HDMS Absalon (F341)
{{Short description|Frigate of the Royal Danish Navy}}
{{other ships|HDMS Absalon}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = KDM Absalon (L16) underway in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Greenland on 16 August 2019 (190816-N-TJ319-1251).JPG | Ship image size = 300px | Ship caption = Absalon in 2019 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Denmark | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Denmark|naval}} | Ship name = Absalon | Ship namesake = Absalon | Ship operator = | Ship ordered = November 2001 | Ship awarded = | Ship builder = Odense Staalskibsværft | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 28 November 2003 | Ship launched = 25 February 2004 | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = | Ship completed = 1 July 2004 | Ship acquired = | Ship commissioned =19 October 2004 | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = Frederikshavn | Ship identification=*Call sign OUFA
| Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship honors = | Ship captured = | Ship status = In active service | Ship notes = | Ship badge = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Frigate | Ship type = | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = 6,300 tonnes | Ship length = {{convert|137.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|19.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draft = {{convert|6.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship ramps = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *2 × MTU 8000 M70 diesel engines;
| Ship speed = {{convert|24|kn|km/h|lk=in}} | Ship range = {{convert|9000|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} | Ship endurance = | Ship boats = *2 × SB90E LCP
| Ship capacity = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = 169 | Ship crew = | Ship sensors = *Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D volume search radar
| Ship EW = *4 × 12-barrelled Terma DL-12T 130 mm decoy launchers
| Ship armament = *1 × 5 inch (127 mm)/54 Mark 45 mod 4 gun
| Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = 2 × EH-101{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/absalon/absalon7.html |title=Absalon Class Combat / Flexible Support Ship, Denmark |publisher=naval-technology.com |access-date=10 April 2015 |archive-date=5 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405163214/http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/absalon/absalon7.html |url-status=dead }} or 2 × Westland Lynx | Ship aircraft facilities = Aft helicopter deck and hangars | Ship notes = }} |
HDMS Absalon (F341) and her sister ship {{HDMS|Esbern Snare|L17|2}} of the Royal Danish Navy (RDN) are the two members of the {{sclass|Absalon|support ship|4}}.{{cite web |url=http://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/materiel/sovaernets_materiel/stotteskibe/Pages/Stoetteskibe2.aspx |publisher=Royal Danish Navy |title=Støtteskibe af ABSALON-klassen |access-date=10 April 2015 |language=Danish |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126162444/https://www2.forsvaret.dk/viden-om/materiel/sovaernets_materiel/stotteskibe/Pages/Stoetteskibe2.aspx |archive-date=26 January 2019 |url-status=dead }} The lead ship of the class is named after Danish archbishop and statesman Absalon and received full operational status in 2007.
Design
The ships are the first in a series of RDN vessels tasked with carrying out new types of missions, and are to form the backbone of the international operations that the RDN is increasingly focusing on.
{{cite news| url=http://www.casr.ca/id-danish-naval-projects-absalon.htm| title=An Overview of Current, On-Going Danish Naval projects -- 2005-2009 Absalon class Command and Support Ship (CSS / Transport Frigate)| date=May 2008| publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review| access-date=10 April 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624215427/http://www.casr.ca/id-danish-naval-projects-absalon.htm| archive-date=24 June 2009}}
The Absalon-class ships are primarily designed for command and support roles, with a large ro-ro deck, but with their many offensive weapons and new anti-submarine weapons and tasks, the class was changed to frigates in 2020.
The three frigates of the succeeding {{sclass|Iver Huitfeldt|frigate|4}} are similar to the Absalon-class vessels but without the large ro-ro deck.{{cite news |date=July 2008 |title=An Overview of Current, On-Going Danish Naval projects 2005-2009 Projekt Patruljeskib – a Patrol Ship or Heavily-Armed Future Frigate |publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review |url=http://www.casr.ca/id-danish-naval-projects-frigate.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=10 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615044337/http://www.casr.ca/id-danish-naval-projects-frigate.htm |archive-date=15 June 2009}}
Absalon is one of a number of vessels to have been filmed by documentary makers to appear on the Mighty Ships TV programme, detailing the capabilities and stories of the ship and crew.[http://www.discovery.ca/Showpage.aspx?sid=13057 Mighty Ships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104175126/http://www.discovery.ca/Showpage.aspx?sid=13057 |date=2012-11-04 }}
Service
=Somali counter-piracy mission=
Starting in 2008, HDMS Absalon participated in the UN-led counter-piracy mission off Somalia and the east coast of Africa, acting as flagship to the Danish Task Group which led Task Force 150.{{cite web|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1445952.php/Danish_navy_vessel_leads_operation_against_Somali_pirates_ |title=Danish navy vessel leads operation against Somali pirates |publisher=Monsters and Critics |access-date=2010-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520202211/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1445952.php/Danish_navy_vessel_leads_operation_against_Somali_pirates_ |archive-date=May 20, 2011 }} In September 2008, as part of the task force, Absalon was involved in the capture of 10 pirates, who were eventually set free. On 3 December 2008, after the mandate had been extended,{{cite web|url=http://forsvaret.dk/SOK/Nyt%20og%20Presse/internationalt/Pages/httpsadminforsvaretdkSOKInternationaltarkPagesdefaultaspx.aspx |title=ABSALON forlænget i ADEN-bugten |website=Forsvaret.dk |date=2008-11-27 |access-date=2010-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210164921/http://forsvaret.dk/SOK/Nyt%20og%20Presse/internationalt/Pages/httpsadminforsvaretdkSOKInternationaltarkPagesdefaultaspx.aspx |archive-date=December 10, 2008 }} Absalon rescued a disabled skiff with suspected pirates aboard in the Gulf of Aden, 90 miles off the coast of Yemen;{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/04/yemen.pirates/index.html?iref=topnews |title=Suspected pirates rescued in Gulf of Aden |work=CNN |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=10 April 2015}} the Somali craft was reported to hold rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 assault rifles, and to have been adrift for several days. Absalon took the sailors and weapons aboard, sank the craft, and turned the sailors over to the Yemeni Coast Guard.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/world/europe/06pirate.html?hp |title=Danish Navy Rescues Suspected Pirates |first=Alan |last=Cowell |work=The New York Times |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=10 April 2015}} Absalon was reportedly the most successful counter-piracy warship in the Gulf of Aden, capturing 88 out of the 250 pirates detained.[http://stiften.dk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090314/DHS/754507451 Danish Newspaper Article] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
On 16 March 2009, Absalon, along with the Turkish frigate {{ship|TCG|Giresun|F 491|6}}, successfully prevented pirates from capturing the Vietnamese cargo ship {{MV|Diamond Falcon}}.{{cite web|title=Đan Mạch, Thổ Nhĩ Kỳ cùng giải cứu tàu hàng Việt Nam|work=Viet bao.com|date=16 March 2009|url=http://vietbao.vn/The-gioi/Dan-Mach-Tho-Nhi-Ky-cung-giai-cuu-tau-hang-Viet-Nam/20836583/159/|language=Vietnamese|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=11 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411052552/http://vietbao.vn/The-gioi/Dan-Mach-Tho-Nhi-Ky-cung-giai-cuu-tau-hang-Viet-Nam/20836583/159/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200903160327DOWJONESDJONLINE000073_univ.xml|title=Vietnamese Cargo Ship Rescued From Pirates - Turkish Army|date=16 March 2009|access-date=24 March 2009|publisher=Morningstar.com}} {{dead link|date=April 2015}}
Absalon{{'}}s counter-piracy mission with NATO Task Force 150 in Somali waters ended 1 April 2009, after resulting in the capture of over 80 pirates, some of whom were transferred to the Netherlands for trial.{{cite news|url=http://politiken.dk/indland/article691125.ece |title='Absalon' slap 83 pirater fri |language=Danish |work=Politiken |last=Sørensen |first=Laura Marie |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=10 April 2015}}
On 5 February 2010, Absalon helped to rescue the crew of the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged merchant vessel {{MV|Ariella||2}}, which was being hijacked by six armed pirates. Absalon dispatched a helicopter and a special forces team, deterring the pirates.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8500611.stm |work=BBC News |title=Nato troops free ship off Somalia after pirate attack |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=10 April 2015}} On 1 March 2010, Absalon was reported to have sunk a Somali pirate mother ship carrying several pirate speedboats in the Indian Ocean.{{cite news |last=Lekic |first=Slobodan |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011223467_appiracy.html |title=NATO warship sinks pirate ship off Somalia |work=Seattle Times |date=2 March 2010 |access-date=10 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604133022/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011223467_appiracy.html |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}
On 7 January 2012, Absalon intercepted and boarded a Somali pirate mother ship in the Indian Ocean. The boarding crew freed 14 Iranian and Pakistani fishermen who had been held as hostages for over two months.{{cite web|url=http://article.wn.com/view/2012/01/08/Danish_warship_captures_suspected_pirate_mothership_frees_14/ |title=Danish warship captures suspected pirate mothership, frees 14 people off the Horn of Africa |work=Worldnews.com |date=8 January 2012 |access-date=10 April 2015}}
On 30 November 2015, Minister of Defence Peter Christensen, announced that Absalon was to be moved to the Mediterranean Sea, in order to accommodate Turkey's request to NATO, for a larger military presence in the area.{{cite web|title=Denmark sends pirate hunter Absalon to the Mediterranean|url=http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/politik/danmark-sender-piratjaegeren-absalon-til-middelhavet|website=DR.dk|date=30 November 2015 |access-date=30 November 2015|language=Danish}}
From 7 May to 13 May 2022, Absalon took part in Exercise Mjolner 2022 held in the Arctic region.{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/05/norwegian-led-mjolner-2022-multinational-exercise-concludes-in-arctic/ |title=Norwegian-Led Mjølner 2022 Multinational Exercise Concludes In Arctic |work=Naval News |date=17 May 2022 |access-date=2 June 2022}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|IMO 9284441}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110707062726/http://360-image.com/rvn2010/ 360° images]
{{Absalon class command ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Absalon (L16)}}
Category:Absalon-class support ships
Category:Ships built in Odense