Toralf Westermoen
Encyclopedia
Toralf Westermoen was a pioneer for the development of high speed craft in Norway
. Westermoen was involved in the companies Båtservice Verft, Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek. Verksted , Westermoen Hydrofoil
and Westamarin , all situated in Mandal.
On his own initiative, Westermoen started development of ahigh speed motor-torpedo vessel early in the 1950s. The prototype, Nasty was the start of the Tjeld class patrol boat
that was put into production in 1957. The top speed was around 45 knots. Jan Herman Linge
was the main designer for Westermoens from 1949 to 1956.
The Nasty/Tjeld-class was in continuous production until 1970, and in addition to sales to the Norwegian navy, it was exported to Germany
, Greece
, Turkey
and the US.
In the period 1965 to 1970, Westermoen Hydrofoil built 6 Storm class patrol boat
s. The Storm class we used as the basis for the Westamaran
catamaran, which was essentially a Storm-class hull divided in the middle and separated to form a much wider catamaran
, suited for passenger transport.
The first generation Westamaran catamarans were not as quick as the competing hydrofoil
s, but their capacity was larger, maintenance easier, and they were more comfortable. The second generation catamarans, with symmetrical hulls, matched the hydrofoils in speed, reaching 35-40 knots.
Toralf Westermoen was CEO in the various companies until 1969 when he was elected to the Norwegian parliament for Kristelig Folkeparti, where he served until 1981.
The technology and heritage that Westermoen initiated, lives on in the company Umoe Mandal
, who are building third generation catamaran craft that also includes SES
-technology, such as the Skjold class patrol boat
s.
His son Thore Westermoen
also became involved in politics.
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...
. Westermoen was involved in the companies Båtservice Verft, Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek. Verksted , Westermoen Hydrofoil
Westermoen Hydrofoil
Westermoen Hydrofoil was a shipyard located in Mandal, Norway, who has specialized in high speed craft, and pioneered many designs.The yard was established in 1961 by Toralf Westermoen, who had also started Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek Verksted...
and Westamarin , all situated in Mandal.
On his own initiative, Westermoen started development of ahigh speed motor-torpedo vessel early in the 1950s. The prototype, Nasty was the start of the Tjeld class patrol boat
Tjeld class patrol boat
The Tjeld class were a class of fast patrol boats designed in Norway. They were used as torpedo boats in Norway where this type of vessel were called MTBs or motor torpedo boats . The class was also known as the Nasty class....
that was put into production in 1957. The top speed was around 45 knots. Jan Herman Linge
Jan Herman Linge
Jan Herman Linge was a Norwegian engineer and boat designer. He was the son of Martin Linge, known for his war effort in Kompani Linge.-Early life and career:Linge was born in Oslo in 1922...
was the main designer for Westermoens from 1949 to 1956.
The Nasty/Tjeld-class was in continuous production until 1970, and in addition to sales to the Norwegian navy, it was exported to Germany
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...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the US.
In the period 1965 to 1970, Westermoen Hydrofoil built 6 Storm class patrol boat
Storm class patrol boat
The Storm class fast patrol boats were a class of 20 vessels built for the Royal Norwegian Navy.In Norwegian these boats were called missilkanonbåter meaning boats with missiles and guns. They were operated by the Coastal Combat Flotilla together with the MTBs, or Missile Torpedo Boats. None of...
s. The Storm class we used as the basis for the Westamaran
Westamaran
The Westamaran is a pioneer type of passenger transport high speed catamarans developed by Westermoen Hydrofoil in 1973. The craft was highly successful, and introduced a new era of passenger transport along the Norwegian coast and elsewhere....
catamaran, which was essentially a Storm-class hull divided in the middle and separated to form a much wider catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
, suited for passenger transport.
The first generation Westamaran catamarans were not as quick as the competing hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
s, but their capacity was larger, maintenance easier, and they were more comfortable. The second generation catamarans, with symmetrical hulls, matched the hydrofoils in speed, reaching 35-40 knots.
Toralf Westermoen was CEO in the various companies until 1969 when he was elected to the Norwegian parliament for Kristelig Folkeparti, where he served until 1981.
The technology and heritage that Westermoen initiated, lives on in the company Umoe Mandal
Umoe Mandal
Umoe Mandal AS is a shipbuilding company in the Ulltveit-Moe Group. Their shipyards are based at Mandal in Norway.Founded in 1989 as Kværner Båtservice, later Kværner Mandal, and known as Umoe Mandal since 2000, the company specialises in high-speed naval vessels, mine countermeasure vessels and...
, who are building third generation catamaran craft that also includes SES
Surface effect ship
A Surface Effect Ship or Sidewall Hovercraft is a watercraft that has both an air cushion, like a hovercraft, and twin hulls, like a catamaran. When the air cushion is in use, a small portion of the twin hulls remain in the water...
-technology, such as the Skjold class patrol boat
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...
s.
His son Thore Westermoen
Thore Westermoen
Thore Westermoen is a Norwegian politician for the Christian Democratic Party.He is the son of Toralf Westermoen, who among other things is a former member of the national parliament...
also became involved in politics.