HDMS Esbern Snare (L17) is an support ship, and is along with her sister ship, the HDMS Absalon (L16)

HDMS Absalon (L16)

HDMS Absalon and her sister ship HDMS Esbern Snare are the biggest ships ever to serve in the Royal Danish Navy , and are the two members of the Absalon class flexible support ships...

, the largest combat vessel currently commissioned in the Royal Danish Navy

Royal Danish Navy

The Royal Danish Navy is the sea-based branch of the Danish Defence force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese territorial waters...

.

The Esbern Snare is part of the first stage of a strategic realignment within the Royal Danish Navy, which is transitioning to focus on international operations, in which Absalon-class vessels will form the backbone. The ship is designed for command and support roles, with a large ro-ro deck, and is to be complemented by the Ivar Huitfeldt class frigate

Ivar Huitfeldt class frigate

The Iver Huitfeldt class will be a three-ship class of frigates entering service with the Royal Danish Navy in 2012 and 2013.-Background:...

, a derivative of the Absalon-class designed specifically for combat operations..

The Esbern Snare was involved in the Beluga Nomination Incident

Beluga Nomination Incident

The Beluga Nomination Incident refers to the capture and attempted liberation of a German freighter from Somali Pirates by the Seychelles Coast Guard and Royal Danish Navy in January 2011...

, when she and the Seychelles Coast Guard

Seychelles Coast Guard

The Seychelles Coast Guard is a branch of the Military of Seychelles created in 1992. It is a maritime, military, multi-mission service. They recently acquired responsibility for search and rescue for vessel incidents as well as environmental protection from the Port and Marine Services...

 patrol boat

Patrol boat

A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...

 engaged in a failed rescue operation which left four or five Somali pirates

Piracy in Somalia

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...

 and civilians dead. Later she captured a mother ship

Mother ship

A mother ship is a vessel or aircraft that carries a smaller vessel or aircraft that operates independently from it. Examples include bombers converted to carry experimental aircraft to altitudes where they can conduct their research , or ships that carry small submarines to an area of ocean to be...

on 12 February 2011, capturing sixteen pirates and their weapons, as well as freeing two hostages held by the pirates. While patroling on 12 May 2011 she encountered the pirated dhow NN Iran and attacked it, killing four pirates and wounding ten. Sixteen Iranian hostages were rescued and 24 pirates captured, but the dhow was in a sinking condition and had to be abandoned.
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