Skjold-class corvettes ( “Shield” in English) are a class of six light, superfast, stealth missile corvettes in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The boats were formerly classed as Motor Torpedo Boats, but, since 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy has described them as corvettes because their seaworthiness is comparable to corvettes. With a maximum speed of 60 knots (110 km/h), the Skjold-class corvettes were the fastest combat ships afloat at the time of their introduction.
The Skjold design is a surface effect craft constructed of glass fibre/carbon composite materials. Buoyancy is augmented by a fan-blown skirted compartment between the two rigid catamaran-type hulls. Most notably, the vessels use four gas turbines combined with Renk COGAG gear units built in a lightweight design. The smaller gas turbines, rated 2,000 kW turbines, are used for cruising speed. For sprint speed, a second, a larger gas turbine is combined, providing a total of 6,000 kW to the waterjet on each shaft line. The foredeck was strengthened to accommodate the addition of a 76 mm Otobreda / Oto Melara Super Rapid gun.
