Visby

The Visby class corvettes, formerly known as YS 2000 project, have been designed to meet Swedish requirements for highly survivable, fully stealth warships. Due to its size and displacement these ships are suitable for littoral warfare performing a wide variety of missions such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), Mine CounterMeasures (MCM), and coastal patrol. The Visby-class corvettes feature reduced radar cross section, and low infrared, acoustic and hydro-acoustic signatures as well as anti-magnetic properties and reduced electrical potential. The Visby-class corvettes hull has been built employing a sandwich pattern with carbon fiber and reinforced plastic providing rigidity, strength, stealth features, and high shock resistance as well as impressive weight reduction of about 50% compared to steel-made hull. Weapons and sensors have been concealed under the ships structure and specially designed hatches to meet the stealth criteria. The gas turbine exhausts have been concealed in hidden outlets close the water surface at the stern. Visby-class corvettes are powered by a combination of 2 diesel and 4 gas turbines giving a top speed in excess of 35 knots (CODOG) and cruise speed of 15 knots (only diesel) employing two waterjets. The Swedish Visby-class corvettes accommodate 8 RBS15 anti-ship missiles covered with smart rapid hatches. The air defense system is totally automated and employs the BAMSE short-range missile and a Bofors 57mm gun as well as ESM and countermeasures sub-systems. 127m rockets and 400mm torpedoes can be launched from this ship against surface ships and submarines. Underwater remotely operated vehicle will be carried for MCM missions. The Swedish Navy plans to purchase five Visby corvettes and one as an option. These ships have growth potential enough to accommodate future weapon systems and sensors. Northrop-Grumman has taken the Visby-corvette as the main pattern for the US Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The Kockums shipyards expects export orders and is developing jointly with HDW a larger Visby version for the export market. On 24 April 2006 Kockums handed over the second Visby-class corvette, HMS Helsingborg, to the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). The official handover ceremony of HMS Visby and HMS Harnosand corvettes to the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) occurred on June 12, 2006. HMS Karlstad launch and christening ceremony was held at Kockums in Karlskrona, Sweden, on August 24th, 2006. HMS Nykoping was officially handed over to Swedish Defense Material Administration FMV on behalf of the Royal Swedish Navy by Kockums on 27 September 2006.

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