Type 22 Frigates and Visby class corvette

Picured in Devonport, Plymouth

HMS Helsingborg (K32)
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HMS Helsingborg
HMS Helsingborg off Gotska Sandön
Career Swedish Navy
Name: HMS Helsingborg
Ordered: 1995
Builder: Kockums
Launched: 27 June 2003
Commissioned: N/A
In service: 2009 –
Status: Operational
General characteristics
Class and type: Visby-class corvette
Displacement: 650t
Length: 72.6m
Beam: 10.4m
Draft: 2.5m
Propulsion: CODAG
2 × KaMeWa Waterjets
4 × Honeywell TF 50 A gas turbines, total rating 16 MW
2 × MTU Friedrichshafen 16V 2000 N90 diesel engines, total rating 2.6 MW
Speed: 40+ knots
Complement: 27 officers
16 conscripts
Sensors and
processing systems: Ericsson Sea Giraffe ABM 3D surveillance radar
Ceros 200 Fire control radar system
Condor CS-3701 Tactical Radar Surveillance System
Hull-mounted sonar
Towed array sonar system
Variable depth sonar
Electronic warfare
and decoys: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition MASS (Multi-Ammunition Softkill) decoy system
Armament: 1 × 57 Mk3
8 × RBS15 Mk2 AShM
Mines and depth charges
Armour: Kockums GHOST Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP)Hull
Aviation facilities: Helicopter pad
Notes: The helicopter pad is not yet ready to receive helicopters.

HMS Helsingborg (K32) is second in the new class of Visby-class corvettes ordered by the Swedish Government and built by Kockums. Since the 19th December 2009 she is in active service under the 3rd surface flotillia, and undergoing trails for international service.
[edit] History

Kockums delivered her to FMV 24 April 2006, where she started her extensive operational sea trials, which she is still active at with a few longer visits back to the yard along the way. On 12 August 2006, she left Sweden for the Mediterranean. She returned back to Karlskrona 11 September the same year.

The hull is constructed with a sandwich design consisting of a PVC core with a carbon fibre and vinyl laminate[2] (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 manoeuvrability. The composite weighs roughly 50% less than the equivalent strength steel.[3]

The Visby’s angular design reduces its radar signature (or radar cross section). John 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."[4]. 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 HMS 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 on the Visby was the gun.

Finally, on December 16th 2009, the first two of the corvettes were delivered to the Swedish Navy by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.[5] 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 Swedish Defence Materiel Administration 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.

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. This decision was made because of budget considerations.

Posted by aitkenheadImages on 2010-05-22 17:45:43

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