HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355)

The corvettes were fitted with an Otobreda 76 mm main gun, two quad RGM-84C Harpoon surface-to-surface missile (SSM) launchers, a Mod 3 VLS Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile (SAM) launcher carrying 12 missiles, two FIM-92A Stinger SAM launchers, two 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns, seven 12.7 mm M/01 LvSa machine guns, and a Mark 3 depth charge launcher.[1]

Olfert Fischer's radar suite consisted of two Terma Scanter Mil 009 units for navigation, an EADS TRS-3D air search unit, and a CelsiusTech 9GR 600 surface search unit.[1] Fire control was provided by a CelsiusTech 9 LV 200 gun radar, and a General Dynamics Mk 95 missile radar.[1] She was fitted with a Plessey PMS-26 hull-mounted sonar.[1] The corvette was fitted with a Rascall Cutlass B-1 intercept unit, a Telgon HFD/F unit, and four 6-round Seagnat Mk 36 chaff launchers.[1]

The three ships were built by Aalborg Værft, at their shipyard in Aalborg, Denmark.[2] Olfert Fischer was the second to be built: she was laid down on 6 December 1978, and launched on 12 January 1980.[2]

Although scheduled to commission on 25 May 1981, a fire broke out in the engine room eleven days prior, and the time required to repair the ship meant that she missed this date.[3] Olfert Fischer entered service on 16 October 1981.[2] The corvette, along with her two sister ships, were based at Korsør on Sealand Island.[1]

Following the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait at the start of August 1990, the United Nations imposed sanctions against Iraq, and asked that member nations contribute forces to help implement them.[4] On 31 August, the Danish Parliament decided that a single ship, Olfert Fischer, would make up the Danish contribution.[4] The corvette was to enforce the UN sanctions only; she was not to become involved in the developing Gulf War.[4] She was accompanied and supported by a Norwegian supply ship.[4] The Gulf War deployment, which ended in September 1991, was the first time a Danish warship had operated outside the European region.[3][5] The deployment marked a change in Danish attitudes and actions towards international security and foreign policy.[6]

During 1992, 1994, and 1995, Olfert Fischer was assigned to the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic.[3]

Six ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1 sailing in formation in 2007. Olfert Fischer is the rightmost vessel.

The corvette completed her mid-life overhaul in December 2001; she was the last to do so.[1] During the refit, the single octuple Sea Sparrow launcher was replaced with two StanFlex modular mission payload slots (which are normally fitted with two six-round Sea Sparrow launchers), while the air search radar was updated.[1][7]

In 2003, Olfert Fischer, the submarine Sælen, and a 380-strong force of soldiers were sent to the Persian Gulf region to support the United States-led invasion of Iraq.[8]

During 2007, the corvette was assigned to the Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1.

Olfert Fischer and the other two Niels Juel-class corvettes were decommissioned on 18 August 2009.[6] They were replaced by the three Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates.[6]

• Balsved, Johnny E. (11 October 2009). "Olfert Fischer (1981-)". Danish Naval History. Navalhistory.dk. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
• Houben, Marc (2005). International crisis management: the approach of European states. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-35455-2.
• Lok, Joris Janssen (24 April 2006). "New Danish combat support ships offer greater flexibility for NATO operations". International Defence Review. Jane's Information Group.
• Toremans, Guy (4 September 2009). "Danish navy retires Niels Juel-class corvettes". Jane's Navy International. Jane's Information Group.
• Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156.

• Royal Danish Navy 2. squadron