Danish navy sailors report exhaustion and staff shortages on frigates

A confidential internal document obtained by Danish broadcaster DR reveals that one in five enlisted sailors and one in six sergeants are missing from Denmark’s naval frigates, leaving crews overworked and exhausted.

Overconstable Jens, a 24-year-old serving aboard the frigate Peter Willemoes, described a daily reality of sleep deprivation, extended shifts, and mounting psychological pressure. “I can feel the accumulated fatigue if you’re pushed too hard for too many days,” he told DR, speaking on condition of partial anonymity for security reasons. “You really feel the mental strain in a world that’s becoming more uncertain.”

The staffing shortages have forced the navy to borrow personnel from other vessels and extend deployment periods, disrupting sailors’ personal lives. Jens said he frequently cancels plans with family and friends at the last minute due to sudden schedule changes. “You can tell it’s wearing on some relationships,” he admitted.

Despite the strain, Jens stressed that he remains committed to his role. However, he warned that the lack of experienced crew and rapid personnel turnover create a “vicious cycle.” New recruits require extensive training, diverting experienced sailors from critical tasks, while institutional knowledge is lost as veterans leave.

Torben Ørting Jørgensen, a former rear admiral and current chair of the security policy group Folk og Sikkerhed, called the situation unsustainable. “The remaining personnel end up being treated like Tordenskjold’s soldiers—deployed again and again without the leave they were promised,” he said, referencing the legendary 18th-century Danish naval officer. “This cycle can only be broken by giving the navy the priority it deserves.”

Defence officials declined to comment on operational staffing levels, a decision that frustrated Jesper Korsgaard Hansen, chair of the Central Association for Permanent Staff (CS). He accused political and military leaders of failing to address the crisis openly, despite Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen previously identifying personnel retention as the “single biggest challenge” facing the armed forces.

“First they admitted they’d failed the defence forces. Now they’re doing it again by refusing to acknowledge these problems publicly,” Hansen said.

The internal document shows the navy is currently short some 15% of its required sailors—meaning one in seven positions sits vacant. Shortages are most acute among enlisted ranks (19% understaffed) and sergeants (16%). Denmark’s 12 frigates operate in the North Atlantic, around Greenland, and on international missions, where demand remains high regardless of crew levels.

Hansen argued that higher wages could help stem the exodus, a proposal recently backed by the Denmark Democrats party. Jens agreed, citing cases where sailors cannot afford housing loans. “It makes no sense,” he said. “Stories like that don’t exactly make me want to stay.”