Alta-class minesweeper
Norwegian class of minesweepers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Oksøy class.
Royal Norwegian Navy Norwegian Alta-class minesweeper Rauma (M352) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Alta class |
| Builders | Kværner Mandal, Mandal, Norway |
| Operators | Royal Norwegian Navy |
| In commission | 1996–present |
| Completed | 5 |
| Active | 3 |
| Lost | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement | 375 tonnes[2] |
| Length | 55.2 metres |
| Beam | 13.6 metres |
| Height | 21 metres |
| Draught | 2.5 metres |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 1,500 mi (2,400 km) |
| Complement | 32 |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
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.[3]
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
| Alta class[4] | |||||
| Number | Name | Builder | Commissioned | Status |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M350 | Alta | Kværner, Mandal | 12 January 1996 | Scrapped some time prior to 23 July 2022[5] | |
| M351 | Otra | 8 November 1996 | |||
| M352 | Rauma | 2 December 1996 | |||
| M353 | Orkla | Destroyed by fire on 19 November 2002[6] | |||
| M354 | Glomma | 1 July 1997 | Sold 2009[7] | ||
Service history
Orkla was destroyed by fire on 19 November 2002.[6] Glomma is no longer in active service. Alta was scrapped along with the Oksøy class M341 Karmøy prior to 23 July 2022
