Miniatures
Rules
Mike
J.
The J-8 Shop
THE DANISH ARMY, 1980s
Introduction
Denmark's ground forces were one of the weaker links in NATO's
defense posture during the 1980s. The country's small size meant it
could not field ground forces qualitatively as capable as those of its
larger allies, and moreover the unpopularity of military service
undermined the quality of its armed forces by reducing the terms of
service of Danish soldiers. Combat readiness was rather lower than in
most NATO armies. The Danish Army was one of the very few NATO forces
to use motorized infantry in its frontline (as opposed to reserve or
rear area security) combat units. It is unlikely that even the Jutland
Division, the most battle-ready and best-equipped Danish unit, could
have successfully resisted a Soviet advance without the aid of the
Bundeswehr, which detached its 6th Panzer Division to assist the Danish
forces. On the plus side, Denmark's air force was well equipped and
relatively large, with the main combat types being the F-16 Fighting Falcon and J-35 Draken fighters. Similarly,
Denmark's navy consisting of a mix of small frigates and modern fast
attack craft, was well positioned to contest Soviet attempts to control
the western regions of the Baltic.
Doctrine and Troop Quality
Active units: Regular, Normal Doctrine, Average Morale.
Reserve units (including motorized battalions of active brigades): Recruit, Normal Doctrine, Average Morale.
Cross-attachments:
Battalions may exchange companies.
Unit Organization
Battalions:
Armored Battalion: 2 Tank Companies (sc), 1 Armored Infantry
Company (sc), 1 APC Company (sc), 1 Motorized Infantry Company (sc), 1
M113 Recon Platoon (sp), 1 Jeep/TOW Platoon (sp)
Mechanized Infantry Battalion: 1 Tank Company (sc), 2 Armored Infantry Companies (sc), 2 APC Companies (sc), 1
Motorized Infantry Company (sc), 1 M113 Recon Platoon (sp), 1 Jeep/TOW
Platoon (sp), 1 Towed 120mm Mortar Battery (mb)
Motorized Infantry Battalion: 3
Motorized Infantry Companies (sc), 1 Jeep Recon Platoon (sp), 1 Jeep/TOW
Platoon (sp), 1 Towed 120mm Mortar Battery (mb)
Artillery Battalion: 3 Batteries (mb)
Brigades:
Mechanized Brigade: 1 Armored Battalion, 2 Mechanized Infantry
Battalions, 1 Motorized Infantry Battalion, 1 Artillery Battalion [1
towed 155mm battery, 2 M109 155mm batteries], 1 Reconnaissance Company
[2 M41 light tank platoons (sp), 1 Recon M113 Platoon (sp), 1 M125 81mm
Mortar Battery (sb), 4 Recon Jeep Platoons]
Reserve Brigade: 1 Armored Battalion, 3 Motorized Infantry Battalions, 1 Artillery Battalion [3 towed 155mm
batteries, 1 Reconnaissance Company [2 M41 light
tank platoons (sp), 1 Recon M113 Platoon (sp), 1 M125 81mm Mortar
Battery (sb), 4 Recon Jeep Platoons]
Divisions:
Jutland Division: 3 Mechanized Brigades, 1 Artillery
Regiment [2 towed 155mm Battalions, 1 towed 203mm Battalion [2
batteries], 6 towed 40mm AA Batteries (mb)]
Unit Data
Main Battle Tanks
Leopard 1 Tank Company
Size: sc Move: 8t Protection: 7*
AT: G( g/g): 10
AP: HE(g/g): M; HW: 2 [4]
Indirect: --
Special: II
Centurion Tank Company
Size: sc Move: 6t Protection: 8
AT: G (g/g): 10
AP: HE(g/g): M; HW: 2 [4]
Indirect: --
Special: II
M41 Light Tank Platoon
Size: sp Move: 8t Protection: 5
AT: G (g/g): 7
AP: HE(g/g): L; HW: 2 [4]
Indirect: --
Special: II
APCs:
M113 APC Company
Size: sc Move: 8t Protection: 1
AT: 1
AP: HW: 2 [6]
Indirect: --
Special: transports infantry up to sc size.
Infantry:
Infantry Company
Size: sc Move: 2f [6w for Motorized units
when using truck mobility] Protection: 0 [-2 when in truck
mode]
AT: G (b/b): 9* CC: 2
AP: SA: 2 HW: 2 [4] CC: 3
Indirect: HE: L [6]
Special:
Artillery:
155mm Towed Howitzer Battery
Size: mb Move: 6t Protection: 1
AT: G (b/b): 10*
AP: G (b/b): H, HW: 2 [4]
Indirect: HE: H [36]
Special:
155mm M109 SP Howitzer Battery
Size: mb Move: 6t Protection: 1
AT: G (b/b): 10*
AP: G (b/b): H, HW: 2 [4]
Indirect: HE: H [36]
Special:
120mm Mortar Battery
Size: sb Move: 6w Protection: 0/-2 when towed
AT: --
AP: --
Indirect: HE: H [16]
Special:
M125 81mm SP Mortar Battery
Size: sb Move: 8t Protection: 1
AT: --
AP: --
Indirect: HE: L [10]
Special:
Reconnaissance and Anti-Tank
Recon Jeep Platoon
Size: sp Move: 8w Protection: 0
AT: --
AP: HW: 2 [4]
Indirect: --
Special: II
Jeep/TOW Platoon
Size: sp Move: 8w Protection: 0
AT: M(g): 14* [10]
AP: --
Indirect: --
Special: II
Air Defense
40mm Towed AA Battery
Size: mb Move: 8w Protection: 0/-2 when towed
AT: G (b/b): 3
AP: G (b/b): H, HW: 4 [8]
Indirect: HE: H [36]
Special: AA Gun (b/b): 4 [8]