Norwegian frigate becomes part of a US aircraft carrier group

Yesterday (25 August), the Norwegian frigate Fridtjof Nansen her home port of Haakonsvern. She is now on her way across the Atlantic so that the crew can prepare for her next deployment at the US naval base in Norfolk. From November, the type ship of the same class is to join the carrier strike group around the USS Harry S. Truman integrate. This requires not only extensive preparations in advance, but also further training and certification. This will be the first time that a Norwegian ship will be an integral part of a US carrier group. One of the aims of the deployment is to intensify cooperation between the two nations in the defence sector. The frigate, which was built at Navantia in Spain, is not scheduled to return until April of next year.

USS Harry S. Truman with the HNoMS Thor Heyerdal

The Fridtjof Nansen was commissioned in April 2006 and is one of five ships in her class. She is based on the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class, also known as the F-100. The sister ship attracted worldwide attention. Helge Ingstad when it sank off the Norwegian coast in 2018 after colliding with a tanker. The main armament of the 133-metre-long ships, which displace 5,290 tonnes, includes a Mk 41 vertical launching system and two quadruple launchers for the Naval Strike Missile from Kongsberg. The ships are equipped with the American Aegis system from Lockheed Martin.

The Nansen is not expected back in Norway until April 2022

Text: mb; Photos: Forsvaret