Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate
Fridtjof Nansen, shortly after launch | |
Career | ![]() |
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Shipyard: | Navantia, Ferrol, Spain |
Ordered: | June 23, 2000 |
Laid down: | April 9, 2003 |
Launched: | June 3, 2004 |
Commissioned: | April 5, 2006 |
Decommissioned: | N/A |
Fate: | N/A |
General Characteristics | |
Displacement: | 5,121 tonnes |
Length: | 437 feet |
Beam: | 55 feet |
Draft: | 16 feet |
Height above water: | 106 feet |
Powerplant | Combined diesel and gas (CODAG)
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Power: | ? hp |
Speed: | 48 km/h maximum 33 km/h cruise speed |
Endurance: | 8334 km |
Complement: | Crew: 120, consisting of:
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Armament: |
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Sensors: |
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Combat management: | Aegis CMS from LM with ASW and ASuW segments from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, integrated by Lockheed Martin |
Aircraft: | Helicopter deck and hangar for one NHI NH90, handled by MacTaggart Scott TRIGON helicopter Handling System. The helicopters can be armed with Sting Ray torpedoes and depth charges. |
The Fridtjof Nansen class of frigates, for the Royal Norwegian Navy, are a derivative of the Spanish Alvaro de Bazán class of AEGIS-equipped air defense frigates. Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy are conducting final systems integration. A total of five will enter service between 2006 and 2010. Total project cost is $3 billion.
The lead ship (and thus, the entire class) is named after Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian explorer and humanitarian.
The new frigates will prove a great improvement over their predecessors, the Oslo class frigates, both in size, personnel, capabilities and equipment. Compared to the old Oslo class vessels, the new ships will be 35 meters longer, nine meters taller and two meters deeper below water. They will also be five meters broader and have three times the water displacement of the old ships. This will go a great way to solving one of the problems with the Oslo class: lack of space and much discomfort for the crew.
The frigates will also operate 6 new NFH NH90 helicopters, with the role as an extended "arm" of the frigates' ASW and ASuW capabilities.
The Fridtjof Nansen class will be doing extensive service with NATO's permanent Atlantic forces as of 2008, and one of the frigates will be permanently sailing as part of the command as of that year. Until then Norway will, as in the past, continue to contribute to this force, but is unable to retain a permanent presence.
List of ships
The ships are named after Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Otto Sverdrup, Helge Ingstad and Thor Heyerdahl.
# | Name | Ordered | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned |
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F310 | Fridtjof Nansen | June 23, 2000 | April 9, 2003 | June 3, 2004 | April 5, 2006 |
F311 | Roald Amundsen | June 23, 2000 | June 3, 2004 | May 25, 2005 | Scheduled for 2006 |
F312 | Otto Sverdrup | June 23, 2000 | April 28, 2006 | Expected in 2007 | |
F313 | Helge Ingstad | June 23, 2000 | Expected in 2008 | ||
F314 | Thor Heyerdahl | June 23, 2000 | Expected in 2009 |
Images
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F310 fitting out
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F310 at port in Oslo
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The OTO 76mm gun with a stealth cupola