Alta class minesweeper
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The Alta class mine sweeper is a class of mine sweeper operated by the Royal Norwegian Navy. The almost identical class of minehunting vessels is called Oksøy-class.
The Alta class was built by Kvaerner Mandal during 1996 and 1997, while the Oksøy-class was built in 1994 and 1995. A total of 9 vessels were built, 5 minesweepers and 4 minehunters. KNM Orkla was completely destroyed in a fire, and KNM Oksøy was damaged when it ran aground in 2005. Along with KNM Glomma they are no longer in active service. The catamaran hull is built in a fibre-reinforced plastic sandwich of very low magnetic signature.
Two large fans located on each side create an air cushion between the two hulls and a front and aft rubber skirt, lifting the vessel, giving small drag and a high cruise speed, as well as low susceptibility to the shock of exploding mines since only a small portion of the hull is actually exposed in the water. Propulsion by water jet, again one in each hull, gives a low acoustic signature. A degaussing system gives the vessels extremely low electromagnetic signature.
