Torpedoboat,”Norrköping” class consisted of twelve ships,built by the Karlskrona Shipyard 1973-1976. Earlier torpedoboats had,after german model,been given names after stars and starconstellations,the ”Nkg-series”got their names after swedish cities instead. Thereby breaking a naval historic tradition that had been in active use since the first torpedoboats entered service with the swedish navy. In 1976 it was decided that the ”Nkg-class” should be fitted with a missilesystem,that their predecessors,the ”Spica I-class” couldn´t have been fitted with. The US built ”Harpoon” missile was the foremost and only choice at the time,but after careful reconsideration a swedish counterpart,not yet in production,was chosen. The final outcome of this was that the ships were finally fitted with an all swedish system named ”robot 15”.
In 1981 the conversion of the 12 ships begun, new armament, new battle control systems and a change of type from torpedoboat to missilecarrier. During 1985 a refurbishment program was launched for HMS Ystad (R-142) whom was the first of six ships that had been chosen to remain in active service, the remaining six ships were to be either sold or scrapped. The type name changed once again to ”missilecarrier type Ystad” after all the six ships had undergone the final modernization that was completed in 2000 / 2001,yet again with brand new, state of the art, battle control system. Amongst the modernizations, updates were made of almost all the ships systems: Power plants, electrical wiring, interior designs, navigational equipment etc…in all almost a complete rebuilding of the six remaining ships. In 2001,two more ships was taken out of active service, witch left 4 ships.
During fall of 2005 the two remaing ships was retired from active duty, R 131 HMS Norrköping and the very last of the 12 ships, R 142 HMS Ystad.
1 september 2006 R 142 Ystad was "armd" again. But this time as a civilian ship. A non-profit associations (Föreningen Svenska Robotbåtar) saved her from the scrap yard and are now operating her as a living Naval Museum Ship.
-There was four main tasks for the ships to perform in case of war or warlike conditions, these was :
-On top of these activities, the ships also carry out three other tasks:
The ship can be refitted in a very short period of time, in a number of different layouts, pending on requirements.
(i.e. reducing the number of missiles and replacing them with torpedo tubes, or removing all tubes and missiles for mines or depth charges).