Nordkapp class OPV

KV Nordkapp (W 320) in the Adventfjord, Spitsbergen
Class overview
Name:	Nordkapp
Operators:	Norwegian Coast Guard
Completed:	3
Active:	3
General characteristics
Type:	Offshore patrol vessel
Displacement:	3,200 tons
Propulsion:	Wichmann 4 x 9AXAG
Speed:	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Sensors and processing systems:	EADS TRS-3D 16 ES air/surface radar (from 2006) Hull-mounted sonar
Armament:	1 x Bofors 57 mm cannon 12.7 mm machine guns Depth charges Provisions for carrying Penguin missiles and torpedoes if required
Aircraft carried:	1 x Lynx (at launch) 1 x NH90 (from 2011)
Aviation facilities:	Hangar for single helicopter

The 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. The Norwegian Coast Guard is a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, and has some police authority.

The Nordkapp class carries one helicopter; for the time being this is the Westland Lynx, but the NH90 is to replace the Lynx from 2010 and onwards.

KV Andenes patrolled the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War in 1991 as part of the Coalition forces. The ships are capable of ice browsing.

A fisheries protection vessel named HNoMS Nordkapp served the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1937 to 1954, including distinguished World War II service.

Ships

Three ships of the class are built:

• KV Nordkapp (W320)
• KV Senja (W321)
• KV Andenes (W322)

External links

• Kystvakt - official web pages with facts and pictures (English).