I have so many questions, that I have many concerns about your patience
!
Don't worry, I am always crazy... I am after all Norwegian
May I ask if the manteinance of a composite vessel is more expensive (via-a-vis a vessel of a more conventional all metal construction)?
Composite are after my understanding, easy to maintain. But on an Composite boat, you have other things to think about then a vessel in metal. you have to inspect the composite hull for any big damage, you don't want water to get in between the composite layers... just one of the things.
About the Skjold (I ask about it because I think that is a wonderful ship), I understand that is a "vessel for war"; but in other context, for example the patrolling area not in the North Cape or the North Atlantic, but a more confined sea, like the Mediterranean, for war operations and no OPV functions; do you think that is feasible that other navies (like Turkey, Greece with better economy, or Israel) can sellect the Skjold as backbone of the ligth forces?
- Skjold class was designed to handle bad weather, without any problem.
- As just an patrol boat, she is overkill. She is mainly designed after the Cold war tactics, attack and destroy Soviet vessel, without getting detected. Basically she is designed to go after the big Russian missile cruisers... And that is quit over kill for an patrol ship.
- As an OPV, she would be to limited to that role. There are far better ship for that type of task.
- Light forces.... Skjold class is designed to support Heavy forces with an unique strike capability. For light forces you want small fast vessels with either 12.7mm or 20 mm guns and perhaps some sort of manpad.
About your "Visby for Norway", is feasible to put an hangar for the helicopter (at least an hangar for an helicopter of the size of a Lynx or Dauphin)?
There not enough space for that, specially on this type of design.
And what AA missile do you have in mind for that ship, a new one like the Sea Ceptor, or the well tried Sea Sparrow?
At the moment I have drawn here with Mk48, that give me ESSM (Sea Sparrow)
And finaly (at last!) between the 76 mm Super Rapid of the Skjold and the 57 mm Bofors why you selected the last one?
Weight...
If you look at video of Skjold class on YouTube, you will notice, she look bow heavy when she move at low speed. But at speed it's not a problem for Skjold, due to the lifting fan build in the hull, compensate for the problem, but only when those fans are working. One of the Advantage of an SWAT-hull, it can compensate for overweight... but only if it is designed for that. Skjold class was originally designed for 57mm but they redesigned the SWAT hull and strengthened the deck, but also increased the vessel beam, just to carry that 76 mm gun.