Denmark recently named it's latest frigate Iver Huitfeldt.
These new Iver Huitfeldt class frigates have generated a great deal of interest.
Almost as much as their unusual half sisters the Absalon class.
Both of these classes are often cited as examples of low cost warship design.
However,closer examination of Danish documents suggests their true price is far from clear.
Like many other global warship projects these vessels have suffered from cost overruns in the past.
Recent news suggests they have another less common problem.
This Danish report suggests that the keels of the Iver Huitfeldt class are bent,like a banana.
This 6 centimetre distortion is said to be the result of cooling after welding sections of the ship together.
Fortunately this is not expected to be a significant problem.
Either of the Absalom or Iver Huitfeld class frigates are far superior warships to the underarmed USN LCS types. And they cost about 40 to 60 percent of those corvette-armed speedboats that the USN has now contracted to produce out to something like 24 hulls.
ReplyDeleteDenmark and the other Nordic navies lead the world in producing advanced warship designs.
That cargo space inside the Absalon is strange thing to encounter. When you stand in the middle of it your brain goes "this is frigate, this shouldn't be here."
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about mission modules. The oft quote mission is mine warfare. And I don't see how 6500tons of metal is the best vessel to launch ROVs from. I think the future of mine warfare is robotic and satellite guided.