Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 7; DENMARK; MILITARY GEOGRAPHY CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110018-4.pdf/15

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110018-4

military operations, but there would be marked differences between the two regions.

1. Denmark

Jutland and the islands are generally well suited for large-scale conventional ground operations. Conditions for cross-country movement of tracked and wheeled vehicles are poor on most of Jutland and Bornholm but are good on most of Fyn, Sjaelland, Falster, Lolland, and the smaller islands. On Jutland the ground is usually soft and untrafficable in numerous peat bogs and marshes (some crisscrossed by ditches and canals) that are most widespread in the western part and in other wet areas that border most streams. Although most streams are shallow, marshy approaches and steep, muddy banks make stream crossings difficult. On Bornholm small, narrow, steep-sided valleys that have soft, untrafficable soils hinder cross-country movement. In parts of northern and northwestern Jutland and on most of the islands conditions for cross-country movement are good on flat to rolling plains that are dry and firm most of the year. Movement would be expedited in the greater part of Jutland and the islands by numerous roads in good condition. The only limitation to onroad movement would be narrow streets in towns, some narrow bridges (mainly on secondary roads), a few sharp curves, and short, steep grades. Offroad dispersal of wheeled vehicles would be hampered in many places by ditches and stone fences that line the roads and by wet areas and soft soils. Conditions are generally good for the construction of new roads. Natural construction materials are readily available; road alignments generally would be unrestricted, and the prevailingly gentle slopes would require little cut and fill. Natural foundations are generally fair to good except in valley bottoms and in low-lying marches and peat bogs, where fill, embankments, drainage facilities, and soil stabilization would be necessary. Rainfall, generally greatest from July to November or December, causes drainage problems in low-lying areas. Soils are difficult to work after rains and thaws; thaws are most common in January, February, and March. Concealment, mainly from ground observation, would be afforded by hedgerows, small scattered wooded areas, embankments, buildings, minor relief irregularities, and coastal sand dunes. Cover from flat-trajectory fire is generally lacking, but some cover, mainly from small arms fire, would be afforded by stone fences, earth banks, urban structures, irregularities in the terrain, and coastal sand dunes. Only a few small, scattered areas are suitable for the construction of tunnel-type installations because of the low relief. Extensive areas in the northern and eastern parts of Jutland and in scattered parts of the islands contain deep, well-scattered soils that are good to fair for the construction of bunker-type installations and hasty ground shelters, but elsewhere a high water table greatly hinders or precludes bunker construction.

Most of the Denmark Region is well suited for airborne and airmobile operations. Nearly all parts are suitable for large-scale parachute operations. Cloudy weather and strong winds, especially during winter, would be the most serious handicaps to airborne operations. The large continuous areas of nearly flat to gently rolling plains provide numerous helicopter landing sites. The many airfields scattered throughout the region are suitable for landings of assault-type aircraft. About two-thirds of them are small, natural-surfaced fields, but several are large and permanently surfaced. The flat to gently rolling plains, especially in western and northern Jutland, also provide numerous good sites for the construction of airfields. Obtaining proper drainage would be the principal problem in western Jutland; natural foundations are mostly good. In eastern Jutland and the islands potential sites have fair to poor natural foundations, and much fill and extensive drainage facilities would be required.

Most of the region is poorly suited for irregular force operations. Little concealment from air observation would be available on the mostly flat to rolling cultivated plains. Forests are evenly distributed over Jutland and the islands, but they are small and isolated and cover only 10% of the region. Coniferous evergreen woodlots predominate in northern and western Jutland, and broadleaf deciduous woodlots predominate in eastern Jutland and on the islands; the deciduous forests are leafless from about early October through April. All forests are scientifically managed and are easily traversed via logging roads and trails. Concealment from ground observation and cover from flat-trajectory fire would be afforded by stone fences, sand dunes, which extend along the northern and western coasts, and by dissected terrain, which extends southward from the Limfjorden in eastern Jutland and is most rugged in the triangular-shaped area between Silkeborg, Arms, and Horsens. Additional concealment from ground observation would be provided by the numerous dense woodlots, hedges, earthen banks that may be topped by scrubby hedges, and by windbreaks, which are common in western Jutland and are composed of belts of dwarfed trees and shrubs. Although concealment would be limited, visibility in winter is frequently restricted by morning fog, which

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110018-4