The ''Tapper'' class are a class of

patrol boat A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and the ...

s in service with the

Swedish Navy The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet () – as well as marine units, the Amphibious Corps (). In Swedish, vessels o ...

since the 1990s (the word ''tapper'' means "brave" in Swedish).

Design

''Tapper'' boats first function is to protect and patrol the Swedish coastal waters. Its armament includes 12.7 mm heavy machine guns,

anti-submarine Rocket An anti-submarine missile is a standoff anti-submarine weapon. Often a variant of anti-ship missile designs, an anti-submarine systems typically use a jet or rocket engine, to deliver an explosive warhead aimed directly at a submarine, a depth ...

naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, any ...

s and

depth charge A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive Shock factor, hydraulic shock. Most depth ...

s. Because of their small size of 22 meters and a displacement of 62 tons. these patrol boats can operate in extremely shallow water. These patrol boats have a crew of 8 sailors - consisting of 4 officers and 4 ratings. Further they can accommodate 10 passengers.

History

From 1993-1999 a total of 12 ships were constructed and entered service with the

Swedish navy The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet () – as well as marine units, the Amphibious Corps (). In Swedish, vessels o ...

and amphibious corps. The class was about to retire in 2014 but after the Russian intervention in Ukraine and Russian military build-up in the Baltic sea it was decided that the boats will remain in service and be modified as well. In 2020 the first six boats of the class had a comprehensive overhaul and upgrade program in which they were equipped - among other things - with the

Kongsberg Maritime Kongsberg Maritime (KM) is a Norwegian technology enterprise within the Kongsberg Gruppen (KOG). Kongsberg Maritime deliver systems for positioning, surveying, navigation, and automation to merchant vessels and offshore installations. Their most ...

sonar for

Anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are t ...

Ships in class

References

External links

Bevakningsbåt typ 80 (General information about the Tapper-class patrol boat)
''Försvarsmakten''
Swedish navy upgrades Tapper-class patrol boat with ASW capability
''GLOBAL DEFENSE CORP''
First of six Tapper-class Patrol Boats re-joins Swedish Navy Following ASW Upgrade
''NAVALNEWS'' {{Authority control Patrol boat classes Ships of the Swedish Navy