Builder: Karlskrona Varvet AB, Karlskrona.

Names:
HMS Norrköping (Nkg) (T 131/R 131)
HMS Nynäshamn (Nyn) (T 132/R 132)
HMS Norrtälje (Ntä) (T 133/R 133)
HMS Varberg (Vab) (T 134/R 134)
HMS Västerås (Vås) (T 135/R 135)
HMS Västervik (Väs) (T 136/R 136)
HMS Umeå (Umeå) (T 137/R 137)
HMS Piteå (Pit) (T 138/R 138)
HMS Luleå (Lul) (T 139/R 139)
HMS Halmstad (Hsd) (T 140/R 140)
HMS Strömstad (Ssd) (T 141/R 141)
HMS Ystad (Ysd) (T 142/R 142)

Dimensions:

Displacement:

Speed:

Length 43.6 (41.3 pp) 190 ton (230 fl) 40 knots
Width 7.1 m    
Depth 1.6 m (2.3 prop.)    

Armament:
0-8 SAAB Rb-15 SSM (II x 2-4)
1 57-mm Bofors SAK-57 Mk. 1 DP-Gun (I x 1)
2-6 533-mm Torpedoes (I x 2-6)
8 57-mm Flares (IV x 2)
Minelaying-capacity  
Electronics:
Navigational radar: 1 Skanter-009
Searchradar: 1 Ericsson Sea GIRAFFE 50HC
EW-equipment: 1 ARGOSystems APECS-II Phoenix
1 MEL Susie
2 CelsiusTech Philax chaff/flare-launchers

Machinery:

Electricity:

3 GT Rolls Royce Proteus GT12750 hp/9375 kW 1 MTU-generator-GT,
3 KAMEWA CP-propellers 1 Volvo Penta diesel,
each coupled to a Hertzinger-generator.

Crew:
11 officers + 16 men.
Provision for a total of 32 (14+18)


History
The twelve ships of the Norrköping-class were first launched as torpedoboats in the years between 1973-76. Their ancestry can be traced back to the motortorpedoboat (MTB), first introduced in the Swedish Navy in the 1920's.
The larger torpedoboats where introduced in 1954, when construction started on the twelve ships of the Plejad-class.
In 1966-68 the evolution progressed in the form of the Spica-class, which unlike earlier torpedoboats were equiped with gasturbine main propulsion. Spica, which was considered a success, were later followed by the modified twelve ship class, Spica II - Norrköping.

A Swedish naval officer displaying a practice torpedo in the port torpedotube.

During 1982-85 this class of equaly successful ships underwent a conversion to become missile boats. HMS Piteå acted as a prototype, undergoing a series of trials to ensure the feasibility of the project. The trials turned out successfull, and she was soon joined by her sisters.
The missileboats of the Norrköping-class has since then formed the spearhead of the modern RSwN surface attack force.

1996-98 six ships of this class underwent SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) and were somewhat modified. The remaining class is subsequently refered to as YSTAD-class of FAC.

A formation of missile boats (Larger picture).

Units

The twelve units of the class were divided in to two squadrons, the 21st and 34th FAC squadrons. Each squadron form part of a Surface Attack Flotilla, the 2nd SAF based at Berga, and the 3rd SAF based at Karlskrona.
The SAF's represent one of the most deversified systems within the Swedish Armed Forces. They are capable of fulfilling most of the missions given to a naval unit over the conflict scale from peace through crisis to war situations, including rescue actions at sea, support to the Coast Guard, EEZ incident missions, ASW, reconnaissence, escorting, minelaying and attack.
The flotillas may further be used as part of an internationally composed peacekeeping unit.
The Surface Attack Flotillas is characterised by the words: Flexibility and Power.

As of 1998, due to economic restraints, the squadrons were diminished in size, each unit containing only three boats. Six boats of this class was decomissioned.
The flotillas themself went through a name change and are now called Surface Warfare Flotillas (SWF). This is to recognize the broad spectrum of capabilities within the unit.

As of 2001 two more ships were decomissioned and the remaining ships are concentrated to the 34th squadron based at Karlskrona.
The unit badge of the respective flotilla is shown above.

Model of the Norrköping-type FAC

Here's some pictures of a 1:50 scale model I've built of this type. The model was a R/C model with a plank-on-frame type of hull.

A few more pictures:
Model-1 Model-2 Model-3 Model-4

Revised: 2003-10-15