NoRDic Navies
countermeasures roles, the latter deprived fifth and last ship, KNM Thor Heyerdahl, DCNS Senit combat system), they might
of their GE LM 500 gas turbines. is scheduled to be commissioned in appear too dedicated to Norwegian
Copenhagen is also retaining, and September 2009. However, disputes have defence requirements to meet demands
strengthening, its coastal role. For arisen between the Royal Norwegian Navy by potential foreign buyers.
operations off Greenland, Karstensens and the shipbuilders over the quality of the The two programmes have
is building two 1560tonne dedicated ships and this could lead to some delays. overshadowed initial studies to replace
patrol ships which will also use up to four The cost of the programme seems the six Ula class submarines, although this
Stanflex containers with 76mm guns or likely to doom the Skjold class of radical will not be needed until 2020. They remain
ordinary SeaSparrow missiles for wider fast attack craft. These surface effect ship excellent boats and their Kongsberg MSI
roles, although normally they will feature designs, shaped for a low radar cross 90U combat systems have recently been
only a pair of heavy machine guns. section, have been developed over the upgraded while a mid-life upgrade is under
Six SF Mk II large patrol craft are past decade and will be armed with NSM consideration. It was originally planned
being produced by Sweden’s Kockums for (in retractable launchers) and a 76mm to replace the Ulas with the now defunct
Denmark, the ships then being fitted out gun. The first-of-class is being used for Nordic Viking project which is being
by Faaborg with a single Stanflex container. training and it was planned to upgrade pursued as a purely Swedish programme
These 250tonne ships are already being her to full operational capability later, but, (for which Norway retains observer
delivered and will replace the 40-year- just as they are sailing out of the Umoe status). There is an outside possibility that
old, trawler-like, Ø class while the Home Mandal yard, the defence establishment Oslo may follow Copenhagen’s example
Guard is receiving 11 MHV 900 class now claims there is no money to operate and abandon submarines altogether,
coastal patrol boats, with the Søby yard them and raises doubts about their role in although the increasing re-assertiveness of
delivering the last in November 2009. Norway’s defence. neighbouring Russia and moves to expand
Danish Yacht is producing six Holm The problem is that the programme is and modernise its fleet may counter such
or SF Mk I class multi-role craft which so far advanced that even cancelling it will steps.
can accommodate one of the ubiquitous bring about no significant savings, and Norway’s mine warfare force, Oksøy
Stanflex containers. Two of these vessels, given their sophistication and weapon class minehunters and Alta class
HDMS Birkholm and Hirsholm, are inshore systems (together with a Kongsberg- minesweepers, has been reduced by two
survey craft, two are training vessels, and
the last two will be mine countermeasures
drones.
Norwegian programmes
Norway is also strengthening its ‘Blue
Water’ capability with Fridtjof Nansen
class frigates being built by Spain’s
Navantia based upon the Alvaro de Bazán
(F100) class design and replacing the Oslo
class.
At 4799tonnes (compared with
1769tonnes for the Oslos), these are
quite capable ships based upon Lockheed
Martin’s Aegis combat system, augmented
by Kongsberg’s underwater combat
system.
Given that Aegis is an area air defence
system, the provision of ESSM means
that the full potential of Aegis may not
be achieved and this sense of anti-climax
is underlined by plans for the Kongsberg
NSM 100nm surface-to-surface missile
alone, without any deep strike land-
attack capability, while the gun is only a
76mm Oto Melara Super Rapid which a Royal Norwegian
also possesses a limited range, even with Navy s90N combat
planned new ammunition. Boat is loaded
The first of class, KNM Fridtjof Nansen, aboard a Us Navy
was commissioned in April 2006, while the dock lading ship.
18 Warship Technology January 2008
WT Jan - p17+18+19+20.indd 18 08/01/2008 14:04:48
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