Skjold-class corvettes (skjold means "shield" in Norwegian) are a class of six light, superfast, stealth missile corvettes in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The boats were formerly classed as MTBs (motor torpedo boats) but, from 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy has described them as corvettes (korvett) because their seaworthiness is seen as comparable to corvettes, and because they do not carry torpedoes. They were built at the Umoe Mandal yard. With a maximum speed of , the Skjold-class corvettes were the fastest combat ships afloat at the time of their introduction.
Design
The Skjold design is a surface effect craft, constructed of glass fibre/carbon composite materials. Buoyancy is augmented underway by a fan-blown skirted compartment between the two rigid catamaran-type hulls. This provides an alternative solution to the planing hull/vee hull compromise: the air cushion reduces wave slam at high speeds while presenting a low-drag flat planing profile at the waterline.
To ensure stealth capabilities, anechoic coatings of 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 the conventional construction technique 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 vessels are additionally protected by the Rheinmetall MASS sensor / decoy system.
The final design was changed compared to the prototype Skjold, which itself was rebuilt to the new specifications. Most notably, the vessels use 4 gas turbines combined by Renk COGAG gear units built in a lightweight design. The smaller gas turbines rated 2,000 kW turbines are used for cruising speed. For sprint speed a second, larger gas turbine is combined providing a total of 6,000 kW to the waterjet on each shaft line. Two MTU 123 cruise diesel propulsion units used previously at loiter speeds were removed. The foredeck was strengthened to accommodate the addition of a 76 mm Otobreda Super Rapid gun.
The hull material was produced by a different method to improve strength and minimize vulnerability to fire. The bridge saw some changes, including an upgrade to six weapon systems control consoles.
In 2020, the Norwegian Government decided to further upgrade the Skjold-class vessels, partially to compensate for the loss of the frigate Helge Ingstad. The upgrades of the four ships would take place between 2020 and 2024, permitting the Skjold-class to remain up-to-date through to 2030 when replacement vessels were envisaged under terms of the government's defence plan. In February 2026, contract was signed for upgrade of the fire control radar and electro-optical sensors for four vessels. The radar upgrade is to ensure capability to deliver precise fire with the 76 mm gun, while the new electro-optical sensors will improve the vessels’ ability to detect and track targets at sea and in the air, including smaller and fast-moving objects such as drones. https://defence-industry.eu/kongsberg-signs-nok-410-million-ndma-contract-to-upgrade-skjold-class-corvettes-radar-and-sensors/
US Navy
The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard expressed interest in the design and leased the P960 for a period of one year, from 2001 until 2002. During that time it was operated by a 14-person Norwegian crew from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.
Vessels
+Skjold class – significant dates#NameLaid downLaunchedCommissionedNotesP960Skjold4 August 199722 September 199817 April 1999Name means Shield in NorwegianP961StormOctober 20051 November 20069 September 2010Name means Storm in NorwegianP962SkuddMarch 200630 April 200728 October 2010Name means Shot in NorwegianP963SteilOctober 200615 January 200830 June 2011Name means Unyielding in NorwegianP964GlimtMay 200715 August 200830 March 2012Name means Flash in NorwegianP965GnistDecember 200718 May 20097 November 2012Name means Spark in Norwegian
See also List of ships of the Norwegian Navy
Similar ships (United Arab Emirates) (Finland) Steregushchiy-class corvette (Russia) Type 022 missile boat (People's Republic of China) Milgem-class corvette (Turkey) (Greece) (Sweden) (Taiwan)
References
Saunders, Stephen "Jane's Fighting Ships 2003–2004" .
External links
Leo Lazauskas (2008) Performance characteristics of a 260t displacement SES. Dept. Applied Mathematics Report, The University of Adelaide, 19 February 2008. Norwegian Skjold class corvettes storm and steil in Plymouth Sound. 9 July 2015.