Royal Norwegian Navy
Encyclopedia
The Royal Norwegian
Navy (often abbreviated as RNoN) is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force
responsible for naval
operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel (9,450 if mobilized, and 32,000 if fully mobilized) and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigate
s, 6 submarine
s, 14 patrol boat
s, 4 minesweepers
, 4 minehunter
s, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support vessels and 2 training vessels. The navy also includes the Coast Guard
.
In Norwegian, the Royal Norwegian Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "KNM", short for Kongelig Norske Marine (Royal Norwegian Navy). In English
, they are given the prefix "HNoMS", short for "His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship". Coast Guard vessels are given the prefix "KV" for KystVakt (Coast Guard) in Norwegian
and "NoCGV" for Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel in English.
which was first established by King Håkon the Good
at the Gulating
in year 955
. Although variants of the Leidang had at that time already existed for hundreds of years.
During most of the union between Norway and Denmark
the two countries had a common fleet. This fleet was established by King Hans in 1509. A large proportion of the crew and officers were Norwegian. In 1709 there were about 15,000 personnel enrolled in the common fleet; of these 10,000 were Norwegian. When Tordenskjold carried out his famous raid at Dynekil
in 1716 more than 80 percent of the sailors and 90 percent of the soldiers in his force were Norwegian. Because of this the Royal Norwegian Navy shares its history from 1509 to 1814 with the Royal Danish Navy
.
The modern, separate Royal Norwegian Navy was founded on April 12, 1814 by Prince Christian Fredrik
. At the time of separation, the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy was in a poor state and Norway was left with the lesser share. All officers of Danish birth were ordered to return to Denmark and the first commander of the Norwegian navy became Captain Thomas Fasting
. It then consisted of 39 officers, seven brig
s (one more under construction), one schooner-brig
, eight gun schooners, 46 gun chalups and 51 gun barges. April 1, 1815 the RNoN's leadership was reorganized into a navy ministry, and Fasting became the first navy minister.
Norway retained its independent armed forces, including the navy, during the union with Sweden. During most of the union the navy was subjected to low funding, even though there were ambitious plans to expand it. In the late 19th century, the fleet was increased to defend a possible independent Norway from her Swedish neighbours.
In 1900, just five years prior to the separation from Sweden, the navy, which was maintained for coastal defense, consisted of: two British-built coastal defence ships
(the and the - each armored and displacing about 3,500 tons), four ironclad monitors
, three unarmored gun vessels, twelve gunboats, sixteen small (sixty ton) gunboats, and a flotilla of twenty-seven torpedo boats
. These were operated by 116 active duty officers (with an additional sixty reserve) and 700 petty officers and seamen.
Norway was neutral during World War I
, but the armed forces were mobilised to protect Norway's neutrality. The neutrality was sorely tested - the nation's merchant fleet suffered heavy casualties to German U-Boat
s and commerce raiders.
World War II
began for the Royal Norwegian Navy on April 8, 1940, when the German
torpedo boat
Albatross attacked the guard ship KNM Pol III. In the opening hours of the Battle of Narvik, the old coastal defence ships ("panserskip") and , both built before 1905 and hopelessly obsolete, attempted to put up a fight against the invading German warships; both were torpedoed and sunk. The German invasion fleet heading for Oslo
was significantly delayed when Oscarsborg Fortress
opened fire with two of its three old 28 cm guns, followed by the 15 cm guns on Kopås on the eastern side of the Drøbak
strait. The artillery pieces inflicted heavy damage on the German heavy cruiser Blücher
, which was subsequently sunk by torpedoes fired from Oscarsborg's land based torpedo battery. Blücher sank with over 1,000 casualties among its crew and the soldiers it carried. The German invasion fleet - believing Blücher had struck a mine - retreated south and called for air strikes on the fortress. This delay allowed King Haakon VII of Norway and the Royal family, as well as the government, to escape captivity.
On June 7, 1940 13 ships, five aircraft and 500 men from the Royal Norwegian Navy followed the King to the United Kingdom
and continued the fight from bases there until the war ended. The number of men was steadily increased as Norwegians living abroad, civilian sailors and men escaping from Norway joined the RNoN. Funds from Nortraship
were used to buy new ships, aircraft and equipment.
Ten ships and 1,000 men from the Royal Norwegian Navy participated in the Normandy Invasion in 1944.
During the war the navy operated 118 ships, at the end of the war it had 58 ships and 7,500 men in service. They lost 27 ships, 18 fishing boats (of the Shetland bus
) and 933 men in World War II.
The Royal Norwegian Navy had its own air force
from 1912 to 1944.
The building of a new fleet in the 1960s was made possible with substantial economic support from the United States
. During the cold war
, the Royal Norwegian Navy was optimized for sea denial
in coastal waters, in order to make an invasion from the sea as difficult and costly as possible. With that mission in mind, the RNoN consisted of a large number of small vessels and up to 15 small diesel-electric submarines. The Royal Norwegian Navy is now replacing those vessels with a smaller number of larger and more capable vessels.
The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Norway's naval history.
} (F310) Launched June 3, 2004. Commissioned April 5, 2006.
submarines.
_(2_nov_2001).jpg)
The Coastal Warfare fleet consists of Skjold class
missile patrol boats (to be operational in 2010).
These will presumably be reclassed as coastal corvettes.
The (Hauk class
) Fast Assault Craft were removed from the operational structure in 2008:
Most of these boats has been scrapped, a few remain on Haakonsvern.
Two of the schools of the Navy retain ship prefix
es, reminiscent of Royal Navy
practises
.
Museum: Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
, Horten
Aegis
frigates, six new Skjold class
patrol boats and numerous upgradings of existing models and vessels. The plans are scheduled to be completed by 2010. The Navy has also shown interests in the new Kockums AB submarine project A26 and may order several submarines.
>
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Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Navy (often abbreviated as RNoN) is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force
Norwegian Defence Force
The Norwegian Armed Forces numbers about 23,000 personnel, including civilian employees. According to mobilisation plans , the strength during full mobilisation would be approximately 83,000 combatant personnel. Norway has mandatory military service for men and voluntary service for women...
responsible for naval
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel (9,450 if mobilized, and 32,000 if fully mobilized) and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s, 6 submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, 14 patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s, 4 minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
, 4 minehunter
Minehunter
Minehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines...
s, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support vessels and 2 training vessels. The navy also includes the Coast Guard
Norwegian Coast Guard
The Norwegian Coast Guard, or Kystvakten in Norwegian, is a military force and part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, but has separate vessels, many of which are purpose-built. All coast guard vessels have the prefix KV. Four of these vessels are capable of embarking one or more helicopters...
.
In Norwegian, the Royal Norwegian Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "KNM", short for Kongelig Norske Marine (Royal Norwegian Navy). In English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, they are given the prefix "HNoMS", short for "His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship". Coast Guard vessels are given the prefix "KV" for KystVakt (Coast Guard) in Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
and "NoCGV" for Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel in English.
History
The history of Norwegian state-operated naval forces is long, and goes back to the leidangLeidang
The institution known as leiðangr , leidang , leding, , ledung , expeditio or sometimes lething , was a public levy of free farmers typical for medieval Scandinavians. It was a form of conscription to organise coastal fleets for seasonal excursions and in defence of the realm...
which was first established by King Håkon the Good
Haakon I of Norway
Haakon I , , given the byname the Good, was the third king of Norway and the youngest son of Harald Fairhair and Thora Mosterstang.-Early life:...
at the Gulating
Gulating
Gulaþing is both the name of one of the first Norwegian legislative assemblies or Þing and one of the present day law courts of western Norway.-History:...
in year 955
955
Year 955 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* August 10 – Battle of Lechfeld: Otto I the Great defeats the Magyars, halting their westward expansion and ending the threat to Germany.* Eadwig becomes King of England.- Religion :* December 16 – Pope...
. Although variants of the Leidang had at that time already existed for hundreds of years.
During most of the union between Norway and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
the two countries had a common fleet. This fleet was established by King Hans in 1509. A large proportion of the crew and officers were Norwegian. In 1709 there were about 15,000 personnel enrolled in the common fleet; of these 10,000 were Norwegian. When Tordenskjold carried out his famous raid at Dynekil
Battle of Dynekilen
The naval Battle of Dynekilen took place on 8 July 1716 during the Great Northern War.-Background:On 28 October 1709 Frederik IV of Denmark, the Danish-Norwegian king declared the war against Sweden...
in 1716 more than 80 percent of the sailors and 90 percent of the soldiers in his force were Norwegian. Because of this the Royal Norwegian Navy shares its history from 1509 to 1814 with the Royal Danish Navy
Royal Danish Navy
The Royal Danish Navy is the sea-based branch of the Danish Defence force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese territorial waters...
.
The modern, separate Royal Norwegian Navy was founded on April 12, 1814 by Prince Christian Fredrik
Christian VIII of Denmark
Christian VIII , was king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 and, as Christian Frederick, king of Norway in 1814. He was the eldest son of Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, born in 1786 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen...
. At the time of separation, the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy was in a poor state and Norway was left with the lesser share. All officers of Danish birth were ordered to return to Denmark and the first commander of the Norwegian navy became Captain Thomas Fasting
Thomas Fasting
Thomas Fasting was a Norwegian temporary councillor of state in 1814, member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm for six periods between 1817-1836, and Minister of the Navy in eight periods between 1815-1839, as well as head of the Ministry of the Army in 1828 and 1832.-References:...
. It then consisted of 39 officers, seven brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
s (one more under construction), one schooner-brig
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
, eight gun schooners, 46 gun chalups and 51 gun barges. April 1, 1815 the RNoN's leadership was reorganized into a navy ministry, and Fasting became the first navy minister.
Norway retained its independent armed forces, including the navy, during the union with Sweden. During most of the union the navy was subjected to low funding, even though there were ambitious plans to expand it. In the late 19th century, the fleet was increased to defend a possible independent Norway from her Swedish neighbours.
In 1900, just five years prior to the separation from Sweden, the navy, which was maintained for coastal defense, consisted of: two British-built coastal defence ships
Coastal defence ship
Coastal defence ships were warships built for the purpose of coastal defence, mostly during the period from 1860 to 1920. They were small, often cruiser-sized warships that sacrificed speed and range for armour and armament...
(the and the - each armored and displacing about 3,500 tons), four ironclad monitors
Monitor (warship)
A monitor was a class of relatively small warship which was neither fast nor strongly armoured but carried disproportionately large guns. They were used by some navies from the 1860s until the end of World War II, and saw their final use by the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.The monitors...
, three unarmored gun vessels, twelve gunboats, sixteen small (sixty ton) gunboats, and a flotilla of twenty-seven torpedo boats
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
. These were operated by 116 active duty officers (with an additional sixty reserve) and 700 petty officers and seamen.
Norway was neutral during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but the armed forces were mobilised to protect Norway's neutrality. The neutrality was sorely tested - the nation's merchant fleet suffered heavy casualties to German U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s and commerce raiders.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began for the Royal Norwegian Navy on April 8, 1940, when the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
Albatross attacked the guard ship KNM Pol III. In the opening hours of the Battle of Narvik, the old coastal defence ships ("panserskip") and , both built before 1905 and hopelessly obsolete, attempted to put up a fight against the invading German warships; both were torpedoed and sunk. The German invasion fleet heading for Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
was significantly delayed when Oscarsborg Fortress
Oscarsborg Fortress
Oscarsborg Fortress is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. The fortress is situated on two small islets, and on the mainland to the west and east, in the fjord and was military territory until 2003 when it was made a publicly available resort island...
opened fire with two of its three old 28 cm guns, followed by the 15 cm guns on Kopås on the eastern side of the Drøbak
Drøbak
Drøbak is an unincorporated city and the centre of the municipality of Frogn, in Akershus county, Norway. The city is located along the Oslofjord, and has 13,358 inhabitants....
strait. The artillery pieces inflicted heavy damage on the German heavy cruiser Blücher
German cruiser Blücher
Blücher was the second of five heavy cruisers of the German Kriegsmarine, built after the rise of the Nazi Party and the repudiation of the Treaty of Versailles. Named for Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, the victor of the Battle of Waterloo, the ship was laid down in August 1936 and launched in...
, which was subsequently sunk by torpedoes fired from Oscarsborg's land based torpedo battery. Blücher sank with over 1,000 casualties among its crew and the soldiers it carried. The German invasion fleet - believing Blücher had struck a mine - retreated south and called for air strikes on the fortress. This delay allowed King Haakon VII of Norway and the Royal family, as well as the government, to escape captivity.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and continued the fight from bases there until the war ended. The number of men was steadily increased as Norwegians living abroad, civilian sailors and men escaping from Norway joined the RNoN. Funds from Nortraship
Nortraship
The Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission was established in London in April 1940 to administer the Norwegian merchant fleet outside German-controlled areas. Nortraship operated some 1,000 vessels and was the largest shipping company in the world. It is credited for giving a major contribution to...
were used to buy new ships, aircraft and equipment.
Ten ships and 1,000 men from the Royal Norwegian Navy participated in the Normandy Invasion in 1944.
During the war the navy operated 118 ships, at the end of the war it had 58 ships and 7,500 men in service. They lost 27 ships, 18 fishing boats (of the Shetland bus
Shetland bus
The Shetland Bus was the nickname of a clandestine special operations group that made a permanent link between Shetland, Scotland, and German-occupied Norway from 1941 until the German occupation ended on 8 May 1945. From mid-1942 the official name of the group was "Norwegian Naval Independent Unit"...
) and 933 men in World War II.
The Royal Norwegian Navy had its own air force
Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service
The Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service was alongside the Norwegian Army Air Service the forerunner to the modern-day Royal Norwegian Air Force.- History :...
from 1912 to 1944.
The building of a new fleet in the 1960s was made possible with substantial economic support from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. During the cold war
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the Royal Norwegian Navy was optimized for sea denial
Sea denial
Sea denial is a military term describing attempts to deny an enemy's ability to use the sea but at the same time making no attempt to control the sea itself. It is a far easier strategy to carry out than sea control because it requires the mere existence of a navy...
in coastal waters, in order to make an invasion from the sea as difficult and costly as possible. With that mission in mind, the RNoN consisted of a large number of small vessels and up to 15 small diesel-electric submarines. The Royal Norwegian Navy is now replacing those vessels with a smaller number of larger and more capable vessels.
The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is a museum documenting the history of the Royal Norwegian Navy. It is located at the former main naval base of Karljohansvern in Horten. The museum was founded by C.F. Klinck on 24 August 1853...
is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Norway's naval history.
Bases
Some of The Royal Norwegian Navy's bases are:- HaakonsvernHaakonsvernHaakonsvern is the main base of the Royal Norwegian Navy and the largest naval base in the Nordic area. The base is located at Mathopen within Bergen municipality, about 15 km south-west of the city centre...
, Bergen (main base for the navy). - RamsundRamsundRamsund may refer to:*Ramsund carving - a form of runic stone carvings*Ramsund naval base - a Royal Norwegian Navy base*Ramsund, Norway - a town in Norway*Ramsund, Sweden - a place name in Eskilstuna Municipality, Sweden...
, between the towns of HarstadHarstadis the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
and NarvikNarvikis the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
(special operations/Naval Ranger Command) - Trondenes fortTrondenes FortTrondenes Fort is a fort situated on Trondenes peninsula near Harstad in the Norwegian county of Troms.It has been the main base for the Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command since 2002. The fort was built in 1943 by the Nazis occupying Norway during World War II as a part of the Atlantic Wall.It was...
, HarstadHarstadis the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
(Coastal Ranger Command) - OlavsvernOlavsvernOlavsvern is a Royal Norwegian Navy auxiliary base located just outside the city of Tromsø. It is located along the European route E8 at the entrance to the Ramfjorden from the Balsfjorden....
, TromsøTromsøTromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
(auxiliary base) - SortlandSortlandis a town and municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Vesterålen traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sortland. In 1997, the municipality decided to declare township for Sortland...
(Coast Guard Squadron North) - KarljohansvernKarljohansvernKarjohansvern in Horten was the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1819 to 1963.It was first called Hortens verft, and later Marinens Hovedværft until King Oscar I named it Carljohansværn værft in 1854...
, HortenHortenis a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
(training facility)
Organization
The Navy is organized into the Fleet, the Coast Guard, and the Naval Schools. The Fleet consists of:- Fleet Chief Staff,
- Frigate Branch (Fregattvåpenet),
- Submarine Branch (Ubåtvåpenet),
- MTB Branch (MTB-våpenet),
- Mine Branch (Minevåpenet)
- Norwegian Special Warfare Group (Marinens jegervåpen)
- Logistics Branch (Logistikkvåpenet).
Fleet units and vessels (present)
Frigate Branch
. Four vessels commissioned, one under construction.} (F310) Launched June 3, 2004. Commissioned April 5, 2006.
-
- Roald Amundsen (F311) Launched May 25, 2005. Commissioned May 21, 2007.
- Otto Sverdrup (F312) Launched April 28, 2006. Commissioned April 30, 2008.
- Helge Ingstad (F313) Launched November 23, 2007. Commissioned September 29, 2009.
- Thor Heyerdahl (F314) Launched February 11, 2009. Commissioned January 18, 2011.
- Royal yacht:
Mine Branch
- 1st Mine Clearing Squadron
- Oksøy class mine hunterOksøy class mine hunterThe Oksøy-class mine hunters are a class of vessels of the Royal Norwegian Navy active since the mid-1990s.Almost identical to the , the only differences are the equipment on the aft deck and aft 1. deck, the sonars , and the length of the superstructure on 1. deck...
(1994)- Oksøy M340
- Karmøy M341
- Måløy M342
- Hinnøy M343
- Oksøy class mine hunter
-
- Alta class mine sweeper (1996):
- Alta M350
- Otra M351
- Rauma M352
- Orkla M353 (Ship sunk on 19 November 2002)
- Glomma M354
- Alta class mine sweeper (1996):
- Mine Clearance Command (divers)
Submarine Branch
The submarine fleet consists of several Ula classUla class submarine
The Ula class is a Norwegian submarine type which was assembled in Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The class, consisting of 6 vessels, is currently the only submarine type in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy.-History:...
submarines.
- 1st Submarine Squadron Ula classUla class submarineThe Ula class is a Norwegian submarine type which was assembled in Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The class, consisting of 6 vessels, is currently the only submarine type in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy.-History:...
submarines: - Ula (S300)HNoMS Ula (S300)HNoMS Ula may refer to one of the following submarines of the Royal Norwegian Navy:, a , commissioned in 1965; renamed HNoMS Kinn in 1987; scrapped in 1998, the lead ship of her class, commissioned in 1989; active...
- Utsira (S301)HNoMS Utsira (S301)HNoMS Utsira may refer to one of the following submarines of the Royal Norwegian Navy:, a , commissioned in 1965; scrapped in 1998, an , commissioned in 1992; active...
- Utstein (S302)HNoMS Utstein (S302)HNoMS Utstein may refer to one of the following submarines of the Royal Norwegian Navy:, a , commissioned in 1965; converted into a museum ship in 1998, an , commissioned in 1991; active...
- Utvær (S303)HNoMS Utvær (S303)HNoMS Utvær may refer to one of the following submarines of the Royal Norwegian Navy:, a , commissioned in 1965; transferred to the Royal Danish Navy in 1989; renamed , lead ship of her class, an , commissioned in 1990; active...
- Uthaug (S304)HNoMS Uthaug (S304)HNoMS Uthaug may refer to one of the following submarines of the Royal Norwegian Navy:, a , commissioned in 1965; transferred to the Royal Danish Navy in 1989; renamed , an , commissioned in 1991; active...
- Uredd (S305)
MTB Branch
Skjold class patrol boat
The Skjold class patrol boats is a new class of superfast, large stealth missile craft, formerly known as MTBs . From 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy officially label them as coastal corvettes because their seaworthiness is seen as comparable to corvettes. They are built at the Umoe Mandal yard...
missile patrol boats (to be operational in 2010).
- Missile Patrol Boat (Skjold classSkjold class patrol boatThe Skjold class patrol boats is a new class of superfast, large stealth missile craft, formerly known as MTBs . From 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy officially label them as coastal corvettes because their seaworthiness is seen as comparable to corvettes. They are built at the Umoe Mandal yard...
, 3 commissioned, 3 undergoing sea trials):
These will presumably be reclassed as coastal corvettes.
-
- Skjold (P960) Launched September 22, 1998. Commissioned April 17, 1999
- Storm (P961) Launched November 1, 2006.
- Skudd (P962) Launched April 30, 2007.
- Steil (P963) Launched January 15, 2008.
- Glimt (P964)
- Gnist (P965)
The (Hauk class
Hauk class patrol boat
Hauk class patrol boats are a series of Norwegian fast attack craft. Hauk means hawk in Norwegian. They were ordered in the 1970s and the first boat, Hauk, was commissioned on 17 August 1977...
) Fast Assault Craft were removed from the operational structure in 2008:
Most of these boats has been scrapped, a few remain on Haakonsvern.
-
- Hauk (P986)
- Ørn (P987)
- Terne (P988)
- Tjeld (P989)
- Skarv (P990)
- Teist (P991)
- Jo (P992)
- Lom (P993)
- Stegg (P994)
- Falk (P995)
- Ravn (P996)
- Gribb (P997)
- Geir (P998)
- Erle (P999)'
Norwegian Navy Special Warfare Group
- Norwegian Naval Special Operations Commando (Naval Ranger Command)MarinejegerkommandoenMarinejegerkommandoen is a Norwegian maritime special forces unit. It was formally established in 1951. It is located in Ramsund in the northern part of Norway and at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen...
- Coastal Ranger CommandKystjegerkommandoenKystjegerkommandoen is a Norwegian amphibious unit trained to operate in littoral combat theatres, filling the role of a marine corps and coastal artillery....
- Norwegian Mine Diver CommandMinedykkerkommandoenMinedykkerkommandoen is Norway's clearance diver group. It is a branch of the Norwegian naval defenses specializing in explosive ordnance disposal. MDK is subordinate to Minekrigsflotiljen , which is a division of the Norwegian Navy...
- Tactical Boat Squadron
- Combat Boat 90Combat Boat 90Combat Boat 90 is a class of fast military assault craft originally developed for the Swedish Navy by Dockstavarvet. In addition to the many variants in service with the Swedish Navy under the Strb 90 H designation, the CB 90 has been adopted by the navies of several countries, including Norway ,...
N (1996)- Trondenes
- Skrolsvik
- Kråkenes
- Stangnes
- Kjøkøy
- Mørvika
- Kopås
- Tangen
- Oddane
- Malmøya
- Hysnes
- Brettingen
- Løkhaug
- Søviknes
- Hellen
- Osternes
- Fjell
- Lerøy
- Torås
- Møvik
- Combat Boat 90
Logistics Branch
- In the process of establishing a "logistics on keelKeelIn boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
" system. According to the official web page of the navy one large and one small logistics ships are wanted but according to a press release (24/2009) from the Government one ship is planned.
- Support vessel:
- Royal yacht:
- Minesweeper/minelayer:
Coast Guard units and vessels
- Coast Guard Squadron North
- HarstadNoCGV HarstadNoCGV Harstad is a purpose-built offshore patrol vessel for the Norwegian Coast Guard. She is named after the city Harstad in Northern Norway....
- SvalbardNoCGV Svalbard|...
- AndenesNordkapp class OPVThe Nordkapp class ships is a Norwegian ship class built in the 1980s, and is used for rescue, fishery inspection, research purposes and general EEZ patrol in Norwegian waters. It is a class of ships purpose built for the Norwegian Coast Guard with a secondary role as wartime naval escorts...
- NordkappNordkapp class OPVThe Nordkapp class ships is a Norwegian ship class built in the 1980s, and is used for rescue, fishery inspection, research purposes and general EEZ patrol in Norwegian waters. It is a class of ships purpose built for the Norwegian Coast Guard with a secondary role as wartime naval escorts...
- SenjaNordkapp class OPVThe Nordkapp class ships is a Norwegian ship class built in the 1980s, and is used for rescue, fishery inspection, research purposes and general EEZ patrol in Norwegian waters. It is a class of ships purpose built for the Norwegian Coast Guard with a secondary role as wartime naval escorts...
- Heimdal
- Farm
- BarentshavNoCGV BarentshavThe NoCGV Barentshav is a large offshore patrol vessel of the Norwegian Coast Guard, and is their first liquefied natural gas powered vessel...
- Harstad
- Coast Guard Squadron South
- Leikvin
- ÅlesundNoCGV ÅlesundNoCGV Ålesund is a purpose-built, but leased, offshore patrol vessel for the Norwegian Coast Guard.Ålesund is named after the city Ålesund in Western Norway. She is a 1,300 ton vessel with a Bofors 40 mm gun. Ålesund is used for general EEZ patrol, including fishery inspection and search and...
- Nornen
- Njord
- Tor
- Future Vessels
- Three new hybridHybrid vehicleA hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
diesel-LNG vessels of the Barentshav class ordered. The first, Barentshav, was delivered on August 22nd 2009. The remaining two will be named Bergen and Sortland.
- Three new hybrid
- Royal Norwegian Naval Basic Training Establishment, KNM Harald Haarfagre, StavangerStavangerStavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
- Royal Norwegian Navy Officer Candidate School, HortenHortenis a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
and BergenBergenBergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , .... - Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, Laksevåg, Bergen
- Royal Norwegian Naval Training Establishment, KNM Tordenskjold, HaakonsvernHaakonsvernHaakonsvern is the main base of the Royal Norwegian Navy and the largest naval base in the Nordic area. The base is located at Mathopen within Bergen municipality, about 15 km south-west of the city centre...
, Bergen
Two of the schools of the Navy retain ship prefix
Ship prefix
A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship.Prefixes for civilian vessels may either identify the type of propulsion, such as "SS" for steamship, or purpose, such as "RV" for research vessel. Civilian prefixes are often...
es, reminiscent of Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
practises
Stone frigate
Stone frigate is a nickname for a naval establishment on land. The term has its origin in Britain's Royal Navy after its use of Diamond Rock, off Martinique, as a 'sloop of war' to harass the French...
.
Museum: Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is a museum documenting the history of the Royal Norwegian Navy. It is located at the former main naval base of Karljohansvern in Horten. The museum was founded by C.F. Klinck on 24 August 1853...
, Horten
Horten
is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
Navy vessels (future)
The Norwegian Navy is undergoing a major modernization project to reinforce its position as a modern and competent fleet. Some of these projects are the construction of five new Fridtjof Nansen classFridtjof Nansen class frigate
The Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates are the main surface combatant units of the Royal Norwegian Navy. The ships are named after famous Norwegian explorers, with the lead ship of the class bearing the name of Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian scientist, explorer and humanitarian.Five ships were ordered...
Aegis
Aegis combat system
The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin...
frigates, six new Skjold class
Skjold class patrol boat
The Skjold class patrol boats is a new class of superfast, large stealth missile craft, formerly known as MTBs . From 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy officially label them as coastal corvettes because their seaworthiness is seen as comparable to corvettes. They are built at the Umoe Mandal yard...
patrol boats and numerous upgradings of existing models and vessels. The plans are scheduled to be completed by 2010. The Navy has also shown interests in the new Kockums AB submarine project A26 and may order several submarines.
Insignia
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External links
- Homepage of the Royal Norwegian Navy
- Facts & Figures: The Royal Norwegian Navy (Norwegian Defence - Official Website)
- Befalsbladet 1/2004
- Royal Norwegian Navy history page
- Another Royal Norwegian Navy History page
- Royal Norwegian Navy Museum web page
- Royal Norwegian Navy Museum web page at mil.no
- Fakta om Forsvaret 2006, issued January 2006 by the Ministry of Defense, ISBN 978-82-7924-058-0-7
- Royal Norwegian Navy Porzellan Dinnerware Illustrated with Royal Naval Crest topmark