Image source: topwar.ru
Corvette Storm monitors the Russian Navy ship group
Currently, the Russian Navy is conducting exercises "Ocean" with the involvement of over 400 ships, submarines and other watercraft. As part of these maneuvers, one of the naval groups operates near Norway.
- the statement of the Ministry of Defense of the country says.
Storm belongs to the class of "corvettes" of the Skjold type. In fact, these are missile boats with a displacement of 274 tons and a length of 47.5 meters. They are armed with the NSM anti-ship missile, the 76 mm Otobreda rapid-fire cannon and Rheinmetall's multi-charge Softkill system (MASS) to protect against missile threats. In addition, the boats are undergoing modernization, which includes the integration of the SCANTER 6000 radar.
In total, the Norwegian Navy has 6 boats of this type in service. However, Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates should act as the main striking force and it was to be expected that they would go to "intercept" Russian ships. There were 5 units in service with the fleet, but one sank in 2018 after an unsuccessful evacuation attempt due to a collision with an oil tanker.
- it is noted in the Norwegian press.
The remaining 4 frigates are actually conditionally combat-ready.
- the National Audit Office told Finansavisen.
Even helicopter hangars are used as a gym due to the lack of rotorcraft for ships.
Image source: topwar.ru
Helicopter hangar on the frigate
It also points to serious shortcomings in the technical condition of the ships, a shortage of spare parts and problems with training and manning of crews.
- it says in the Klikk edition.
At the same time, Fridtjof Nansen frigates, which were built by the Spanish company Navantia, serve for a relatively short time, having been commissioned in 2006-2011. Now the Norwegian Ministry of Defense is being sharply criticized for the decision to purchase them.
- stated Nils Andreas Stensens in 2010, when he was the project manager for the new frigates.
Then he became the commander-in-chief of the Navy, and since 2020 he has been heading the country's intelligence service.
Image source: topwar.ru
Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate escorted by Skjold-class corvettes
As noted in the publication, the first frigate was handed over to the fleet in 2006, and six months later the ship's hull began to rust. According to corrosion and paint experts, the Ministry of Defense had to figure everything out after that.
- indicated in the publication.
Currently, the navy has to remove parts from one ship in order to use them on another. But the command is not discouraged and intends to position the country's naval power on the world stage.
- it is said in a recent publication on the website of the Ministry of Defense.
