Visby class corvette

Visby-class corvette
HSwMS Helsingborg (K32)
Class overview
Builders:	Kockums
Operators:	Swedish Navy
Preceded by:	Göteborg class corvette
In commission:	16 December 2009
Planned:	6
Completed:	5
Cancelled:	1
Active:	HSwMS Visby HSwMS Helsingborg HSwMS Härnösand HSwMS Nyköping HSwMS Karlstad
General characteristics
Displacement:	640 tonnes
Length:	72.7 m
Beam:	10.4 m
Draught:	2.4 m
Propulsion:	CODOG 2 × 125SII Kamewa Waterjets 4 × Vericor TF50A gas turbines, total rating 16 MW 2 × MTU Friedrichshafen 16 V 2000 N90 diesel engines, total rating 2.6 MW 3 x generators of 270kW each
Speed:	35+ knots
Range:	2500nm @ 15 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 & decoys:	Rheinmetall TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System)
Armament:	1 × Bofors 57 mm Mk3 8 × RBS15 Mk2 AShM 4 × 400 mm torpedo launchers for Type 45 torpedoes Mines and depth charges Provision for but not fitted with 2 × 6 127 mm ALECTO anti-submarine rocket launchers (cancelled) 8 × Umkhonto SAM(cancelled)
Aviation facilities:	Helicopter pad

The Visby is the latest class of corvette to be adopted by the 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. The first ship of the class was launched in 2000 and since then the construction was fraught with repeated delays. Finally in December 2009, the first two ships of the class were delivered to the Swedish Navy by the FMV, albeit with greatly reduced operational capability.

Design

The hull is constructed with a sandwich design consisting of a PVC core with a carbon fibre and vinyl laminate (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.

The Visby's angular design reduces its radar signature (or radar cross section). Jan 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." 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.

History

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 Swedish Navy by the FMV. 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 FMV 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. HMS Visby was the first of the corvettes to be upgraded to Version 5. On 22 March 2012 RMV reported that the ship had been modified and that the system would now be tested before reentering the Swedish Navy by the end of 2012.

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, because of budget considerations.^{[citation needed]}

Units

Bow number	Ship name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Service	Status	Coat of arms
K31	Visby	17 February 1995	8 June 2000		4th 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 canceled, 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 Swedish Navy. The formation is under the 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla but takes its orders from the FMV. 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.

Similar ships

• Baynunah class corvette
• Hamina class missile boat
• Houbei class missile boat
• Milgem-class corvette
• Roussen Class FACM
• Skjold class patrol boat

Gallery

On a visit to the town Helsingborg.

K32 HMS Helsingborg Anchored-of-Gotska-Sandoen.jpg

Anchored off Gotska Sandön.

At Karlskrona Naval Base.

K32 hms helsingborg stockholm 2008-11-16.jpg

In Stockholm City.

External links

• BBC article
• FMV - Official homepage
• Kockums - Official homepage
• Swedish navy page on the Visby trials (Swedish)
• Naval-Technology - www.naval-technology.com