HSwMS Helsingborg (K32) |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Kockums |
| Operators: | Royal Swedish Navy |
| Preceded by: | Göteborg class corvette |
| In commission: | 8 June 2000 |
| Planned: | 6 |
| Completed: | 5 |
| Cancelled: | 1 |
| Active: | HSwMS Visby HSwMS Helsingborg HSwMS Härnösand HSwMS Nyköping HSwMS Karlstad |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 640 tonnes |
| Length: | 72.7m |
| Beam: | 10.4m |
| Draught: | 2.4m |
| Propulsion: | CODOG 2 × Kamewa Waterjets 4 × Vericor TF50A gas turbines, total rating 16 MW 2 × MTU Friedrichshafen 16V 2000 N90 diesel engines, total rating 2.6 MW |
| Speed: | 35+ knots |
| Complement: | 43 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Ericsson Sea Giraffe AMB 3D surveillance radar Ceros 200 Fire control radar system Condor CS-3701 Tactical Radar Surveillance System GDC Hull-mounted sonar Hydroscience Technologies Towed array sonar system GDC Variable depth sonar |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
Rheinmetall TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System) |
| Armament: | 1 × Bofors 57mm Mk3 8 × RBS15 Mk2 AShM 8 × Umkhonto SAM (cancelled) 4 × 400 mm torpedo launchers for Type 45 torpedoes 2 × 6 127mm ALECTO Anti-submarine rocket launchers (cancelled) Mines and depth charges |
| Aviation facilities: | Helicopter pad |
The Visby is the latest class of corvette to be adopted by the Royal Swedish Navy after the Göteborg and the Stockholm class corvettes. The ship's design heavily emphasizes "low visibility" or stealth technology. The first ship in the class is named after Visby, the main city on the island of Gotland. The class has received widespread international attention because of its capabilities as a stealth ship.
The ships are designed by Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and built by Kockums AB.[1] The first ship of the class was launched in 2000 and since then the construction has been fraught with repeated delays. Finally in December 2009, the first two ships of the class were delivered to the Royal Swedish Navy by the FMV, albeit with greatly reduced operational capability.
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The hull is constructed with a sandwich design consisting of a PVC core with a carbon fibre and vinyl laminate[2] (see also the Oceanic-Creations spin-off). There are multiple advantages to using composite materials in ship hulls. Good conductivity and surface flatness means a low radar signature, while good heat insulation lowers the infrared signature and increases survivability in case of fire. The composite sandwich used is also non-magnetic, which lowers the magnetic signature. Composites are also very strong for their relative weight, and less weight means a higher top speed and better maneuverability. The composite weighs roughly 50% less than the equivalent strength steel.[3]
The Visby's angular design reduces its radar signature (or radar cross section). John Nilsson, one of the designers, told BBC News Online: "We are able to reduce the radar cross section by 99%. That doesn't mean it's 99% invisible, it means that we have reduced its detection range."[4] Even the 57 mm cannon barrel can be folded into the turret to reduce its cross section. There are plans for additional improvements in this area, especially for the deck rails and masts.
Much of the design was based on the experiences learned from the experimental ship HSwMS Smyge. The class was originally designed to be divided into two subcategories where some ships were optimized for surface combat and others for submarine hunting; however, this was changed due to cutbacks.
A helicopter, such as the AgustaWestland A109M selected by Sweden, can land, take off, and refuel on the upper deck. A helicopter hangar was originally planned but was considered to be too cramped and was removed.
The ships took an exceptionally long time from launch to delivery and the construction has been fraught with repeated delays. In 2008, the only weapons system that had been integrated and tested in Visby was the gun.
Finally, on December 16, 2009, the first two of the corvettes were delivered to the Royal Swedish Navy by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.[5] The two ships, K32 and K33, were delivered with underwater and surface/air sensors fully integrated. However, the only weapon that had been integrated and test fired on the ships was still the Bofors 57 Mk3 gun. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration calls this version 4, which aims to get the ships into service and start training crews.
Version 5 is due in 2012, and is intended to supplement the ships with mine clearance systems, helicopter landing capability (only K31 is certified to date), anti-surface ship missiles and additional stealth adaption.
Although the design of the ships originally called for the installation of surface-to-air missiles, in 2008 the decision was made not to install any. This decision was made because of budget considerations.
| Bow number | Ship name | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Service | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K31 | Visby | 17 February 1995 | 8 June 2000 | 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla | PTK Visby* | |
| K32 | Helsingborg | 27 June 2003 | 16 December 2009 | 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla | Active | |
| K33 | Härnösand | 16 December 2004 | 16 December 2009 | 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla | Active | |
| K34 | Nyköping | 18 August 2005 | 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla | PTK Visby* | ||
| K35 | Karlstad | 24 August 2006 | 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla | PTK Visby* | ||
| K36 | Uddevalla | Cancelled | ||||
All systems for the ship Uddevalla were acquired, but the ship was later cancelled, so there are now plans to build a full Visby class simulator.
PTK Visby is the designation of the formation doing system tests and readying the ships for active service within the Royal Swedish Navy. The formation is under the 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla but takes its orders from Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. The system tests are taking a long time partly because of funding issues and partly because of the novel and cutting-edge nature of the platform.
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