E4 - Absalon Class Overhaul
12 December 2022
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48 min
The most modern warship in the Danish Navy the HDMS Absalon needs a major overhaul. Every 5 years, the warship is docked, and checked to the bones. This happens in Orskov Yard in Frederikshavn, North Denmark. The flexible support ship is 137 meters long and equipped with highprecision weapon systems: From torpedoes to machine guns to antimissile weapons. Thanks to its smooth and angled outer skin, the Absalon reflects only a fraction of radar radiation, making her extremely difficult to detect. The tracking systems of the warship itself, on the other hand, are highly sensitive. Space for two helicopters, two separate engines, bulletproof steel and the most sophisticated technology – all of this is due to be inspected. The most complex of all the processes: Checking the marine shaft device. Which, in effect, means cutting a hole in the ship to remove the rudder and propellers. The bow thruster is removed and maintained, as well as the sonar – a top secret mission. And then there are the upgrades: The technicians install a brand new UV filter system for cleaning the ballast water painters give the entire ship a new look. All of this happens under extreme time pressure: the team has only 5 weeks. But unexpected problems, as well as the special construction of the highlyequippen vessel pushes the engineers to their limits. In this MEGA PIT STOP.