Training ship DANMARK
In 1933, the Danish Government completed construction of a 1,700-ton training ship, the DANMARK. It was not intended to be a mechanically driven ocean ship but a full-rigged ship, whose main propulsion was 17,000 square feet of canvas sail. The purpose of the ship was to train primarily young men to be seamen in the Danish merchant marine. Although the main propulsion was sail, the steel-hulled ship also was equipped with a 250-horsepower diesel engine, which was used so seldom that it was mostly run periodically to make sure that it was in good operating condition.
The DANMARK was eminently successful in producing officers with knowledge of seamanship, navigation, small boat handling, the effect of the wind, and tides. It was manned by a small cadre of experienced officers and seamen, skilled in training others in the lore of the sea. It made periodic cruises to distant ports as a part of its training program, and it was on one of these cruises to the islands of the Caribbean and along the coast of the United States that it stopped in Jacksonville, Florida, in August 1939, just prior to returning home. During this port visit, Germany invaded Denmark, and the DANMARK was left with no place to go and no financial means of support. The crew got some support from odd jobs ashore and much help from the local populace, but it became obvious that this was insufficient for the upkeep of the ship and its crew.
U.S Coast Guard Academy cadets training aboard the Danmark during World War II
On December 8, 1941, the U.S. Government received the following notice from the Commanding Officer of the DANMARK, Captain Hansen: “In view of the latest development, the cadets, officers, and the captain of the Danish Government Training Vessel DANMARK unanimously place themselves and the ship at the disposal of the United States Government, to serve in any capacity the United States Government sees fit in our joint fight for victory and liberty.” And so on January 3, 1942, the DANMARK sailed up the Thames River and moored alongside the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Wharf in New London, CT. Soon thereafter, in a solemn ceremony, the Danish flag was lowered and the flag of the United States was hoisted to the gaff and would stay there as the ship trained U.S. Coast Guard officer candidates until the DANMARK was able to return to its home country.1
My first experience with the DANMARK came in 1943, when, as a brand new Coast Guard Cadet, I was introduced to chipping, wirebrushing, and painting with red lead and white paint to freshen up the hull and deck housing of the DANMARK, under the supervision of the ships’ first lieutenant, LT Roemer. Under the watchful eyes of the Danish officers and crew, I learned valuable lessons in seamanship, navigation, small boat handling, ship handling, open sea cruising, and the effects of winds, waves, tides, currents, and much, much more from the wonderfully talented and experienced Danes. These lessons I carried with me through a 30-year career in the Coast Guard, and I credit them with pulling me through many a tough situation at sea.
During three and a half years of World War II, the DANMARK trained Coast Guard Regular and Reserve cadets and contributed measurably to the national war effort. When World War II ended, the Coast Guard returned the DANMARK to the Danish Government in a moving ceremony, in which Captain Knud Hansen, master of the DANMARK took over the ship in the name of the Danish Government on September 27, 1945, King Christian’s 75th birthday. Captain Hansen and his officers received letters of appreciation from the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy presented the ship a bronze plaque and a moving picture film illustrating the work of the DANMARK in the Academy’s service.
Captain Hansen and his officers were the recipients of glowing tribute from Connecticut Governor Raymond E. Baldwin; Rear Admiral Raymond T. McElligott, representing the Coast Guard Commandant; Admiral Russell R. Waesche; Rear Admiral James Pine, Superintendent of the Academy; and Carl L. Brun, Acting Danish Minister to the United States. Governor Baldwin was particularly complimentary in his remarks about the DANMARK. He said we come to say goodbye to the DANMARK or as we say in American slang, ‘so long,’ which means we expect you will come back soon. As a Danish training ship, the DANMARK did, in fact return on a number of occasions, the most notable of which was the 60th anniversary of their departure after the end of World War II.
On July 4, 2005, the Training Ship Danmark visited Washington, DC.
On that occasion, the Danish Government planned the visit to Washington, D.C., and asked the Commandant of the Coast Guard to invite all Coast Guard personnel who served on the DANMARK to a reception to be held on the Pier at Maine Avenue in Southwest Washington, D.C. I was one of those who were invited, and it was a very moving ceremony. A band played the Star-Spangled Banner and the national anthem of Denmark. After welcoming remarks by Karsten Ankjaer Jensen, Deputy Chief of Mission, The Royal Danish Embassy, Washington, D.C., there were remarks by Admiral James Gracey (Retired), 17th Commandant of the Coast Guard, who trained on the DANMARK, and Rear Admiral Craig E. Bone, Coast Guard Headquarters. Following this, there was a presentation of certificates to veterans by Mr. Jensen, and a reception and tours of the DANMARK by CAPT Kurt Andersen, current master of the DANMARK.
There were more than 100 former cadets who served on the DANMARK present at theevent, accompanied by their spouses, some who came all the way from the West Coast. Many of these individuals I had not seen in 50 to 60 years. It was an unforgettable occasion. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the DANMARK headed back home.
July 4, 2005, program of recognition for U.S. veterans who served on the training ship DANMARK during World War II from 1941 to 1945.
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1Derby, W. N., “Square-rigger, Twentieth Century,” Surf and Storm Magazine, February, 1943.
(Originally published in Officer Review, Vol. 50, No. 5, October 2010, The Military Order of the World Wars.)
Editor’s note, September 20, 2015: In his article “Danmark’s Contribution to Coast Guard Seamanship and Leadership,” Admiral James M. Loy, U.S. Coast Guard, provides additional history and background on the important role the DANMARK played in Coast Guard training and seamanship. Admiral Loy writes “When we see the graceful beauty of this full rigged ship, we do well to look past the billowing sails and to recall their purpose. Danmark’s service to the U.S. Coast Guard was not designed to provide a picturesque setting for summer training. It was designed to win a war we were not initially favored to win…. We may fairly credit Danmark also with motivating the Coast Guard to obtain Eagle…. Simply put, Danmark reconnected the Coast Guard with its sailing heritage.”
I would like to if my. Grandfather retired CG was the same Charles A Hansen that trained o the Denmark and the Eagle. Was he a Captain on these boats? Would like to see picture of him to be sure.
My father served on the Danmark in WWII. Lt. (j.g.) Joseph G. Korsak. Did you know him?
Sadly my Dad is no longer with us to respond, but I think he must have met him since they were both on the Danmark in that period. It must have been a remarkable experience – grateful to your father and to all those who have served in our military.
Best wishes to you,
Claire Reinburg
My father, Erik Raahauge, raised in Esberg, Denmark, sailed in Danmark from 1936-37.
Later serving as a merchant seaman aboard S/S Maria made for safe harbor in New York following Germany’s invasion of Denmark. He subsequently served with US Army in New Guinea until the summer of 1944. Then transferring to the US Merchant Marine again serving in the Pacific until the end of hostilities.