List of active Royal Danish Navy ships

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This is a list of the active vessels of the Royal Danish Navy.[1]

Current Fleet

Combat fleet

Class In service Origin Picture Type Ship No. Comm. Builder Displacement Notes
Frigates (9)
Absalon class 2  Denmark ASW Frigate Absalon F341 2004 Odense Staalskibsværft 6,600 tonnes [2][3]

Flexible mission capabilities through modules.[4]

(naval warfare, land attack, command ship, hospital ship, disaster relief)

Esbern Snare F342 2005
Iver Huitfeldt class 3  Denmark Air-defence frigate Iver Huitfeldt F361 2011 Odense Staalskibsværft 6,645 tonnes [5][3]

Flexible mission capabilities through modules.[4]

(naval warfare, land attack, command ship, hospital ship, disaster relief)

Peter Willemoes F362 2011
Niels Juel F363 2011
Thetis class

Stanflex 3000

4  Denmark Oceanic patrol frigate Thetis F357 1991 Svendborg Skibsværft 3,500 tonnes [6][3]

To be replaced by a frigate with ASW capacity.[7]

Triton F358 1991
Vædderen F359 1992
Hvidbjørnen F360 1992
Offshore patrol vessels (9)
Knud Rasmussen class 3  Denmark Arctic patrol ships Knud Rasmussen P570 2008 Karstensens Skibsværft 1,720 tonnes [4][3]
Ejnar Mikkelsen P571 2009
Lauge Koch P572 2017
Diana class 6  Denmark Patrol vessel Diana P520 2007 Faaborg Værft A/S Karlskrona Varvet 246 tonnes [3]
Freja P521 2007
Havfruen P522 2008
Najaden P523 2008
Nymfen P524 2009
Rota P525 2009
Light boats
SB90E class 4  Sweden Landing Craft Personnel – LCP1 2003

–

2004

Storebro Bruk 7.2 tonnes [8]

Used with Absalon class

– LCP2
– LCP3
– LCP4
2

Illustration, same variant, fully orange

Search and rescue boat Dagmar SAR1 2007 Used with Knud Rasmussen class, modified with ice-reinforcements and upgraded engines.
Naja SAR2 2007
MHV RHIB 29 –

RHIB

Rigid-hulled inflatable boats

– – – – – –
Mine warfare ships (6)
Holm class 2  Denmark Minesweeper Hirsholm MSD5 2007 Danish yacht 125 tonnes [9]
Saltholm MSD6 2008
MSF class

Mindre standardfartøj

4  Denmark Remote controlled mine-sweeping drones – MSF1 1998 Danyard 125 tonnes [10]
– MSF2 1998
– MSF3 1999
– MSF4 1999

Auxiliary ships

Class In service Origin Picture Type Ship No. Comm. Builder Displacement Notes
Logistic support
Sleipner class 1  Denmark Logistic support ship Sleipner A559 1986 Åbenrå Shipyard A/S 465 tonnes [1][11][12]
Stena 4Runner I class 1  Italy RO/RO

Roll-on / roll-off

Ark Forwarder A98 2007 Societa Esercizio Cantieri 21,104 tonnes Launched in 1998, chartered by Danish Navy since 2007 as part of NATO Response Force.[13]
– 1  France RO/RO

Roll-on / roll-off

Tor Dania – 2007 Societé Metallurgique & Navale Dunkerque-Normandie 21,491 tonnes Launched in 1978, rebuilt in 1995, chartered by Danish Navy since 2007 as part of NATO Response Force.[14]
– 1  Italy RO/RO

Roll-on / roll-off

Tor Futura – 2004 Cantiere Navale Visentini 18,469 tonnes Launched in 1996, chartered by Danish Navy since 2004 as part of NATO Response Force.[15]
Diving vessels (1)
Flyvefisken class

SF300 – Serie 3

1  Denmark Diving support vessel Søløven Y311

(former P563)

1996 Danyard 487 tonnes [16]

Surveillance diving support since 2012

Research vessels
Supply class 2  Denmark Environmental protection vessel Gunnar Thorson A560 1996 Ørskov Christensen Stålskibsværft A/S 1,660 tonnes [1]
Gunnar Seidenfaden A561 1996
Holm class 2  Denmark Hydrographical survey craft Birkholm A541 2006 Danish yacht 125 tonnes [1]
Fyrholm A542 2006
Seatruck class 2  Denmark Environmental protection vessel Mette-Miljø A562 1996 Carl B Hoffmann A/S (Esbjerg) 247 tonnes [17][18]
Marie-Miljø A564
Miljø class 3  Denmark Environmental protection vessel Miljø 101 Y340 1996 Eivinds plasticjolle- og bådeværft 16 tonnes [19]
Miljø 102 Y341 1996
Miljø 103 Y342 2008
Training vessels (2)
Holm class 2  Denmark Training boat Ertholm A543 2006 Danish yacht 159 tonnes [1]

2 training boats (HOLM class) 2 hydrographical survey craft (HOLM class)

Alholm A544 2007
Tugboats
Arvak class 2  Denmark Tugboat Arvak Y344 2002 Hvide Sande Skibs- & Baadebyggeri – [20]
Alsin Y345 2002
– 2  Denmark – Harbour tugboat Balder – 1983 Assens Skibsværft 32 tonnes [21]
Hermod – 1983

Home guard

Class In service Origin Picture Type Ship No. Comm. Builder Displacement Notes
Patrol and SAR vessels (29)
MHV 800 class 17  Denmark Flyvefisken class P555 Støren Patrol and rescue vessel Aldebaraan MHV801 1992 Søby Værft 83 tonnes [22]
Carina MHV802 1992
Aries MHV803 1993
Andromeda MHV804 1993
Gemini MHV805 1994
Dubhe MHV806 1994
Jupiter MHV807 1994
Lyra MHV808 1995
Antares MHV809 1995
Luna MHV810 1996
Apollo MHV811 1996
Hercules MHV812 1997
Baunen MHV813 1997
Budstikken MHV814 1998
Kureren MHV815 1999
Patrioten MHV816 2000
Partisan MHV817 2000
MHV900 class 12  Denmark Flyvefisken class P555 Støren Patrol and rescue vessel Enø MHV901 2003 Søby Værft 87 tonnes [23]
Manø MHV902 2004
Hjortø MHV903 2005
Lyø MHV904 2005
Askø MHV905 2006
Fænø MHV906 2007
Hvidsten MHV907 2008
Brigaden MHV908 2008
Speditøren MHV909 2009
Ringen MHV910 2009
Bopa MHV911 2009
Holger Danske MHV912 2011

Royal yacht fleet

Class In service Origin Picture Type Ship No. Comm. Builder Displacement Notes
Yacht
– 1  Denmark Royal Yacht Dannebrog A540 1932 Orlogsverftet 1,238 tonnes [1]

Can participate to surveillance and sea-rescue missions

Sailing yachts
– 2 –

Illustration comparable vessel

Sailing vessel Svanen Y101 – – – [1]
Thyra Y102 –

Ships on order

Class In service Origin Picture Type Comm. Builder Displacement Notes
Offshore patrol vessels
MPV80 class 6  Denmark – Modular

Offshore patrol vessel and research vessels

2029 Odense Maritime Technology, Terma 1,100 tonnes [24] Agreement signed in June 2023 for the development of the ships.[25] Expected to feature anti-surface warfare missiles as of 2024.[26]

Planned future fleet

Danish navy

Submarines

In June 2023, Denmark announced considering to reintroduce submarines into its navy. The need to secure the Faroe Islands, Greenland, the Arctic and the Baltic Sea justifies this consideration.[27] An alternative mentioned by Denmark would be a close cooperation with allies.[28]

Surface combat fleet

Denmark is considering its options regarding the future replacement of the Thetis class and the Absalon class.[29] A potential successor of the Thetis class was unveiled in September 2023 by OSK Design, the Arctic Frigate. The Danish Navy mentioned that it would need the successor of the Thetis to enter service in 2032.[30]

In May 2024, several ministries and industry representatives unveiled a report for the long-term strategy of the Danish Navy.[31][32] The plan is focusing on a 20-25 year time period. During that period, 15 frigates and offshore patrol vessels would need to be acquired, and 40 lighter vessels would be needed.

In March 2025, the Danish Armed Forces announced a new plan for the future that includes:[33]

  • Next generation of large vessels (frigates and ships for the Atlantic and the Arctic):[34]
    • Air defence frigates
    • Arctic ships, additional ships planned to be ordered
    • Icebreaker capacity to be assessed in collaboration with allies
  • 4 vessels designed for mine-laying / mine warfare, and marine environmental response. The primary role is to focus on environmental tasks (oil and chemical spills), and the mine warfare would be a secondary role.
  • 1 ship with drones and sonar systems to monitor underwater data cables, electricity lines, and gas pipelines.
  • Underwater drones and autonomous units to be developed for the Danish Navy.

Home guard

In March 2025, the Danish government announced a new plan for the future of the Home Guard that includes:[33]

  • 21 vessels to be used for maritime surveillance,port guarding, rescue, marine environmental tasks, host nation support.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Structure of the Navy". 1 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Absalon Class Combat / Flexible Support Ship". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Ships And Platforms". navalteam.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  4. ^ a b c "Danish frigate program" (PDF). ft.dk. 2014-12-05.
  5. ^ admin (2019-02-18). "Royal Danish Navy - Ivar Huitfeldt Class Frigates - MilitaryLeak.COM". militaryleak.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  6. ^ "Thetis Class Patrol Frigate" (PDF). marinehist.dk. 2015-01-27.
  7. ^ "Danish ocean patrol vessel procurement programme expected this year". Default. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  8. ^ "LCP Class (2004- ), Landing Crafts". navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  9. ^ "Minerydningsdroner". 2016-02-11. Archived from the original on 2016-02-11. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  10. ^ "MSF-klassen (1998- ), Minerydningsfartøjer". www.navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  11. ^ "Torpedotransportskibet SLEIPNER". 2009-04-03. Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  12. ^ "Transportskibet Sleipner". 14 August 2020.
  13. ^ "ARK FORWARDER (2007- ), Roll-on/Roll-off Ship". navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  14. ^ "TOR DANIA (2007- ), Roll-on/Roll-off Ship". navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  15. ^ "TOR FUTURA (2004- ), Roll-on/Roll-off Ship". navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  16. ^ "40 flådefartøjer på vej mod Østersøen" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  17. ^ "Danish Defense - Seatruck Class - HDMS Mette Miljø" (PDF). forsvaret.dk. 2016-02-08.
  18. ^ "Seatruck Class (1996- ), Environmental Protection Vessels". navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  19. ^ "MILJØ 101 (1996- ), Miljøskib". www.navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  20. ^ "Sjømateriell". Forsvaret (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  21. ^ "BALDER (1983- ), Harbor Tug". navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  22. ^ "Hjemmeværnet - MHV 800-klassen". 2014-10-11. Archived from the original on 2014-10-11. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  23. ^ "Hjemmeværnet - MHV 900-klassen". 2011-08-17. Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  24. ^ Hovgaard, Laurids (2024-01-03). "New patrol ships to revive Danish shipyards | Ingeniøren". ing.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  25. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (2023-06-23). "New Naval Vessels for Denmark". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  26. ^ Scott, Richard (2024-09-02). "Increased focus on combat capabilities for new Danish patrol ships". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  27. ^ "Return of the submarines to Royal Danish Navy?". 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  28. ^ Martin, Tim (2023-06-12). "Denmark considering military submarines after almost 20 year gap: Danish lawmaker". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  29. ^ "Dutch Ministry of Defence announces historic naval modernization programme". 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  30. ^ Staff, Naval News (2023-09-26). "Denmark's OSK Design Unveils New Arctic Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  31. ^ "Det Nationale Partnerskab for det maritime område" (PDF). May 2024.
  32. ^ Häggblom, Robin (2024-05-29). "Denmark is looking at a new long-term naval strategy". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  33. ^ a b "The government will strengthen the Danish Defence at sea FACT SHEET" (PDF). 31 March 2025.
  34. ^ "The next generation of the fleet's largest ships" (PDF). 31 March 2025.