Join me as we explore the fascinating Skjold-class missile fast patrol boat, a unique vessel from the Norwegian Navy designed for speed, stealth, and efficiency in coastal waters. With its innovative air-cushioned hull and minimalist, radar-evading design, the Skjold-class stands out as a purpose-built solution for littoral combat.In this video, we’ll take a closer look at the ship’s stealthy features, its impressive maneuverability, and the practical reasons behind its simplistic yet effective design. Whether you’re a fan of military technology, naval innovation, or just curious about how modern ships are adapting to new challenges, this video has something for you.Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Do you think vessels like the Skjold-class are the future of coastal defense, or do traditional naval designs still have their place?Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more videos diving into military vehicles and technology. Thanks for watching!Chapters:0:00 – Introduction to Skjold-Class1:45 – Design and Stealth Features5:20 – Weaponry and Systems8:10 – Role in Modern Naval Operations10:15 – Final ThoughtsSkjold-class corvettes (skjold means “shield” in Norwegian) are a class of six light, superfast, stealth missile corvettes in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The boats were formerly classed as MTBs (motor torpedo boats) but, from 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy has described them as corvettes (korvett) because their seaworthiness is seen as comparable to corvettes, and because they do not carry torpedoes. They were built at the Umoe Mandal yard. 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 as of 2023 beaten by the Abu Dhabi MAR WP-18 Interceptor.The Skjold-class vessels began with the development of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s “Project SMP 6081”, and the first preproduction version was ordered on 30 August 1996. The first ship of its class, P960, was launched on 22 September 1998 and commissioned 17 April 1999. A Norwegian Parliamentary White Paper of 2001 recommended building five additional boats, and this was agreed to in 2002. Six Skjold-class vessels replaced the Royal Norwegian Navy’s previous fourteen Hauk-class patrol boats.