Visby-class corvette

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For other ships with the same name, see Visby-class destroyer.

HMS Helsingborg
HSwMS Helsingborg off Gotska Sandön
Class overview
NameVisby class
BuildersKockums
Operators Swedish Navy
Preceded by Göteborg class
CostUS$184 million[1]
In commission16 December 2009
Planned6
Completed5
Cancelled1
Active
  • HSwMS Visby
  • HSwMS Helsingborg
  • HSwMS Härnösand
  • HSwMS Nyköping
  • HSwMS Karlstad
General characteristics
TypeStealth Missile Corvette
Displacement640 tonnes
Length72.7 m (239 ft)
Beam10.4 m (34 ft)
Draught2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Propulsion
Speed35 knots (65 km/h)+
Range2,500 nmi (4,600 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement43
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Rheinmetall TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System)
Armament
Aviation facilitiesHelicopter pad

The Visby class is the latest class of corvette to be adopted by the Swedish Navy after the Göteborg and Stockholm-class corvettes. The ship's design heavily emphasizes low visibility, radar cross-section and infrared signature. 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.[3] 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 next 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[4] (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.[5]

Visby's angular tumblehome design reduces its radar signature. 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."[1] 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 the last ship was optimized for surface combat and 4 others for submarine hunting; however, this was changed due to cutbacks.

A helicopter, such as the Agusta Westland 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 16 December 2009, the next two of the corvettes were delivered to the Swedish Navy by the Försvarets materielverk (FMV).[6] 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.

HSwMS Visby

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 adaptation. Visby was the first of the corvettes to be upgraded to Version 5. On 22 March 2012 FMV reported that the ship had been modified and that the system would be tested before reentering the Swedish Navy by the end of 2012.[7]

Although the design of the ships originally called for the installation of surface-to-air missiles, on 18 September 2008 the Genomförandegruppen cancelled the project in order to rationalize the procurement of defence materiel for the Swedish defence.[8]

Second Generation[]

In January 2021 Saab and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) signed two agreements for a mid-life upgrade of the current Visbys as well as the product definition phase for the next generation Visby Generation 2 corvettes.[9][10]

Units[]

Number Ship name Laid down Launched Commissioned Service Status Coat of arms
K31 Visby 17 February 1995 8 June 2000 16 September 2002 4th Naval Warfare Flotilla Active
HMS Visby vapen, korvett.svg
K32 Helsingborg 27 June 2003 16 December 2009 4th Naval Warfare Flotilla Active
HMS Helsingborg vapen.svg
K33 Härnösand 16 December 2004 16 December 2009 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla Active
HMS Härnösand vapen.svg
K34 Nyköping 18 August 2005 16 September 2015 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla Active
HMS Nyköping vapen.svg
K35 Karlstad 24 August 2006 16 September 2015 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla Active
HMS Karlstad vapen.svg
K36 Uddevalla Cancelled
HMS Uddevalla vapen.svg

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, the lead ship of the class, is 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[]

Gallery[]

  • Härnösand at Karlskrona Naval Base.

  • Helsingborg visiting her namesake.

  • Helsingborg in Stockholm City.

  • HSwMS Karlstad with British Merlin helicopter during BALTOPS 20

References[]

  1. ^ a b Summers, Chris (10 June 2004). "Stealth ships steam ahead". BBC News. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. ^ "TF Series Marine Gas Turbine Engines - 4000 to 5600 Hp" (PDF). Vericor. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  3. ^ Mack, Ben (12 February 2009). "Sweden Builds World's First Stealth Ships". Wired. Condé Nast Publications. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  4. ^ "Visby Class Corvettes, Sweden". naval-technology.com. SPG Media Limited. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Visby Class Corvette". Saab Group. 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Visby corvettes delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces". Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. 21 December 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  7. ^ Visby upgrades (in Swedish), SE: FMV, archived from the original on 27 March 2012
  8. ^ Effektivisering av försvarsmaterielförsörjningen - omprövning av materielprojekt (in Swedish), SE: Regeringen, 18 September 2008, archived from the original on 9 April 2015, retrieved 4 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Saab Signs Two Contracts for Next Generation Corvettes for Sweden". Saab. 25 January 2021.
  10. ^ Blenkey, Nick (25 January 2021). "Sweden moves ahead on next-generation Visby corvettes". MarineLog. Simmons-Boardman.

External links[]

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