The ''Alta'' class is a
ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, is a nuclear aircraft carrier (ship type) of the (ship class).
In the course ...
of
minesweepers
A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping.
History
The earliest known usage of ...
operated by the
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy ( no, Sjøforsvaret, , Sea defence) is the branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces responsible for naval operations of Norway. , the Royal Norwegian Navy consists of approximately 3,700 personnel (9,450 in mobilized state, ...
. An almost identical class of
minehunters
A minehunter is a naval vessel that seeks, detects, and destroys individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines. A vessel that combines both of these roles is known as a ...
is known as the .
Design
The ''Alta'' class was built by
Kværner
Kværner was a Norwegian engineering and construction services company that existed between 1853 and 2005. In 2004, it was amalgamated to the newly formed subsidiary of Aker ASA - Aker Kværner, which was renamed Aker Solutions on 3 April 20 ...
Mandal
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...
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
Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP; also called fibre-reinforced polymer, or in American English ''fiber'') is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are usually glass fibre, glass (in fibreglass), Carbon fib ...
sandwich of very low magnetic signature.
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 Water jet may refer to:
* A jet of water under pressure, like in an ornamental fountain
* Pump-jet, a marine propulsion mechanism for jetskis and other types of boats
* Water jet cutter, a tool for cutting and the machining of engineering material ...
, again one in each hull, gives a low acoustic signature. A degaussing system gives the vessels extremely low electromagnetic signature.
Ships
Service history
''Orkla'' was destroyed by fire on 19 November 2002.
[ ''Glomma'' is no longer in active service.
]
References
External links
Oksøy and Alta class Alta class
Mine warfare vessel classes
Minesweepers of the Royal Norwegian Navy
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