Skjold class patrol boat
The
Skjold class patrol boats (skjold means "shield" in
Norwegian) is a new class of superfast, stealth missile boats, also known as MTBs (missile torpedo boats). This design is completely
Norwegian, and they are at this time the fastest
warships in the world. Due to the speed and stealth capabilities, The
U.S. Navy has expressed interest and have evaluated the design;the first KNM
Skjold was leased for one year by the USN. The Skjold-Class MTBs will be added to the pool of "old"
Hauk class MTBs. Six
Skjold class MTBs are to be commissioned, but at this time only the lead ship
Skjold has been built, to test the design. The rest are at various levels of completion, with the next,
Storm, to be delivered in April 2008. Following that, one new ship will be delivered every three months until
Gnist is delivered in June 2009.
The first of the class, the
Skjold was commissioned in 1999, and operated by the Norwegian Navy. The U.S. Navy had expressed interest in the design and leased the vessel for a period of year. During this time it was operated by a 14 man Norwegian crew out of
Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.
Raytheon had an international partnership to offer an improved Skjold vessel in the American
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) competition. Though, as quoted in the Jan-March 03 issue of
Fathom LCdr. Andersen says "Weare here in uniform as
Norwegian navy representatives: We're part of a navy-to-navy relationship... ". Later on in the article he is quoted saying, "It is my hope that our presence here has been helpful to the process the U.S. Navy has started toward transformation and that we have offered some new ideas for ship design..". The Raytheon consortium was one of three to make it to the final round of contenders. It would not be selected, the Navy opting for larger all-new designs (a monohull, and trimaran with heli-pads). However, it did make it farther then another Scandic contender, a LCS contender based off the Swedish
Visby class corvette class, which was offered by a
Northrop Grumman (with
Kockums AB) lead group.
To ensure stealth capabilities
radar absorbent materials(RAM) have been used in the load bearing structures over large areas of the ship. This strategy leads to significant weight saving compared to conventional construction techniques of applying RAM cladding to the external surfaces. The ship's profile has a faceted appearance with no right angle structures and few orientations of reflective panels. Doors and hatches are flush with the surfaces and the windows are flush without visible coaming (edge of window aperture) and are fitted with radar reflective screens.
The final design will see some changes compared to the prototype
Skjold, which itself is being rebuilt to the new specifications. Most notably, the new vessels will use 4
gas turbines, two big ones and two small ones (no diesel engines), giving even more power. Furthermore, the foredeck will be strengthened due to the 76mm Super Rapid gun chosen, the production of the hull material is being done using a different method to improve strength and minimize the
fire vulnerability, and the bridge will also see some changes.
Skjold class — significant dates| # | Name | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Notes | | P960 | Skjold | August 4, 1997 | September 22, 1998 | April 17, 1999 | Being refitted with new turbines |
| P961 | Storm | 70% complete as of 2006 |
| P962 | Skudd | Approaching 50% complete as of 2006 |
| P963 | Steil |
| P964 | Glimt |
| P965 | Gnist |
|
*
List of ships of the Norwegian Navy*
Unofficial webpage by the KNM Skjold crew (english)*
Official Skjold-class webpage from the Norwegian Armed Forces*
2003 Navy document on lease of Skjold PDF version)
