Frederik has named a new frigate today. In the Odense Staalskibsvaerft on the island of Funen.
A bit of info from Fyens Stiftstidende:
http://www.fyens.dk/article/1720303:Busine...-foerste-fregat
http://www.fyens.dk/article/1720958:Busine...-fregatten-navn
Frederik unveiled the name of the new frigate, Iver Huitfeldt. And as this is the first of three new frigates, this class will be known as the Iver Huitfeldt class.
At the same time her coat of arms was unveiled as well. All the coat of arms on the navy ships are approved by Queen Margrethe.
In keeping with an old tradition the largest and most powerful ships in the Danish navy are named after naval heroes.
The building of these three frigates is a part of the ongoing transition of the Danish military, this time the navy, from national defence to operating far away from home.
A typical mission for a ship of the Iver Huitfeldt class could be enforcing a naval blocade or hunting for pirates off the coast of Africa, which is indeed what the Danish is supposed to aid African nations in doing in the next few years. Mainly in helping to build up a local and efficient coast guard but also in preventing pirate attacks in international waters. Currently about 10 % of the world's commercial shipping originate in some way or another in Denmark.
The problem with pirate hunting as seen off Somalia, is that it has a limited effect. Unless the pirates are caught redhanded, there actually very little the various nations warships can, or rather is allowed to, do. They sink the odd mothership from time to time, but most suspected pirates are turned lose again, because it's too much trouble to try them at a court.
The local coast guard (from Somaliland) is much more feared and basically much more efficient, but their resources are hopelessly limited.
Unless the warships are allowed to take much more firm action, they are, in my opinion, basically little more than armed cruise ships. But few politicians are willing to take on that responsibillity.
Supporting a local coast guard with money and equipment would be much cheaper and, alas, much more efficient.
Yes, I asked on page 1, but it doesn't matter.
