Storm-class patrol boat
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = LKL Skalvis (P33).jpg | Ship caption = Lithuanian Navy Skalvis (ex-Norwegian Steil) }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = | Operators = *{{navy|Norway}}
| Class before = | Class after = | Subclasses = | Built range = 1965–1967 | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 20 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships scrapped = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Patrol boat | Ship displacement = 138 tons | Ship length = {{convert|36.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|6.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|1.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship propulsion = 2 × Maybach diesel engines ({{convert|7200|hp|lk=on|abbr=on}} total) | Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = | Ship complement = *19 in Norwegian Navy
| Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = *6 × Penguin anti-ship missiles
| Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
The Storm-class patrol boat was a series of fast patrol boats (FPB) consisting of 20 vessels built for the Royal Norwegian Navy.
In Norwegian these boats were called missilkanonbåter (MKB) meaning boats with missiles and guns. They were operated by the Coastal Combat Flotilla together with the MTBs, or missile torpedo boats. None of the boats are currently in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The design was Norwegian and all of the boats were built by Norwegian ship yards from 1965 to 1967. In the 1990s, Norway donated vessels of the class to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Design
The Storm class was designed by Lieutenant-Commander (later Captain) Harald Henriksen. The same man was also involved in the design of the Rapp-class motor torpedo boats - the first Norwegian-built MTBs. Later, he also designed the Snøgg- and Hauk-class MTBs. Henriksen's wife, Margot Henriksen, christened the first KNM Skjold (P 963), delivered to the Norwegian navy in February 1966 from Westermoen yard in Mandal.
The prototype Storm, completed 31 May 1963, was later scrapped and replaced by a second boat taking the same name and pennant number P960; the last of the class completed in 1968. After 1970 Penguin missiles were fitted to these boats in addition to the original armament.Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships 1979-80
Operational history
Norway donated a Storm-class vessel each to Estonia and Lithuania and three to Latvia in 1995. In the Lithuanian Navy, the ex-Storm class are designated the Dzūkas class, and in the Latvian Navy, the ex-Storms were designated the Bulta class. Since the 1999 edition of The World Defence Almanac the Storm class has not been listed for the Estonian Navy.World Defence Almanac 2010 ISSN 0722-3226
At the end of the 1990s, two vessels were sold to Lithuania and three were sold to Latvia.Jane's All the World's Fighting Ships 2008 A further three hulls may have been donated to each of the Baltic countries as spare parts.Jane's Warship Recognition Guide, Robert Hutchison, Harper Collins 2002.
Last operator was the Lithuanian Navy which operated two Storm-class boats, Sėlis (transferred 2001) and Skalvis (transferred 2001).[http://www.kam.lt/index.php/en/37992/ Lithuanian Navy web page on the patrol boats]
Vessels
The vessels are listed with their pennant numbers in RNoN service:
- Arg P968 (1966-1991) Donated to Estonia. Served with the Estonian Border Guard as Torm, now part of the Estonian Maritime Museum.{{flagicon|Estonia}}
- Blink P961 Is on display, fully equipped at the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum in Horten, Norway.
- Brann P970
- Brask P977 Is on display on land at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen.
- Brott P974
- Djerv P966 (1966-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Zibens {{flagicon|Latvia}}(decommissioned).
- Glimt P962
- Gnist P979 (1967-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Linga {{flagicon|Latvia}} (decommissioned)
- Hvass P972 (1966-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Lode {{flagicon|Latvia}}(decommissioned).
- Kjekk P965 (1966-2000) Donated to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS P31 Dzūkas {{flagicon|Lithuania}} (decommissioned).
- Odd P975
- Pil P976 Previously used as a damage control and fire fighting training vessel. Placed on land at Haakonsvern Naval base.
- Rokk P978
- Skjold P963
- Skudd P967 (1966-2000) Sold to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS Sėlis{{flagicon|Lithuania}} (decommissioned).
- Steil P969 (1967-2000) Sold to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS Skalvis {{flagicon|Lithuania}} (decommissioned).
- Storm P960
- Traust P973 (1967-1994) Donated to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Bulta{{flagicon|Latvia}}(decommissioned).
- Tross P971
- Trygg P964
Gallery
= HNoMS Blink ''P961'' - Outside =
KNM «Blink».jpg
KNM «Blink» fra baugen.jpg
KNM «Blink» (2).jpg
KNM «Blink» (3).jpg
KNM «Blink» (4).jpg
= HNoMS Blink ''P961'' - Inside and under deck =
KNM «Blink» - Førerhuset.jpg
KNM «Blink» - kabin for mannskap.jpg
KNM «Blink» - Motor.jpg
KNM «Blink» - Motor (2).jpg
KNM «Blink» - Under dekk.jpg
References
= Citations =
{{reflist}}
= Sources =
- Information folder from Forsvarets rekrutterings- og mediesenter (Norwegian defence recruitment and media center) 1991/92
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201634/http://www.mil.no/sjo/start/article.jhtml?articleID=108395 Article about Norwegian–Baltic naval cooperation] {{in lang|no}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050311191812/http://www.lvnslinga.lv/ship.htm LVNS Linga's home page]
External links
{{Commons category|Storm class patrol boat}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20031224212630/http://www.mil.no/sjo/start/article.jhtml?articleID=59751 Nice photo of Brask on land with German, Danish, Polish and Norwegian FPB officers in front] {{in lang|no}}
{{Norwegian patrol boats}}