Feature 3
hulls to six, although it remains unclear first being largely anti-surface warfare, class corvettes which were significantly
whether or not the paid-off vessels will anti-submarine warfare, and mine upgraded between 1999 and 2002. The
be sold. Surprisingly, although there is countermeasures ships, and the second four Göteborg class corvettes were to
an increasing move to disposable mine with a greater air defence capability. The have been disposed of, but it appears
neutralisation systems and Kongsberg has need for economies saw the concept two will now be retained to augment the
produced Minesniper, this has not been reduced to six ships but even one of Visbys and Stockholms.
acquired by the Royal Norwegian Navy. these was cancelled as the programme It seems unlikely there will be a late
Instead it is examining its requirements encountered cost overruns leading to the reprieve for the minelayer/training ship
with the options of producing a dedicated merging of operational requirements, HSwMS Carlskrona, which is being
vessel in the future or a multi-role vessel while the recent defence cuts have doomed paid off, partly because of a reduction
controlling remotely-operated surface and plans for an enhanced Visby class. in officer numbers. However, five of the
underwater vehicles. There has been some tinkering with seven Landsort class minehunters are
Given Norway’s huge coastline and the design and the lead ship, HSwMS receiving a mid-life upgrade and renamed
maritime interests, it is no surprise Visby, will become fully operational only the Koster class. They have already been
that the Coast Guard is being updated. this year. It appears the South African upgraded to participate in international
Myklebust is producing two Vik-Sandvik Denel Umkhonto point defence missile operations and are now receiving an Atlas
VS 794 salvage and rescue tugs, which are has been selected to provide the air combat system and sensors, including
the first naval vessels whose propulsion defence capability, but the Alecto anti- using the Double Eagle as a sensor
system features fuel oil and LNG. The submarine and torpedo decoy rocket platform, and the Seafox disposable
first, K/V Barentshav, is scheduled to system has been cancelled. The ships will underwater vehicles. The work is being
be commissioned in December 2007. A now receive the Saab Bofors Dynamics conducted by Kockums and the ships will
private defence initiative deal has seen the RBS 15 Mk 2 missile rather than the Mk return to service in 2008-2009.
task of providing offshore patrol services 3, while the discovery that they could not The Combat Boat 90 design of high-
until 2020 won by Remøy Management strike down helicopters to a below-deck speed troop carriers may be augmented
and Remøy Shipping who have had five hangar has meant the latter has now been by fire support craft. A Patria Hägglunds
vessels built in Poland by the Gryfia yard cancelled and the ships will merely act as 120mm mortar system was trialled in a
in Szczecin. helicopter platforms. Combat Boat and proved so successful
The corvettes will retain an underwater that development has begun of a
sweden warfare system of sonars, torpedoes, prototype Mortar Combat Boat 2010 up
The Viking project limps on in Sweden, and mortars. They also possess a mine to 25metres long. Trials of this vessel are
where it has metamorphosed into the countermeasures role using the Double likely to begin in 2010.
A26 submarine project. The project may Eagle Mk III underwater vehicle, but the The Coast Guard is being reinforced
survive the recent string of defence cuts, Saab Underwater Systems Torpedo Mine by two multi-role vessels which are being
although the government has said it is Sensor (TMS) multi-role underwater built by Aker in Romania to a Schelde
examining options. However, it is widely weapon has been cancelled. With the design. These unarmed vessels will be
recognised that progress will depend decision to reduce the number of Visbys delivered in April and September and
considerably upon finding a foreign purchased, it was decided to augment have proved so promising that a third has
partner, with Singapore frequently them until 2015 by two Stockholm been ordered.
mentioned, together with Poland. The
existing fleet of boats has been upgraded
with the Stirling Mk 3 air independent
propulsion system, and HSwMS Gotland
proved a formidable opponent to the US
Navy when she was leased to Washington
between 2005 and 2007 to assist
underwater battlespace training.
The surface combat fleet is in a state
of some uncertainty. Its heart was to
have been 10 low-signature 562tonne
multi-role corvettes which were to have
been procured in two batches with the
The cost of the new frigate programme
could doom the remaining skjold class fast
attack craft.
Warship Technology January 2008 19
WT Jan - p17+18+19+20.indd 19 08/01/2008 14:04:49
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