HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | December 6, 1978 |
| Launched: | January 15, 1980 |
| Commissioned: | October 16, 1981 |
| Decommissioned: | |
| Fate: | Active in service as of 2006 |
| Struck: | |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1,320 tonnes |
| Length: | 84 m |
| Beam: | 10.3 m |
| Draught: | 4.8 m |
| Propulsion & power: | 1 × GE LM2500 gas turbine providing 25,700 hp 1 × MTU 20V956TB82 20-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engine providing 4,800 hp 2 × propellors 1 × Bow thruster |
| Speed: | 28.6 knots (53 km/h), 18 knots (33.3 km/h) cruising |
| Range: | 4,000 nm at 18 knots, 1,020 nm at 28 knots |
| Complement: | 91 crew |
| Armament: | 1 × 76 mm gun M/71 LvSa 8 × RGM-84 Harpoons (SSM) 2 × Sea Sparrows (SAM) 4 × SEAGNAT/SBROC Mk. 36 (4 x 6) 1 × Depth charge launcher Mk. 3 4 × FIM-92A Stinger missiles (SAM) 7 × 12.7 mm machine guns M/01 LvSa |
HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355) is one of three Niels Juel class corvettes belonging to the Royal Danish Navy, currently 2. squadron, 21st division.
Contents |
[edit] Service in the 1991 Gulf War
Among the Danish public the Olfert Fischer is probably the most well-known of all the ships of the Royal Danish Navy due to its participation in both the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War. In both wars the ship played an essential role to the allied forces.
During the Gulf War, OLFI was primarily stationed in the Southern Persian Gulf (SAG) where no actual fighting took place. The crew that served aboard the OLFI during its first combat sortie all received "Forsvarets medalje" (the Danish defence medal) as well as a medal issued by Saudi Arabia.
[edit] Service in the 2003 Iraq War
Prior to OLFI's participation in the 2003 Iraq War, the ship was leaving its homebase in order to go to the Mediterranean Sea on a routine mission. Just before it departured, the chief of the Navy's 2. squadron promised in a speech to the crew and their families present at the pier that "...we are NOT sending your boys and girls, husbands and wives to war!". The ship left the base en route to the Mediterranean Sea earlier than original scheduled due to protests going on near the base. When activists from "Global Roots" eventually forced their way into the naval base, they found that the OLFI had steamed to sea more than one hour prior to their unrightful entry of the military facility. Most of the activists found themselves arrested by police and military police.
Four days after the departure from Denmark, the Iraq War began, and OLFI received new orders; To proceed to the gulf area at best speed and join the coalition forces. The ship made a short stop in Spain and the Greek island Crete in order to get replenishments aboard before proceeding through the Suez Canal.
After joining the coalition at the base in Bahrain, OLFI operated at the front line far north in the North Persian Gulf (NAG) and far up the Iraqi rivers; especially the waterways of Kwah Ab Allah (KAA) saw Danish presence. The vessel never got involved in actual combat. All missions were carried out successfully without a single shot being fired. Among the coalition forces it was quite remarkable that OLFI could carry out all of its missions during the war only by peaceful and diplomatic means.
Also present in the Persian Gulf area was the Danish submarine HDMS Sælen (S323). This vessel primarily operated in the Southern Persian Gulf in order to protect the Strait of Hormuz.
Upon their return to Denmark, the entire crew except the commanding officer of the Olfert Fischer received "Forsvarets medalje". The commanding officer did not receive this medal because he received it after serving as the operations officer (OPO) of the Olfert Fischer during the first Gulf War.
[edit] References
- Own experience as navy employee and crewmember onboard HDMS Olfert Fischer during the Iraq War.
- Olfert Fisher at Danish Naval History website
