Alta-class minesweeper

	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
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	375 tonnes
Length	55.2 metres
Beam	13.6 metres
Height	21 metres
Draught	2.5 metres
Propulsion	2 × 2.7 MW (3,621 hp) MTU 12V 396 TE84 diesel engines; 2 × Kværner water jets;
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	1 × Sadral surface-to-air missile system; 1 or 2 × Rheinmetall 20 mm AA guns; 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns;

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.

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	KNM Orkla burning outside Ålesund, Norway in November 2002
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

References

^ "Oksoy and Alta Class Minesweepers and Minehunters - Naval Technology". naval-technology.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
^ "Oksøy-class and Alta-class - Forsvaret.no". Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
^ "Kongsberg to Supply MINESNIPER Mk III Mine Disposal Weapon System to Royal Norwegian Navy". September 20, 2013.
^ Stephen Saunders, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005. London: Jane's Information Group. p. 517. ISBN 0710626231.
^ "Scrapyard Ships". shipspotting.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
^ ^a ^b ""Orkla" har kantret". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 26 January 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
^ "Sold warships". nettavisen.no. Retrieved 15 March 2020.

External links

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[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] "Oksøy-class and Alta-class - Forsvaret.no". Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-05-22.

[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] "Scrapyard Ships". shipspotting.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.

[orklaloss-6] ""Orkla" har kantret". Bergensavisen (in Norwegian). 26 January 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2015.

[7] "Sold warships". nettavisen.no. Retrieved 15 March 2020.

[Navy-8] In English, the Royal Norwegian Navy is the larger military branch that includes both the Coast Guard and the Navy Fleet. However, in Norwegian, the larger branch is called the Sea Defence, and the term Navy refers to the Navy Fleet.

[ELINT-9] Unarmed intelligence vessels. The Norwegian Intelligence Service is not a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, but they both answer to the Chief of Defence.

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