A new breed of warships with stealth designs is being introduced to the world. Many navies in the world would deploy these ships in the time to
come. Are they really as effective and better as they are made out to be? Have any pictures of stealth warships in your respective navies or other navies? Post erm here.
Greek Corvette
Specifications:
Type: Corvette
Power Plant: Diesel Electric
Prime Contractor: Vosper Thornycroft
Length: Unknown
Beam: Unknown
Crew: 110
Vosper Thornycroft Shipbuilding has unveiled details of its design bid for the Hellenic Navy’s next-generation corvette requirement. Evolved from the ships built for the Royal Navy of Oman in the 1990s, the new 100m-long corvettes will be equipped with the latest stealth and propulsion technology giving far greater capabilities than previous designs.
The corvette is armed with stealth-mounted guns, the latest electronic warfare suite which, together with other key operational equipment, is shielded using stealth technology incorporated into the design of the bulwarks. Other signature management control features are built in to combat the ship’s infrared, radar-cross signature, noise and magnetic outputs. Electricity is supplied via four diesel generators; two independent interconnected switchboards optimise redundancy and reliability.
"MEKO" A CLASS
CORVETTES AND FRIGATES
Specifications:
Type: Corvette/Frigate
Power Plant: 2 x Caterpillar 3616 or
MTU 16V 1163 TB 93
Prime Contractor: Blohm + Voss
Length: 82.8-121 m
Beam: 11.8-16.34 m
Crew: 93-120
The MEKO A combat ships, designed by Blohm and Voss, evolved from the MEKO family of ships which have been in operation with navies around the world since the 1980s. The MEKO A family includes the 1,650t MEKO A-100 multi-purpose corvette and 3,500t MEKO A-200 corvette. Improvements include increased payload share of ship displacement, stealthy design, advanced propulsion system and combat systems with modular open architecture.
Stealth design features have been introduced to reduce the radar cross-section. Hull panels are alternately angled to avoid large flat surfaces, an arrangement called "X-form". Right angle corners are avoided and the decks and superstructure have been decluttered. The bridge wings present on the original MEKO have been eliminated and the bridge is completely enclosed.
Project 2038.0
"Steregushchy"
Specifications:
Type: Corvette
Power Plant: Unknown
Prime Contractor: Severnaya Verf
Length: Unknown
Beam: Unknown
Crew: Unknown
In April 2001, Russia Navy Commander-in-Chief, Adm Vladimir Kuroyedov, stated that the Navy was starting construction of the new Project 2038.0 corvette. These ships are designed for coastal patrol, escort and antisubmarine warfare operations. The first of class was scheduled to be laid down at the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St Petersburg in late 2001. The design of this 1,900 ton stealthy corvette was developed by the Almaz Central Marine Design bureau.
Reportedly special acoustics, infra-red equipment control of infra-red radiation. stealthy shape, a special type of paint and carbonaceous coating combine to give it stealth characteristics.
Lafayette Class Frigate
Specifications:
Type: Frigate
Power Plant: Diesel electric
Prime Contractor: Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN International)
Length:125 meters
Beam:15.5 meters
Crew: 164
The French "LaFayette" Class Frigate are the world's first operational warships designed for stealth from keel to mast. Thirteen ships have been ordered by 3 countries,(France, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan), and are either in service or under construction.
Built by Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN International), the frigates feature hulls that have diamond like facets to thwart enemy radar and are coated with special radar absorbent paint. Designed for multi-role missions, the stealthy ships incorporate very low detectability against radar, sonar, infrared and magnetic sensors. Passive and active jamming methods complete the stealth arsenal.
Visby Class Corvette
Specifications:
Type: Corvette
Power Plant: Diesel electric
Prime Contractor: Karlskronavarvet
Length: 72 meters
Beam: 10.4 meters
Crew: 43
The Visby Class Corvettes are a direct product of the "Smyge" program. Revolutionary technology in hull materials and stealth technique set the Visby apart. Built by the Swedish company Karlskronavaret, construction of the multi purpose ship began in 1996. Launch is scheduled for June 2000, with four vessels to be delivered to the Swedish Navy by 2004, and a further two on order.
The Visby is designed to minimize optical and infrared signatures, above water acoustic and hydroacoustic signatures, magnetic signature, pressure signature, radar cross section and actively emitted signals.
"Seawraith"
Specifications:
Type: Corvette
Power Plant: Diesel electric
Prime Contractor: Vosper Thorneycroft LTD
Length: 377 feet
Beam: 51 feet
Crew: 105
Great Britain's shipbuilder,Vosper Thorneycroft LTD, has offered plans to the British Navy for a stealthy corvette class ship called the "Sea Wraith". The Sea Wraith's asymmetric towers, movable mast, wave-piercing bow, and several other innovative features will make it one of the stealthiest and deadliest ships afloat. "Sea Wraith" will utilize a radar absorbing composite superstructure and deflecting angled design to achieve stealth. High speed electric motors will make it very quiet.
Sea Wraith will take stealth a step further, using artificially generated mist to disguise it as a patch of fog. This cloud of mist would visually mask the ship. At the same time, it would prevent infrared sensors from detecting "hot" spots created by the ship's powerplant or recently fired weapons.
Smyge
Specifications:
Type: Test platform
Power Plant: Diesel electric water jets
Prime Contractor: Swedish Defence Material Administration
Length: unknown
Beam: unknown
Crew: unknown
The Swedish Defence Material Administration began a program in 1986 to develop a stealthy test platform. Their design, HMS Smyge, was unveiled in 1991 and used for testing stealth technology, new weapons, sensors and communications equipment and their application on stealth ships.
"Smyge" served as the basis for the YS 2000 project, which led to the development of the "Visby" class corvette. "Smyge" was designed to reduce radar, infrared and noise signatures. All structures consist of angled flat surfaces and all openings are screened or fitted with radar absorbent material, the engines' exhausts are cooled, and the use of water jets creates a small noise signature. The "Smyge" is supported by an air cushion at full speed, greatly reducing its pressure signature and its vulnerability to underwater mines.
Qahir Class Corvette
Specifications:
Type: Corvette
Power Plant: Diesel electric
Prime Contractor: Vosper Thorneycroft LTD
Length: 83 meters
Beam: 11.5 meters
Crew: 60
In 1996 Oman took delivery of two 83 metre corvettes, Qahir Al Amwaj and Al Mua'zzer, built by Vosper Thorneycroft (UK) LTD of England. The design is based on the proven Mark 9 corvette, modified to include modern stealth characteristics.
The hull and superstructure have been designed to minimize the radar cross section, with features including the use of radar absorbent material and angled sides to reduce the return signal to hostile radar.
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