Engineering:Visby-class corvette

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Short description: Swedish stealth missile corvettes
For other ships with the same name, see Visby-class destroyer.
K32 HMS Helsingborg Anchored-of-Gotska-Sandoen cropped.jpg
HSwMS Helsingborg off Gotska Sandön
Class overview
Name: Visby class
Builders: Kockums
Operators:  Swedish Navy
Preceded by: Göteborg class
Succeeded by: Luleå class
Cost: US$184 million[1]
In commission: 16 December 2009
Planned: 6
Completed: 5
Cancelled: 1
Active: 5
General characteristics
Type: Corvette
Displacement: 640 tonnes
Length: 72.7 m (238 ft 6 in)
Beam: 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
Draught: 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:
  • CODOG
  • 2 × 125SII Kamewa Waterjets
  • 4 × Vericor TF50A gas turbines, total rating 16 MW[2]
  • 2 × MTU Friedrichshafen 16 V 2000 N90 diesel engines, total rating 2.6 MW
  • 3 × generators of 270kW each
Speed: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)+
Range: 2,500 nmi (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement: 43
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Saab 9LV combat management system
  • Saab Sea GIRAFFE AMB 3D PESA surveillance radar
  • Saab Ceros 200 stealth 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 (2.2 in) Mk3 gun
  • 8 × RBS15 Mk2 anti-ship missiles
  • 4 × 400 mm (16 in) torpedo launchers for Torped 45 torpedoes
  • ASW 127 mm (5.0 in) rocket-powered grenade launchers
  • Mines and depth charges
Aviation facilities: NH90 ASW helicopter pad

The Visby class is a series of corvettes in use by the Swedish Navy. It is the latest class of corvette adopted by the navy after the Göteborg and Stockholm-class corvettes. Its design emphasizes low visibility radar cross-section and infrared signature, and the class has received widespread international attention because of its capabilities as a stealth ship. The first ship in the class is named after Visby, the main city on the island of Gotland.

The Visby ships are designed by Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and built by Saab Kockums AB in Karlskrona.[3] The first ship of the class was launched in 2000, but production then suffered repeated delays. The fifth and final ship was delivered in 2015.

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.

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, FMV calls this version 4.

HSwMS Visby

Version 5 supplemented the ships with mine clearance systems, helicopter landing capability, 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]

Mid-life upgrade

In January 2021 Saab and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) signed a contract for the mid-life upgrade of the five Visby corvettes. The MLU will include the installation of surface-to-air missiles, the implementation of upgraded anti-ship missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes, improved sensors and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities. The upgrade of all five ships will be completed before 2030 and the MLU aims to keep the Visby corvettes operationally relevant beyond 2040.[9][10][11]

To be fitted with CAMM surface-to-air missiles.[12][13][14]

Cancelled second generation

In January 2021 FMV and SAAB also signed an agreement for the product definition phase of the Visby Generation 2 corvettes. The new corvettes were to be equipped with modern anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. Four Visby Gen 2 corvettes would be built with the first two ships scheduled for delivery to the Swedish navy around the year 2030 with the latter two ships being delivered sometime between 2031 and 2035. Rear admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum stated that the Visby generation 2 corvettes would be larger than the current Visby corvettes, with increased range and crew complement being the main reasons for this change. In 2021, an order was placed for the development of this second generation of evolved Visby corvettes.[15][16][17]

On 1 November 2022 the Supreme Commander of the Swedish armed forces, general Micael Bydén published his recommendations for how the armed forces should grow over the coming years at the request of the Swedish government. This included the recommendation that the Visby Gen 2 corvettes should be equipped with longer range surface-to-air missiles than those which will be used on the "Visby Gen 1" in order for the ships to be able to act as part of NATO integrated air and missile defences. Further recommendations included modifications to the ships to increase their interoperability with both NATO's standing maritime groups and the Joint Expeditionary Force.[16][17][18][11]

In early 2023 it was reported that the Visby gen 2 had been cancelled in favour of the clean sheet Luleå class. The changing needs of the Swedish Navy as well as concerns about potential delays that could arise from modifying the Visby-class design were the main reasons given for the cancellation.[19][20]

Units

Number Ship name Laid down Launched Commissioned Service Status Coat of arms
K31 Visby 17 February 1995 8 June 2000 16 September 2002 3rd 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 4th 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 cancelled.

Similar ships

Gallery

  • Härnösand at Karlskrona Naval Base.

  • Helsingborg visiting her namesake.

  • Helsingborg in Stockholm City.

  • Karlstad with British Merlin helicopter during BALTOPS 20

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Summers, Chris (10 June 2004). "Stealth ships steam ahead". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3724219.stm. 
  2. ↑ "TF Series Marine Gas Turbine Engines - 4000 to 5600 Hp". Vericor. http://www.vericor.com/pdf/marine_tfseries_datasheet.pdf. 
  3. ↑ Mack, Ben (2009-02-12). "Sweden Builds World's First Stealth Ships". Wired (Condé Nast Publications). http://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/sweden-build-wo.html. Retrieved 2009-02-12. 
  4. ↑ "Visby Class Corvettes, Sweden". naval-technology.com. SPG Media Limited. http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/visby/. 
  5. ↑ "Visby Class Corvette". Saab Group. 2014. http://www.saabgroup.com/en/Naval/Kockums-Naval-Solutions/Naval-Surface-Ships/Visby-Class-Corvette/. 
  6. ↑ "Visby corvettes delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces". Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. 2009-12-21. http://www.fmv.se/WmTemplates/page.aspx?id=4987. 
  7. ↑ (in sv) Visby upgrades, SE: FMV, http://www.fmv.se/sv/Nyheter-och-press/Nyheter-fran-FMV/Visby-uppgraderas/ 
  8. ↑ (in sv) Effektivisering av försvarsmaterielförsörjningen - omprövning av materielprojekt, SE: Regeringen, 18 September 2008, http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/10209/a/111475, retrieved 4 April 2015 .
  9. ↑ "Två nya kontrakt för Visbykorvetter" (in sv). https://www.fmv.se/aktuellt--press/aktuella-handelser/tva-nya-kontrakt-for-visbykorvetter/. 
  10. ↑ "Nya ytstridsfartyg" (in sv). https://www.fmv.se/aktuellt--press/aktuella-handelser/nya-ytstridsfartyg/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Försvarsmakten. "Ytterligare resurser krävs för att klara den militära tillväxten" (in sv). https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2022/11/ytterligare-resurser-kravs-for-att-klara-den-militara-tillvaxten/. 
  12. ↑ Southgate, Jon (2023-11-16). "Sweden orders MBDA's CAMM air defence missile" (in en-EN). https://newsroom.mbda-systems.com/?p=12480. 
  13. ↑ "Sweden Orders CAMM Air Defence Missile For Visby Corvettes". Naval News. 16 November 2023. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/11/sweden-orders-camm-air-defence-missile-for-visby-corvettes/. 
  14. ↑ Chuter, Andrew (16 November 2023). "Sweden orders MBDA missiles for its Visby-class fleet". Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/11/16/sweden-orders-mbda-missiles-for-its-visby-class-fleet/. 
  15. ↑ "Sista Visbykorvetten är nu levererad". Sveriges Radio (Swedish Radio P4). 2 July 2015. https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6203777. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Saab Signs Two Contracts for Next Generation Corvettes for Sweden". Saab. 2021-01-25. https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2021/saab-signs-two-contracts-for-next-generation-corvettes-for-sweden. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Blenkey, Nick (2021-01-25). "Sweden moves ahead on next-generation Visby corvettes". MarineLog. Simmons-Boardman. https://www.marinelog.com/news/sweden-moves-ahead-on-next-generation-visby-corvettes/. 
  18. ↑ Karremann, Jaime. "Zweden werkt aan vloot van de toekomst: Visby's krijgen raketten en studies nieuwe onderzeeboten gestart". https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Zweden-werkt-aan-vloot-van-de-toekomst-240622.html. 
  19. ↑ Westberg, Melina. "Det ska marinens nya fartyg heta". https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2023/06/det-ska-marinens-nya-fartyg-heta/. Retrieved 19 August 2023. 
  20. ↑ "Försämrat säkerhetsläge stoppar utvecklingen av nya Visbykorvetter" (in sv). 2023-02-15. https://www.blt.se/karlskrona/forsamrat-sakerhetslage-stoppar-utvecklingen-av-nya-visbykorvetter-897ea1ee/. 

External links



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