HDMS Iver Huitfeldt (F361)

HDMS Iver Huitfeldt (F361) is a Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate in the Royal Danish Navy. The ship is named after Iver Huitfeildt, a 17th-century Danish officer.

HDMS Iver Huitfeldt underway on 9 June 2018
History
Denmark
Name:	Iver Huitfeldt
Namesake:	Iver Huitfeldt
Builder:	Odense Steel Shipyard, Odense
Laid down:	2 June 2008
Launched:	11 March 2010
Commissioned:	21 January 2011
Homeport:	Korsør
Identification:	MMSI number: 219103000 Callsign: OVVA Pennant number: F361
Motto:	En genio, et armis (In genius, and armis)
Status:	Active
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate
Displacement:	6,645 tonnes (full load)
Length:	138.7 m (455 ft)
Beam:	19.75 m (64.8 ft)
Draft:	5.3 m (17 ft)
Propulsion:	Four MTU 8000 20V M70 diesel engines, 8,2 MW each Two shafts, CODAD[1]
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:	9,300 nautical miles (17,200 km; 10,700 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)[2]
Complement:	165
Crew:	117
Sensors and processing systems:	1 Thales Nederland SMART-L long-range air and surface surveillance radar 1 Thales Nederland APAR air and surface search, tracking and guidance radar (I band) 1 Terma SCANTER 6000 surveillance and helicopter guidance radar Atlas ASO 94 hull mounted sonar 2 Saab CEROS 200 fire control radars ES-3701 Tactical Radar Electronic Support Measures (ESM)
Electronic warfare & decoys:	8 × 6-barrelled Terma MK 137 130 mm decoy launchers Seagnat Mark 36 SRBOC
Armament:	32 × Mk 41 VLS with up to 32 SM-2 IIIA surface-to-air missiles [3] 24 × Mk 56 VLS with up to 24 RIM-162 ESSM 8–16 × Harpoon Block II SSM 1 × Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm Naval Revolver Gun System CIWS 2 × OTO Melara 76 mm 2 × dual MU90 Impact ASW torpedo launchers
Aircraft carried:	1 × MH-60R
Aviation facilities:	Hanger and helipad

Design

The class is built on the experience gained from the Absalon-class support ships, and by reusing the basic hull design of the Absalon class the Royal Danish Navy have been able to construct the Iver Huitfeldt class considerably cheaper than comparable ships.[4]

The frigates are compatible with the Danish Navy's StanFlex modular mission payload system used in the Absalons, and are designed with slots for six modules. Each of the four stanflex positions on the missile deck is able to accommodate either the Mark 141 8-cell Harpoon launcher module, or the 12-cell Mark 56 ESSM VLS.[5] The Peter Willemoes passed the British Flag Officer Sea Training test in 2015.[6]

While the Absalon-class ships are primarily designed for command and support roles, with a large ro-ro deck, the three new Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates will be equipped for an air defence role with Standard Missiles, and the potential to use Tomahawk cruise missiles,[7] a first for the Danish Navy.

The ships were constructed in blocks in Estonia and Lithuania. These blocks were then towed to the Odense Steel Shipyard where they were assembled.[3]

Construction and career

She was laid down on 2 June 2008 and launched on 11 March 2010 by Odense Steel Shipyard, Odense. Commissioned on 21 January 2011.

Iver Huitfeldt participated in USS Eisenhower Strike Group which includes USS Vella Gulf, USS San Jacinto, USS Stout, USS Truxtun and USS James E. Williams. They left Norfolk Naval Base on 17 January 2020.[8] She participated in Operation Agenor in August 2020 to ensure free compliance at sea.[9]

Gallery

• 
  HDMS Iver Huitfeldt in Århus on 20 January 2012.
• 
  HDMS Iver Huitfeldt on 3 June 2012.
• 
  HDMS Iver Huitfeldt on 3 June 2012.
• 
  HDMS Iver Huitfeldt in Korsør on 16 May 2015.
• 
  HDMS Iver Huitfeldt alongside TCG Gediz duirng BALTOPS 2018.

See also

• HDMS Peter Willemoes (F362)
• HDMS Niels Juel (F363)

References

1. Muradian, Vago (2016-11-29). "Design Philosophy of Denmark's Iver Huitfeldt-Class Frigates". Defense & Aerospace Report.
2. http://nozebra.ipapercms.dk/valcon/OMT1/IverHuitfeldtClass/TheIverHuitfeldtClassMaerskBroker/
3. http://www.navalhistory.dk/Danish/SoevaernsNyt/2008/0201_NyeFregatter.htm
4. Danish Newspaper article on the Iver Huitfeldt class of frigates.
5. Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156.
6. "Willemoes i superligaen". Danish Defence. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
7. Article in July 2008 issue of Defence Technology International describes new frigates
8. "Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Deploys to the Atlantic". USNI News. 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
9. Staff, Naval News (2020-11-09). "Denmark to Take Over Command of Operation Agenor from January 2021". Naval News. Retrieved 2020-12-04.

External links