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HDMS Niels Juel (F363)

2011 MODERN NAVY

History

Many European guided missile frigates have been adapted for critical "air defense" roles, providing buoyant, maneuverable airspace denial capabilities to the main fleet, or protecting vital waterways or even near-shore positions as independent means when called upon to act. For the modern Royal Danish Navy, this is achieved by the three-person battle frigates of the Iver Huitfeldt class, of which the HDMS Miels Juel (F363) is important.

Construction of the warships began in 2008 and all have been in service since 2012, adding significant ocean-going capabilities to the relatively modest fleet of the Royal Danish Navy.

HDMS Niels Juel was laid in December 2009 and officially launched a year later for testing purposes. She was officially commissioned with the Royal Danish Navy in November 2011 and remains active in the fleet at the time of writing (2019).

Dimensions include 455ft barrel length, 64.8ft beam and up to 17ft draft. Her profile follows the established line of the Iver Huitfeldt-class anti-aircraft frigates, utilizing stealth features such as a good counter hull line (continuing into the hull structure), the limitations of existing external projections, and a low-profile enclosed funnel. Apart from a main gun and turret, the forecourt is relatively featureless.

The front and rear structural sections of the hull are connected by a central section containing additional weapons, a rear mast and two funnels. The main mast and bridge are located in the forward superstructure section and are of a closed design to minimize the character of the warship.

Above the stern is the Combined Helicopter Garage, which provides support facilities for up to two medium Navy helicopters. Typically carrying a Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk, the helicopter can be equipped for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions or assist in reconnaissance and search and rescue (SAR) operations.

There are about 117 employees on board.

The ship is equipped with Thales Netherlands SMART-L air/surface search radar system, Thales Netherlands APAR air/surface search radar and 1 Terma SCANTER 6000 surveillance/helicopter guidance unit. Atlas ASO 94 series sonar units are installed in the hull.

2 x Saab CEROS 200 systems support fire control. The ES-3701 kit covers the ship's Electronic Support Measures (ESM), while the Mark 36 Mortar System "Super Rapid Blowing Off Ship Countermeasures" ("SRBOC") involves the firing of chaff/infrared (IR) decoys to counter incoming attacks anti-ship missiles. delegate.

The warship is powered by 4 MTU 8000 20V M70 series marine diesel engines in a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration, driving 2 axles under the stern. Under ideal conditions, this enables the vessel to reach a top sea speed of 30 knots and a range of 10,700 miles - giving Niels Juel superior fuel efficiency and operational capabilities.

The armament is carried by a 76mm OTO-Melara deck gun with the turret located above the forecourt, but the heart and soul of this design is the 4 x Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) that can carry up to 32 x SM-2 IIIA Surface Surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and 2 x Mk 56 VLS for up to 24 x RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-range SAMs. In addition, there are 4 quad missile launchers (two on each side of the hull), 16 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 2 MU90 Impact twin-barreled torpedo launchers and a 35mm Oerlikon Millennium Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) ). All in all, the ship is well equipped for airspace blockade and can handle most threats at sea.