Danes reinforcing troops in Afstan with choppers

This will receive no media coverage here--nor the Danish casualties (via Moby Media Updates):

Denmark's defense ministry said April 8 it was sending extra helicopters and troops to Afghanistan, where it has suffered one of the highest per capita death tolls among coalition forces.

"In the context of efforts aimed at strengthening the security of troops [already] deployed, it has been decided to reinforce the Danish contribution in Afghanistan with reconnaissance helicopters," a statement read.

Between two and four Fennec craft as well as some 50-75 staff will be mobilized in about two months, it added.

The ministry cited spring growth of vegetation hindering visibility for ground troops as a factor behind the decision. Spokesman Jacob Winther also told AFP that the reinforcements were agreed independently of NATO requests for extra resources [emphasis added - MC] around last week's summit in Bucharest, Romania.

"It's because of security [concerns] over our own soldiers," Winther said.

Denmark presently has some 550 troops stationed in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, under British command.

The March 31 killing of a Danish soldier in Afghan fighting raised the country's combat death toll to 14, with most having died in the past year amid a resurgence of Taliban fighting.

The Danish daily Politiken has published photographs of the dead, with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates subsequently highlighting Denmark's "significant" share of the alliance "burden" amid a shortfall experienced by the 43,000-strong NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

The Fennec is smaller than our CH-146 Griffons, and would seem less capable. And just as the Griffon is derived from the civilian Bell 412, the Fennec derives from the civilian Aerospatiale AS.350 Ecureuil (the 412 is a slightly more modern design).

Now it has been clear for some time that our Griffons are not best-suited for Afstan, in large part because of heat and the high elevations. But surely if the Danes dare send Fennecs, we could finally decide whether or not to send Griffons--more on plans here.

Lashkar Gah (capital of Helmand province where the Danes are) has an elevation of 775m while Kandahar is at 1010m, if that makes much difference.