Tjeld-class patrol boat explained

The Tjeld class was a class of twenty fast patrol boats designed and built for the Royal Norwegian Navy in the late 1950s.They were used as torpedo boats in Norway where this type of vessel were called MTBs or motor torpedo boats (motortorpedobåt). They remained in service until the late 1970s, when they were placed in reserve; all were stricken by 1995.

Construction

The Tjeld class was based on a prototype fast patrol boat, the Nasty, developed and introduced as a private venture by Boat Services Ltd. A/S, Oslo, in close cooperation with Royal Norwegian Navy officers with World War II experience in fast patrol boats; the chief designer being naval architect Jan Herman Linge.

The Norwegian Tjeld-class vessels were constructed at Westermoen Båtbyggeri in Mandal. The first group of twelve vessels was ordered in 1957, launched between 1959 and 1960, and commissioned in 1960-1962. A second group of eight vessels was ordered in 1962, launched 1962-63 and commissioned 1963-66.

The design was also marketed abroad, to the then-West German Navy and the U.S. Navy, where they were known as the Nasty class, and to the Hellenic Navy as the Tjeld, or Improved Nasty type.[1]

The U.S. Navy operated twenty of the United States Nasty-class patrol boats, with pennant numbers PTF-3 through PTF-22, primarily in the conduct of riverine warfare during the Vietnam War. A subsequent improved version, the Osprey class, was larger with aluminum instead of wooden hulls, of which four were operated by the U.S.Navy, PTF-23 through PTF-26.[2] Many examples were later transferred to and operated by Naval Reserve units in the 1970s and 1980s until phased out of service. A handful survive as museum articles, either restored or currently undergoing restoration.

Service history

The twenty Tjeld class vessels remained in service until the late 1970s; Skarv was stricken in 1978 and six others in 1979, the remainder being laid up in reserve. All vessels had been disposed of by 1995.[1] All the vessels of the first group were named after seabirds; those of the second group were named for fish or sea mammals. Some of the boats were later renamed, as the bird names were going to be used for the . These boats took over the names of other Tjeld-class vessels which had been sold in 1981.

List of vessels

First group

NamePennant numberDate of launchDelivery date Builder Notes
Tjeld ("oystercatcher") P343 25 June 1960 Renamed Sel 1977. Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Sold for scrapping 1992.
Skarv (cormorant) P344 15 October 1960 Westermoen Sold 1981 [3]
Teist (black guillemot) P345 7 February 1961Westermoen Sold 1981
Jo (skua) P346 17 February 1961Westermoen Sold 1981
Lom (common murre) P347 28 March 1961Westermoen Sold 1981
Stegg (male grouse) P348 28 April 1961Westermoen Renamed Hval 1977. Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Sold for scrapping 1992
Hauk (hawk) P349 30 June 1961 Westermoen Renamed Laks. Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Sold for scrapping 1992.[4]
Falk (falcon) P350 14 September 1961 Westermoen Sold 1981
Ravn (raven) P357 8 December 1961 Westermoen Renamed Knurr 1977. Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Sold for scrapping 1992.
Gribb (vulture) P388 5 March 1962 Westermoen Renamed Delfin. Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Was planned to be preserved by Kværner Mandal A/S, but later sold for scrapping.
Geir (great auk) P389 13 April 1962Westermoen Stricken 1981. Sold to Stapletask Ltd, Sittingbourne, Kent, England.[5]
Erle (wagtail) P390 6 July 1962 Westermoen Sold 1981

Second group

NamePennant numberDate of launchDelivery date Builder Notes
Skrei (cod) P380 14 January 1966 Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum and preserved as a museum ship.
Hai (shark) P381 July 1964 Westermoen Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Plans are currently underway for Hai to be preserved as a museum ship in Fredrikstad.
Sel (seal) P382 Westermoen Sold 1981
Hval (whale) P383 19 March 1964 Westermoen Sold 1981
Laks (salmon) P384 15 May 1964 Westermoen Sold 1981 to Stapletask Ltd, Sittingbourne, Kent - Now moored in Great Wakering, Essex, England and has been restored and converted into a house boat (2017)
Knurr (grey gurnard) P385 1 November 1964Westermoen Sold 1981
Delfin (dolphin) P386 20 May 1966 Westermoen 1984 Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum and preserved as a museum ship.
Lyr (pollock) P387 1 February 1965 Westermoen Transferred to Naval Reserve and used by Sea Home Guard. Sold for scrapping 1992.

References

Notes and References

  1. Conway p294
  2. Web site: PTF-26, Liberty "The Last American PT Boat" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170107042257/http://libertymaritime.com/index.htm . 7 January 2017 . 9 June 2016 . libertymaritime.com.
  3. Skarv and 9 others were reportedly sold to Stapletask Ltd, Sittingbourne, Kent
  4. Hauks hull was saved by Martin Mead, the present owner, moored at Mill Head, Gt Wakering, Essex
  5. Geir was listed on eBay UK (listing number 321795403777) and sold for 625GBP on 6 July 2015 minus engines.