadron Gardehusarregimentet, (8 × Centurion (84 mm gun)) 2nd Btn, Den Kongelige Livgarde, (Light Infantry) 3rd Btn, Den Kongelige Livgarde, (Light Infantry) 16th Artillery Battalion, (24 × M101) 2nd Zealand Battle Group 2nd Antitank Squadron, Gardehusarregimentet, (8 × Centurion(84 mm gun)) 2nd Btn, Gardehusarregimentet, (Light Infantry) 4th Btn, Gardehusarregimentet, (Light Infantry) 22nd Artillery Battalion, (24 × M101) 3rd Zealand Battle Group 3rd Antitank Squadron Gardehusarregimentet, (8 × Centurion(84 mm gun)) 3rd Btn, Danske Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 5th Btn, Danske Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 21st Artillery Battalion, (24 × M101) 4th Zealand Battle Group 4th Antitank Squadron, Gardehusarregimentet, (8 × Centurion(84 mm gun)) 3rd Btn, Sjællandske Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 4th Btn, Sjællandske Livregiment, (Light Infantry) 14th Artillery Battalion, (24 × M101) Host and Support Battalion (Supporting arrival of NATO reinforcements on Zealand) Rear and Sustainment Battalion Logistics Support Group East (LSG-E) Supply Battalion Transport Company Medical Battalion Maintenance Battalion Field Replacement Commando
Bornholms Værn In wartime the island of Bornholm was, due to the long distance from Zealand, an independent command. Furthermore, agreements signed after World War II forbade the stationing on Bornholm or reinforcing of Bornholm, by foreign troops. Therefore, the island was only guarded by one Battle Group with a single active light infantry battalion. However, during the transition to war this Battle Group would have been augmented and reinforced by local reservists.
Bornholms Værn's Battle Group Staff and Signal Company 1st Battalion, Bornholms Værn (infantry) (4 × TOW on Land Rover) 2nd Battalion, Bornholms Værn (infantry) (reserve) (4 × TOW on Land Rover) 3rd Battalion, Bornholms Værn (infantry) (reserve) (12 x 106 mm RR on Jeep M38) Light Tank Squadron, "Bornholm Dragoons" (10 × M41 DK-1) Light Reconnaissance Squadron (6 × M41 DK-1) 12th Artillery Battalion (18 × M101) Air Defence Battery (Stinger) Motorized Engineer Company Maintenance & Logistic Company
Royal Danish Army Aircraft Inventory 1989 The inventory of the Royal Danish Army in 1989 consisted of the following aircraft:
14 × Hughes 500M, observation 12 × AS350 L1 Écureuil, armed with TOW anti-tank missiles 8 × T-17 Supporter, liaison and observation
Royal Danish Air Force