HDMS Esbern Snare (L17)

HDMS "Esbern Snare" (L17), together with her sister ship HDMS "Absalon" (L16), is the biggest ships ever in the Royal Danish Navy, and the two members of the sclass|Absalon|command and support ship|0 command and support ships.

The ships are the first signs of the changes taking place in the Royal Danish Navy. The primary objective for the Royal Danish Navy will in the future be international operations, and these two ships will be the backbone of these operations. The ships are primarily designed for command and support roles, with a large ro-ro deck, while the planned three new Patrolships, a new Danish euphemism for frigate-class vessels, will be equipped for a fighting role, and the possibility to use Tomahawk cruise missiles,Fact|date=January 2008 a first for the Danish Navy. The new Patrol ships will be very similar to the Absalon-class vessels, but without the large ro/ro deck. The patrolships which will be completed in 2008 and 2009, and receive full operational status in 2010 and 2011, replacing the sclass|Niels Juel|corvette|0 of corvettes.

The two ships in the Absalon-class will receive full operational status in 2007.