Sauda class MCMV
Encyclopedia
The Sauda class was a class of nine minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
s and one minehunter
Minehunter
Minehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines...
in service for the Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
from 1953 to 1996. The class was designed at Sparkman & Stephens
Sparkman & Stephens
Sparkman & Stephens is a naval architecture and yacht brokerage firm with main offices on 5th Avenue in New York City, USA and offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Newport, Rhode Island, USA. The firm performs design and engineering of new vessels for pleasure, commercial, and military use....
Inc., New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, as an improvement of the NYMS class (Norwegian Yard Mine Sweepers). Five of the vessels were built in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, three were built at Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek Verksted
Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek Verksted
A/S Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek Verksted was a shipyard located in Mandal, Norway, who specialized in high speed craft. Under the leadership of Toralf Westermoen in the 1950s, the yard has produced a long range of high speed boat types, such as:...
in Mandal, one at Skaaluren Skibsbyggeri in Rosendal
Rosendal, Norway
Rosendal is the administrative centre of Kvinnherad municipality, Norway. Its population is 944 . It is especially known for the Barony Rosendal.Rosendal has its own website at ....
and one at De Forenede Båtbyggerier in Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
. The class was fully financed by the US government as a part of the Military Assistance Program (MAP).
All the vessels were named after Norwegian rivers: Sauda, Sira, Tana, Alta, Ogna, Vosso, Glomma, Tista, Kvina and Utla. is the only vessel still in existence. She is a museum vessel owned by the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is a museum documenting the history of the Royal Norwegian Navy. It is located at the former main naval base of Karljohansvern in Horten. The museum was founded by C.F. Klinck on 24 August 1853...
but maintained and sailed by a dedicated friendship association. Some of the vessels were in service in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the Royal Belgian Navy
Belgian Navy
The Marine Component of the Belgian Army, formerly the Belgian Naval Force, is the naval service of Belgium.-Early history:The Belgian Navy was created as the Marine Royale in 1831. This force has operated in various forms throughout Belgian history.When after the Belgian Revolution, the country...
before entering Norwegian service.
Ships
- Sauda (M 311) was laid down as AMS-102 by the Hodgdon Brothers, Goudy and Stevens, East Boothbay, MaineBoothbay, MaineBoothbay is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of East Boothbay and Trevett. The Boothbay region is a center of summer tourist activity, and a significant part of its population does not live there year...
, and completed on 23 July 1953. She was transferred to Norway on 25 August 1953. She was reclassified by U.S. Navy as Coastal Minesweeper MSC-102 on 7 February 1955. Sauda was decommissioned by the Norwegian Navy on 8 May 1981 and laid up. In 1987 the vessel was sold into civilian service.
- Ogna was built by Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek VerkstedWestermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek VerkstedA/S Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek Verksted was a shipyard located in Mandal, Norway, who specialized in high speed craft. Under the leadership of Toralf Westermoen in the 1950s, the yard has produced a long range of high speed boat types, such as:...
, Mandal, delivered on 5 March 1955, and decommissioned on 27 April 1979. She was sold into civilian service in 1987.
- Vosso was built by Skaaluren Skibsbyggeri, RosendalRosendal, NorwayRosendal is the administrative centre of Kvinnherad municipality, Norway. Its population is 944 . It is especially known for the Barony Rosendal.Rosendal has its own website at ....
, delivered on 15 March 1955, and decommissioned on 8 July 1987. She was sold for scrapping in August 1992.
- Tista was built by De Forenede båtbyggerier, RisørRisøris a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
, delivered on 27 April 1955, and decommissioned on 15 August 1994. She was sold for scrapping in 1997.
- Kvina was built by Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek Verksted, Mandal, delivered on 12 July 1955, and decommissioned on 24 March 1995. She was sold for scrapping in 1997.
- Utla was built by Westermoen Båtbyggeri og Mek Verksted, Mandal, delivered on 15 November 1955, and decommissioned on 17 January 1990. She was sold for scrapping in 1997.
- Sira was laid down as AMS-132 by the Hiltebrant Drydock Company of Kingston, New YorkKingston, New YorkKingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, and reclassified by the U.S. Navy as Coastal Minesweeper MSC-132 on 7 February 1955. Completed on 14 November 1955 she was transferred to Norway on 28 November 1955. Sira was decommissioned on 23 May 1986 and laid up. She was sold for scrapping in August 1992.
- Tana (M 313) was laid down as AMS-103 by the Hodgdon Brothers, Goudy and Stevens, East Boothbay, Maine, completed 22 September 1953 and transferred to Belgium as Roeselaere (M 914). Reclassified by U.S. Navy as Coastal Minesweeper MSC-103 on 7 February 1955, she was returned to U.S. custody in 1966 and then transferred to Norway. Tana was extensively refitted at the Båtservice AS shipyards at Mandal between August 1976 and September 1977, and subsequently reclassified as a minehunterMinehunterMinehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines...
. She was decommissioned on 24 October 1994 and put into reserve. The vessel was sold for scrapping in 1997.
- Alta (M 314) was laid down as AMS-104 by the Hodgdon Brothers, Goudy and Stevens, East Boothbay, Maine, completed on 30 October 1953 and transferred to Belgium as Arlon (M 915). Reclassified by the U.S. Navy as Coastal Minesweeper MSC-104 on 7 February 1955, she was returned to U.S. custody in 1966 and then transferred to Norway. Alta was decommissioned on 23 May 1996 and was transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy MuseumRoyal Norwegian Navy MuseumThe Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is a museum documenting the history of the Royal Norwegian Navy. It is located at the former main naval base of Karljohansvern in Horten. The museum was founded by C.F. Klinck on 24 August 1853...
where she remains.
- Glomma (M 317) was laid down as AMS-151 by the Hodgdon Brothers, Goudy and Stevens, East Boothbay, Maine, completed on 15 December 1953 and transferred to Belgium as Bastogne (M 313). Reclassified by the U.S. Navy as Coastal Minesweeper MSC-151 on 7 February 1955, she was returned to U.S. custody in 1966 and then transferred to Norway. Glomma was decommissioned on 24 September 1986 and laid up until August 1992 when it was sold for scrapping.