The helicopters were used primarily for fishery patrol, shipboard support and coastal Search & Rescue (SAR) missions.
In 1977 the flight was made into a unit of its own and became a part of the navy, under the name Søværnets Flyvetjeneste (The Naval Air Service).
International obligations didn't allow for the Danish air force to possess so many helicopters.
[clarification needed] A Danish navy helicopter foiled a pirate attack off Somali coast, 28 August 2010.
It was originally built by the Germans in WW2 as Fliegerhorst Grove, and taken over by the RDAF post war.