Alta-class minesweeper
{{Short description|Class of Royal Norwegian Navy minesweepers}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=M352 River Clyde.jpg |Ship caption=Norwegian Alta-class minesweeper Rauma (M352) }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Alta class |Builders=Kværner Mandal, Mandal, Norway |Operators={{navy|Norway}} |Class before= |Class after= |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range= |In service range= |In commission range= 1996–present |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=5 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active=3 |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost=1 |Total ships retired=1 |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption={{Cite web |url= http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/oksoy/ |title=Oksoy and Alta Class Minesweepers and Minehunters - Naval Technology |work=naval-technology.com |accessdate=2 March 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100317183207/http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/oksoy/| archive-date= 17 March 2010 | url-status= live}} |Ship type=Minesweeper |Ship tonnage= |Ship length= 55.2 metres |Ship beam= 13.6 metres |Ship height= 21 metres |Ship draught= 2.5 metres |Ship depth= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=*2 × {{convert|2.7|MW|0|abbr=on}} MTU 12V 396 TE84 diesel engines
|Ship speed= {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range={{convert|1500|mi|abbr=on}} |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship complement= 32 |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors=*Oropesa mechanical sweep
|Ship EW= |Ship armament=*1 × Sadral surface-to-air missile system
|Ship armour= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
The Alta class is a ship class of minesweepers operated by the Royal Norwegian Navy. An almost identical class of minehunters is known as the {{sclass|Oksøy|mine hunter|4}}.
Design
The Alta class was built by Kværner Mandal during 1996 and 1997, while the related Oksøy class was built in 1994 and 1995. A total of nine vessels were built, five minesweepers and four minehunters. The catamaran hull is built in a fibre-reinforced plastic sandwich of very low magnetic signature.{{cite web |url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2013-news/september-2013-navy-world-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-news/1253-kongsberg-to-supply-minesniper-mk-iii-mine-disposal-weapon-system-to-royal-norwegian-navy-.html |title=Kongsberg to Supply MINESNIPER Mk III Mine Disposal Weapon System to Royal Norwegian Navy |date=September 20, 2013}}
Two large fans located on each side create an air cushion between the two hulls and a front and aft rubber skirt, lifting the vessel, giving small drag and a high cruise speed, as well as low susceptibility to the shock of exploding mines since only a small portion of the hull is actually exposed in the water. Propulsion by water jet, again one in each hull, gives a low acoustic signature. A degaussing system gives the vessels extremely low electromagnetic signature.
Ships
| class="wikitable"
|colspan=6 align=center|Alta class{{cite book|title=Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=0710626231 |editor=Stephen Saunders |location=London |pages=517 |date=2004}} |
| Number
! Name ! Builder ! Commissioned ! Status |rowspan=6|File:Knm-orkla-burning-2002-11-19.jpg, Norway in November 2002]] |
|---|
| M350
|Alta |12 January 1996 |Scrapped some time prior to 23 July 2022{{cite web |title=Scrapyard Ships |url=https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/gallery?category=70&imo=4907517 |website=shipspotting.com |accessdate=15 February 2023}} |
| M351
|Otra |8 November 1996 | |
| M352
|Rauma |2 December 1996 | |
| M353
|Orkla | |Destroyed by fire on 19 November 2002{{cite news |author= |title="Orkla" har kantret |url=http://www.ba.no/nyheter/article287927.ece |newspaper=Bergensavisen |date=26 January 2003 |access-date=29 March 2015 |language=no }} |
| M354
|Glomma |1 July 1997 |
Service history
Orkla was destroyed by fire on 19 November 2002. Glomma is no longer in active service. Alta was scrapped along with the Oksøy class M341 Karmøy prior to 23 July 2022
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/oksoy/ Oksøy and Alta class]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225714/http://www.altaclass.com/ Alta class]
- [https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/knm-oksoy.htm Alta / Oksoy Surface Effect Ship (SES)]
{{Royal Norwegian Navy}}
{{Active naval ships of Norway}}
Category:Mine warfare vessel classes
Category:Minesweepers of the Royal Norwegian Navy
{{Norway-mil-ship-stub}}