Visby class corvette

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Visby class corvette
Image:Visby.jpg
General Characteristics	Image:Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg
Displacement:	650 tonnes
Length:	72 m
Beam:	10.4 m
Draft:	2.5 m
Propulsion:	2 Waterjets, powered by: high: 4 gas turbines, total rating 16 MW low: 2 diesel engines, total rating 2.6 MW
Speed:	35+ knots
Range:
Complement:	43
Armament:	Bofors 57 mm/70 SAK Mk3 8 × RBS15 Mk2 AShM 4 × 400 mm tubes for Type 43/45 torpedoes ASW mortars mines

Visby is a Swedish Navy class of corvettes named after the city of Visby and built by Kockums, Karlskrona. The class has received widespread international attention because of its stealth capabilities and network-centric design. The first ship was launched in June 2000.

It is made from carbon fibre, and its angular design reduces its radar signature (or cross-section). Its 57 mm cannon can be retracted to further reduce its radar cross section.

As of 2006, five ships of this class have been built:

HMS Visby 2000
HMS Helsingborg 2003
HMS Härnösand 2004
HMS Nyköping 2005
HMS Karlstad 2006

A Visby class corvette derivative competed in the American Focused Mission Vessel Study, led by Northrop Grumman in partnership with Kockums AB and Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG (HDW). The program was a precursor to the Littoral Combat Ship(LCS) program. It competed with several other concepts including Norway's Skjold class (part of a Raytheon lead group).