Danish International Brigade Explained

Unit Name:Danish International Brigade
Dates:1994-2005
Disbanded:2005
Country: Denmark
Nickname:DIB
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The Danish International Brigade, short DIB (also sometimes known as the Danish Reaction Brigade) was a Danish military brigade.

The political decision to form this brigade was conceived in the Danish Defence agreement 1992–1995. The formal decision to form the Brigade was made by the Folketing on 25 November 1993 and this date is often regarded as the birth of the Brigade. The Brigade was then formed, with staff and all subunits from the dispand 2.Zealand Brigade (2.SBDE) on 1 July 1994.

The background for its existence was changes in NATO's structure, in the European security situation and as a direct response to Denmark's involvement in UNPROFOR.

The purpose and design of the Brigade was to, in part or as a whole, to rapidly deploy in peacemaking, peacekeeping, humanity or similar missions under NATO, UN, OSCE or national supervision. In its lifespan the Brigade was never deployed as a whole but all subordinated units was deployed more than once.

On 1 January 1996 the Brigade was also assigned to the NATO Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps and fell under the organisational control of 1 (UK) Armoured Division when required. The DIB headquarters was located at Vordingborg barracks and made regularly exercises with 1 (UK) Armoured Division.

The DIB consisted of 4,800 personal, including a combat group of around 2,500 personnel in three battalions; a battalion equipped with Leopard 2A5 DK main battle tanks and an artillery unit with 18 self-propelled 155mm M-109 A3 howitzer, as well as logistics.

In all the Brigade had 51 Leopard 2A5 DK (Original 50 Leopard 1A5), 180 M113 (M113A1 with Add-On-Armour, M113A2 DK I (PNMK M/92) and M113 G3 DK) and 22 Mowag Piranha armored personnel carrier in various configurations and another ca. 1200 vehicles.

80% of the brigade consisted of volunteers who agreed to participate in up to two possible six-month international deployments during their four-year reserve commitment (originally this was only three years).

In the Danish Defence agreement 2005–2009, the brigade was to be dissolved and the Brigade thereby official ceased to exist on February 15, 2005. The Brigade-Staff was merged with the Staff of 1.Zealand Brigade (1.SBDE) (also terminated), to form the Staff in the newly erected 2. Brigade.

Commanders

Origination

1994–2001

2000–2005

Equipment from 1994–2005

As a MechInfantry Brigade, Danish International Brigade contained

NameImageOriginTypeQuantityNotes
Armour
Leopard 1A5DK1Main Battle Tank50
(51)
  • 30 (31) in the armoured battalion
  • 10 in the first mechinfantry battalion
  • 10 in the second mechinfantry battalion
Pansret Mandskabsvogn - PMV
(M113)
155APCs and variants incl:
  • 20 Command-vehicles
    • 5 in the HQ COY/Brigade
    • 4 in the armoured battalion
    • 5 in the first mechinfantry battalion
    • 5 in the second mechinfantry battalion
    • 1 in the Artillery battalion (CO battalion)
  • 13 Maintain(fitter)-vehicles (3 (incl crane) Battalion level, 10 Company level)
    • 5 in the armoured battalion (1+4)
    • 4 in the first mechinfantry battalion (1+3)
    • 4 in the second mechinfantry battalion (1+3)
  • 45 Infantry-vehicles
    • 9 in the armoured battalion
    • 18 in the first mechinfantry battalion
    • 18 in the second mechinfantry battalion
  • 10 Mortar-vehicles
  • 16 25mm machinegun-vehicles
  • 16 Medic-vehicles
  • 20 TOW-vehicles
  • 10 Artillery observer-vehicles
  • 6 Artillery fire control-vehicles
  • 9 Engineerins-vehicles
Pansret Mandskabsvogn - PMV
(Piranha III-H)
22APCs and variants incl:
  • 2 Command-vehicles
  • 2 Maintain(fitter)-vehicles
  • 18 Armored Personnel Carrier
Recovery vehicles
Leopard 1 BergerArmoured Recovery Vehicle3
  • 1 in the armoured battalion
  • 1 in the first mechinfantry battalion
  • 1 in the second mechinfantry battalion
8x8 IVECO EUROTRAKKERRecovery Vehicle6
  • 6 in the logistik battalion
M578 Light Recovery VehicleArmoured Recovery Vehicle5
  • 1 in the armoured battalion
  • 1 in the first mechinfantry battalion
  • 1 in the second mechinfantry battalion
  • 1 in the Artillery battalion
  • 1 in the Logistik battalion
Pansret Broslagningsvogn Leopard 1 Biber2
  • 2 in the armoured engineer company
Support
Selvkørende Haubits - SKH
(M109 A2DK)
United StatesSelf-propelled artillery18Brigade Level
TOW anti-tank systemAnti-tank missile28
  • 20 systems on M113
  • 8 systems on wheeled-vehicles
Stinger Anti-aircraft launch systemsurface-to-air missile12
60mm Light-mortarMortar21Platoon level
81mm Medium-mortarMortar1610 in M113(Armoured/Selfpropelled)
Company level
120mm Heavy-mortarMortar12all towed
Battalion level
Vehicles (Combat groups)
GD240SUV 30Reconnaissance-Groups
Unimogtactical trucks12Stinger-Groups
HMMWVLight Armored Car8(TOW-Groups)