HNoMS Steil (P969)

The ''Storm''-class patrol boat was a series of fast patrol boats (FPB) consisting 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. In the 1990s, Norway donated vessels of the class to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Design

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

The prototype ''Storm'', completed 31 May 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.

Operational history

Norway donated a ''Storm''-class vessel each to Estonia and Lithuania and three to Latvia in 1995. In the Lithuanian Navy, the ex-''Storm'' class are designated the ''Dzūkas'' class, and in the Latvian Navy, the ex-''Storm''s were designated the ''Bulta'' class. Since the 1999 edition of ''The World Defence Almanac'' the ''Storm'' class has not been listed for the Estonian Navy.

At the end of the 1990s, two vessels were sold to Lithuania and three were sold to Latvia. A further three hulls may have been donated to each of the Baltic countries as spare parts.

Last operator was the Lithuanian Navy which operated two ''Storm''-class boats, ''Sėlis'' (transferred 2001) and ''Skalvis'' (transferred 2001).Lithuanian Navy web page on the patrol boats
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Vessels

The vessels are listed with their pennant numbers in RNoN service:
* ''Arg'' ''P968'' (1966-1991) Donated to Estonia. Served with the Estonian Border Guard as ''Torm'', now part of the Estonian Maritime Museum.
* ''Blink'' ''P961'' Is on display, fully equipped at the Royal Norwegian Navy 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'' (decommissioned).
* ''Glimt'' ''P962''
* ''Gnist'' ''P979'' (1967-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS ''Linga'' (decommissioned)
* '' Hvass'' ''P972'' (1966-2000) Sold to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS ''Lode'' (decommissioned).
* '' Kjekk'' ''P965'' (1966-2000) Donated to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS P31 ''Dzūkas'' (decommissioned).
* ''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'' (decommissioned).
* '' Steil'' ''P969'' (1967-2000) Sold to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed LNS ''Skalvis'' (decommissioned).
* ''Storm'' ''P960''
* '' Traust'' ''P973'' (1967-1994) Donated to the Latvian Navy and renamed LVNS ''Bulta''(decommissioned).
* ''Tross'' ''P971''
* '' Trygg'' ''P964''

Gallery

HNoMS Blink ''P961'' - Outside

KNM «Blink».jpg
KNM «Blink» fra baugen.jpg
KNM «Blink» (2).jpg
KNM «Blink» (3).jpg
KNM «Blink» (4).jpg

HNoMS Blink ''P961'' - Inside and under deck

KNM «Blink» - Førerhuset.jpg
KNM «Blink» - kabin for mannskap.jpg
KNM «Blink» - Motor.jpg
KNM «Blink» - Motor (2).jpg
KNM «Blink» - Under dekk.jpg

References

Citations

Sources

*Information folder from Forsvarets rekrutterings- og mediesenter (Norwegian defence recruitment and media center) 1991/92
Article about Norwegian–Baltic naval cooperation

External links

Nice photo of Brask on land with German, Danish, Polish and Norwegian FPB officers in front

{{Norwegian patrol boats

Patrol boat classes
Missile boats of the Royal Norwegian Navy