Flyvefisken-class patrol vessel
 P555 HDMS Støren | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |
 Royal Danish Navy Lithuanian Naval Force Portuguese Navy |
| Built: | 1985–1995 |
| In commission: | 1989– |
| Planned: | 17 |
| Completed: | 14 |
| Cancelled: | 3 |
| Active: | 4 |
| Retired: | 10 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Displacement: | 320 tonnes (315 long tons) light 450 tonnes (443 long tons) full load |
| Length: | 54 m (177 ft 2 in) |
| Beam: | 9 m (29 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion: | Combined diesel and gas 1 × General Electric LM500 gas turbine 4,066 kW (5,453 hp) 2 × MTU 16V 396TB94 diesels 4,226 kW (5,667 hp) total 1 × auxiliary GM 12V-71 diesel, 373 kW (500 hp) Hydraulic propulsion 3 × auxiliary GM 6-71 diesel generators |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) on turbine + diesels 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) on MTU's 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) on hydraulic drive |
| Range: | 3,860 nmi (7,150 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement: | 19-29 depending on role |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Terma Scanter Mil 009 surveillance radar Thales TMS 2640 Salmon variable depth sonar Furuno navigational radar EADS TRS-3D air search radar (Combat role) Plessey AWS-6 air search radar (MCM role) SaabTech Vectronics 9LV 200 Mk 3 Fire control radar |
| Armament: | Armament depends on the ships role, but includes the following options: 8 × launchers for Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon Block II SSM 12 × launchers Sea Sparrow SAM 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm/62 gun 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns 4 × 323 mm (12.7 in) MU90 ASW torpedoes 60 mines |
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The Flyvefisken class patrol vessels ((Danish): Flying fish) are warships of the Royal Danish Navy. The class is also known as the Standard Flex 300 or SF300 class.
Containerised weapon systems
The Flyvefisken ships were constructed using an innovative modular design known as StanFlex: they have a standard hull in which containerised weapons or systems can be placed. This allows them to rapidly change roles, typically in 48 hours. This enables the ships to be configured to perform the following roles:
- Surveillance/pollution control
- Combat
- Mine countermeasures/minehunter (MCM)
- Minelayer
The containers measure 3.5 × 3 × 2.5 metres. One container goes on the foredeck; the other three go on the quarterdeck behind the superstructure and funnel. Furthermore the ships are built using the sandwich principle - a layer of fiberglass either side of a core of PVC cell foam. This forms the structure from keel to top of mast. This building method has reduces maintenance costs - so much so that 20 years on the new Diana and -Holm class have been built using the same materials.[2]
Replaced three different vessels
The Flyvefisken class replaced three different vessels in the Danish Navy: Six torpedo boats of the Søløven class (1965–90), six coastal minesweepers of the Sund class (1955–99) and eight seaward defence craft of the Daphne class (1961–91). It was possible because of the containerised systems and modern technology.
The replaced vessels used World War II (or WWI) tactics: The Søløven boats were light plywood boats propelled by three turboshafts, which attacked the enemy ships with torpedoes in 54 knots hit-and-run attacks. The Flyvefisken class is not that fast, but their Harpoon missiles are sufficient for the task.
The Sund class minesweepers were built of wood, bronze and other non-magnetic materials. They swept mine fields by trawling through the area with paravanes on tow separating magnetic and acoustic generators for the bottom mines, and chain cutters for the horned mines. The Flyvefisken class is a minehunter and locates the mines with side-scan sonar and neutralize them one by one with a ROV.
The Daphne class attacked submarines by dropping depth charges to a preselected depth, while sailing past the submarine. The Flyvefisken class fights submarines with anti-submarine homing torpedoes.
Ships in class
A total of 14 ships were built in the class, in three series:
| # | Name | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Int. Callsign | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | |||||||
| P550 | Flyvefisken (Flying fish) | 15 August 1985 | 26 April 1986 | 19 December 1989 | - a) LVS Zemaitis (P 11) | OVDA | MCM |
| P551 | Hajen (Shark) | February 1988 | 6 August 1989 | 19 August 1990 | - a) LVS Dzukas (P 12) | OVDB | MCM |
| P552 | Havkatten (Catfish) | August 1988 | 13 January 1990 | 1 November 1990 | 12 January 2012 | OVDC | MCM |
| P553 | Laxen (Salmon) | March 1988 | 20 May 1990 | 12 March 1991 | 7 October 2010 | OVDD | MCM |
| P554 | Makrelen (Mackerel) | December 1988 | 8 January 1991 | 4 October 1991 | 7 October 2010 | OVDE | MCM |
| P555 | Støren (Sturgeon) | August 1989 | 1 September 1991 | 24 April 1992 | 7 October 2010 | OVBF | MCM |
| P556 | Sværdfisken (Swordfish) | - | 1 September 1991 | 1 February 1992 | 2 August 2006, scrapped | OVDG | MCM |
| Series 2 | |||||||
| P557 | Glenten (Kite) | - | 1992 | 1 February 1992 | 7 October 2010, sold to Portugal on October 2014 | OVDH | Combat |
| P558 | Gribben (Vulture) | - | 1992 | 1 July 1993 | 7 October 2010 | OVDI | Surveillance |
| P559 | Lommen (Loon) | - | 1993 | 21 January 1994 | - a) LVS Aukstaitis (P 14) | OVDJ | Surveillance |
| P560 | Ravnen (Raven) | - | 1994 | 7 October 1994 | 7 October 2010, sold to Portugal on October 2014 | OVDK | Combat |
| P561 | Skaden (European Magpie) | - | 1994 | 10 April 1995 | 7 October 2010, sold to Portugal on October 2014 | OVDL | Combat |
| P562 | Viben (Northern Lapwing) | - | 1995 | 15 January 1996 | 7 October 2010, sold to Portugal on October 2014 | OVDM | Combat |
| Series 3 | |||||||
| P563 | Søløven (Sea lion) | - | 1995 | 27 May 1996 | - | OVDN | Surveillance |
a) = Sold to Lithuania, March 2007
The difference between the series is mainly in the configuration of the propulsion system. Series 2 is not equipped with hydraulic propulsion, but instead has an additional auxiliary engine, and Series 3 has one further auxiliary engine.
References
- ↑ "Specifications: Flyvefisken Class (SF 300) Multi-Role Vessels - Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
- ↑ "Flyvefisken Class (SF 300) Multi-Role Vessels - Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
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