Storm class patrol boat

The Storm class fast patrol boats (FPB) were a class of 20 vessels built for the Royal Norwegian Navy.

In Norwegian these boats were called "missilkanonbåter" (MKB) meaning boats with missiles and guns. They were operated by the Coastal Combat Flotilla together with the MTBs, or Missile Torpedo Boats. None of the boats are currently in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The design was Norwegian and all of the boats were built by Norwegian ship yards from 1965 to 1967.

The Storm class was designed by Lieutenant-commander (later Captain) Harald Henriksen. Same man was also involved in the design of the Rapp-class MTB's - the first Norwegian-built MTB's. Later he also designed the Snøgg- and Hauk-class MTB's.Lieutenant-commander Henriksen's wife, Margot Henriksen was godmother of the first KNM Skjold (P 963), delivered to the Norwegian navy in February 1966 from Westermoen yard in Mandal.

Norway donated a Storm class each to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 1995.

At the end of the 1990s two vessels were sold to Lithuania and three were sold to Latvia [Jane's All the Worlds Fighting Ships 2008] . A futher three hulls may have been donated to each of the Baltic countries as spare parts. [Jane's Warship Recognition Guide, Robert Hutchison, Harper Collins 2002.]

The prototype Storm, completed May 31, 1963, was later scrapped and replaced by a second boat taking the same name and pennant number P960; the last of the class completed in 1968. After 1970 Penguin missiles were fitted to these boats in addition to the original armament. [Jane's All the Worlds Fighting Ships 1979-80]

Currently the Lithuanian Navy operates three Storm class boats, P31 "Dzūkas" (donated 1995), P32 "Sėlis" (transferred 2001) and P33 "Skalvis" (transferred 2001). [ [http://www.kam.lt/index.php/en/37992/ Lithuanian Navy web page on the patrol boats] ]

Vessels

The vessels are listed with their pennant numbers in RNoN service:
** "Arg" "P968" (1966-1991) Donated to Estonia. In Service with the Estonian Border Guard as Torm
** "Blink" "P961" Is on display, fully equipped at the Royal Norwegian Naval Museum in Horten, Norway.
** "Brann" "P970"
** "Brask" "P977" Is on display on land at Haakonsvern Naval Base in Bergen.
** "Brott" "P974"
** "Djerv" "P966" (1966-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Zibens.
** "Glimt" "P962" (1966-1994) Sold to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS Dzūkas.
** "Gnist" "P979" (1967-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Linga.
** "Hvass" "P972" (1966-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Lode.
** "Kjekk" "P965"
** "Odd" "P975"
** "Pil" "P976" Previously used as a damage control and fire fighting training vessel. Placed on land at Haakonsvern Naval base.
** "Rokk" "P978"
** "Skjold" "P963"
** "Skudd" "P967" (1966-2000) Sold to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS Sėlis.
** "Steil" "P969" (1967-2000) Sold to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS Skalvis.
** "Storm" "P960"
** "Traust" "P973" (1967-1994) Donated to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS Bulta.
** "Tross" "P971"
** "Trygg" "P964"

Note: The Norwegian prefix for RNoN vessels is KNM.

External links

* [http://www.mil.no/sjo/start/article.jhtml?articleID=59751 Nice photo of Brask on land with German, Danish, Polish and Norwegian FPB officers in front] no icon

ources

*Information folder from Forsvarets rekrutterings- og mediesenter (Norwegian defence recruitment and media center) 1991/92
* [http://www.mil.no/sjo/start/article.jhtml?articleID=108395 Article about Norwegian-Baltic naval cooperation] no icon
* [http://www.lvnslinga.lv/ship.htm LVNS Linga's home page]