Alta-class minesweeper

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.

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: 2
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 and
processing systems:
  • Oropesa mechanical sweep
  • Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) Agate (Air Gun and Transducer Equipment) acoustic minesweeping system
  • Elma magnetic sweepers
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 9 vessels were built, 5 minesweepers and 4 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
KNM Orkla burning outside Ålesund, Norway in November 2002.
M350 Alta Kværner, Mandal 12 January 1996
M351 Otra 8 November 1996
M352 Rauma 2 December 1996
M353 Orkla Destroyed by fire on 19 November 2002[5]
M354 Glomma 1 July 1997 Sold 2009[6]

Service history

Orkla was destroyed by fire on 19 November 2002.[5] Glomma is no longer in active service.

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References
  1. "Oksoy and Alta Class Minesweepers and Minehunters - Naval Technology". naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  2. https://forsvaret.no/en/facts/equipment/oksoy-class-and-alta-class
  3. "Kongsberg to Supply MINESNIPER Mk III Mine Disposal Weapon System to Royal Norwegian Navy". September 20, 2013.
  4. Stephen Saunders, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005. London: Jane's Information Group. p. 517. ISBN 0710626231.
  5. ""Orkla" har kantret". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 26 January 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. "Sold warships". nettavisen.no. Retrieved 15 March 2020.


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