NoRDic Navies
the ships will also have a hydrographic
role and will feature Hydroid Remus
and Kongsberg Hugin 1000 autonomous
underwater vehicles for seabed surveys
and reconnaissance. The first-of-class
was laid down in May, will be launched
in 2009 and commissioned in 2011,
and the she will be joined by the third
minehunter in 2012.
The Hämeenmaa class minelayers are
currently being upgraded at Aker Yards.
The ships are receiving the same EADS
combat system, TRS-3D search radar,
Umkhonto missiles, and Sagem EOMS
electro-optical director as the Haminas.
sweden’s HMs Gotland transits san Diego harbour with a Nimitz class carrier in the At 1206tonnes they are also used as
background. transports and support ships, and this
will now give them the potential for
support operations outside the Baltic, as
Finland been demonstrated with an advanced Helsinki should decide.
Across the Gulf of Bothnia, the Finnish Link 22 system, and was the first export
Navy is gradually bringing its Hamina customer for the Umkhonto air defence iceland
class fast attack craft into service. These missile. In addition to the traditional Nordic
ships are evolutionary developments of The mine countermeasures force is navies, mention should be made of
the Rauma class and feature considerable being upgraded with three Intermarine Iceland, whose Coast Guard has ordered
shaping to reduce their radar and electo- minehunters, of which the last will be a new patrol vessel to replace Odinn. This
optical signature. Like many Swedish built in Finland by Aker Finnyards. The has been ordered from Chile’s Asmar yard
warships they rely upon Swedish design of these 642tonne vessels is based under a contract signed in mid October
weaponry; BAE Systems Bofors 57mm upon the Gaeta class and will feature (2007) to a Rolls Royce Marine design
guns and Saab Bofors Dynamics RBS 15 an Atlas command system and Atlas based upon the UT 512 or Norwegian
missile. However, Finland has become sensors, augmented with a Double Eagle- KV Harstad. The UT512L will be a 93m
the first customer for EADS Advanced based variable depth sonar. The Atlas long multi-purpose coast guard vessel
Naval Combat System 2000, which has Seafox system will also be deployed, but and will be armed, possibly with a 40mm
gun. She will be delivered in the summer
of 2009.
While Nordic navies may have
ambitions to regain ‘Blue Water’
capability, they are unlikely to achieve
this on their own. None of them possesses
any underway replenishment ships, and
for out-of-area deployments they will
remain dependent either upon friendly
countries allowing their ships to refuel,
or upon allied navies. WT
a Royal Norwegian Navy Ula class
submarine participates in a NaTo
exercise.
20 Warship Technology January 2008
WT Jan - p17+18+19+20.indd 20 08/01/2008 14:04:50
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