Danish International Brigade


The Danish International Brigade, short DIB 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 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 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, 180 M113 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.
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, to form the Staff in the newly erected 2. Brigade.

Commanders

Origination

1994–2001
2000–2005
  • Staff / DIB
  • 5 HQ Company
  • II/GHR Armoured Infantry battalion
  • IV/PLR Armoured Infantry battalion
  • III/JDR Armoured battalion
  • 5th Recon company
  • Air defence battery
  • 5th Artillery battalion
  • 5th Armoured Engineer company
  • 4th Logistic battalion
  • 9th Logistic battalion
  • 5th Military police Detachment

Equipment from 1994–2005

As a MechInfantry Brigade, Danish International Brigade contained
  • Trucks and Vehicles
  • *MAN trucks in different size and types
  • *GD240/290 in different types
  • *MAGIRUS trucks in different size and types
  • *VW Transporter in different types
  • *BMV motorcykel