Visby class corvette

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Visby class corvette
General Characteristics Swedish Navy Ensign
Displacement: 650 tonnes
Length: 72 m
Beam: 10.4 m
Draft: 2.5 m
Propulsion: 2 Waterjets, powered by:
  • high: 4 gas turbines, total rating 16 MW
  • low: 2 diesel engines, total rating 2.6 MW
Speed: 35+ knots
Range:
Complement: 43
Armament:
  • Bofors 57 mm/70 SAK Mk3
  • 8 × RBS15 Mk2 AShM
  • 4 × 400 mm tubes for Type 43/45 torpedoes
  • ASW mortars
  • mines

Visby is a Swedish Navy class of corvettes named after the city of Visby and built by Kockums, Karlskrona. The class has received widespread international attention because of its stealth capabilities and network-centric design. The first ship was launched in June 2000.

It is made from carbon fibre, and its angular design reduces its radar signature (or cross-section). Its 57 mm cannon can be retracted to further reduce its radar cross section.

As of 2006, five ships of this class have been built:

  • HMS Visby (K31) - 2000
  • HMS Helsingborg (K32) - 2003
  • HMS Härnösand (K33) - 2004
  • HMS Nyköping (K34) - 2005
  • HMS Karlstad (K35) - 2006

A Visby class corvette derivative competed in the American Focused Mission Vessel Study, led by Northrop Grumman in partnership with Kockums AB and Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG (HDW). The program was a precursor to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. It competed with several other concepts including Norway's Skjold class (part of a Raytheon lead group).

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