Logbook 2003 

28th of November 2003. Signing of the Skjold-class contract
On the 28th of November the Navy signed the contract for the remaining five vessels of the Skjold-class LCS. The overall process has taken almost ten years and the class will be delivered in the period 2006-2009 and be fully operational in 2009.

21st of October 2003. Approval from the Parliament
On the 16th of October the Defense committee gave their recommendation to the Parliament to approve the Skjold contract. The Parliament approved it on the 21st of October. This was the final decision and the building of the other vessels could start. All those who have been involved in the project have been waiting for this to happen and it is an historic day for the Navy and for the Littoral Combat Ship community.

Reconstruction
KNM Skjold is now facing a period of reconstruction to adapt to all the experiences from the test program. It will take two years to accomplish this and the Navy will receive the vessel again late in 2005. The main changes are the propulsion system and the bridge- and deck structure.

Week 26 Temporary de-commissioning
KNM Skjold has concluded the test program as a prototype. The vessel was temporary de-commissioned and delivered back to the yard the 24th of June. Skjold has been is service for four years and nine weeks since the commissioning 19th of April 1999 and sailed 85 000 nautical miles. Our sincere thanks to the personnel involved in the process and especially the former crew members and the project staff.

Week 24 Navy games and film making with Rolls Royce
After the visit in Oslo we participated in a film shooting with Rolls Royce during our transit to the Navy games in Tønsberg. The Navy Games is an annual competition where the different units compete in traditional events. We had many visitors during the week and many youngsters got the opportunity to see the ship and the gifts and memories from the US deployment. The lean crew did their best at all times.

Uke 23 Exercise Marvika and Navy weekend in Oslo
Skjold participated in the last week of exercise Marvika. In the new norwegian concept for littoral operations the Skjold-cl LCSs are essential assets. The main focus during this years exercise was cooperation between frigates, FPBs and coastal rangers in the littorals. We also transported about 80 civilian volunteers from Kristiansand and out to the island of Randoey. They were taking part in a large evacuation drill.

On completion of exercise Marvika the force sailed to Oslo for the "Navy weekend". The units were open to the public and had approximately 16 000 visitors during the three days.
We had the honour of hosting a reception for the President of the Parliament, the leader of the Defence committee and the Norwegian Chief of Naval staff, Radm K B Olsen.

Visit from Joint Headquarters North
On the 28th of May the leadership of Joint Headquarters North visited Skjold. Lt Gen Skiaker, Radm Sandbekk, Maj Gen Diesen, Maj Gen Løvbukten og Maj Gen J H T Short were among the prominent guests. We had the pleasure of having them aboard from Navbas Haakonsvern to Stavanger.

Week 14 Navy days, Bergen
Navy days was celebrated in Bergen 3rd to 6th of April. The main focus was on information about naval education and careere. The main events were fam rides and information for students, demos in the harbour and general information.
     

Week 13 Measurements
During this week we conducted vibration measurement off the coast of southern Norway. Due to heavy fog the vessel was taken out to the oil installations in the North Sea to find the required combination of winds, seas and visibility. 

Week 10-12 Preparations and measurements
LT Roy Sæten, recently "surviving" the Commanding Officer qualifying Course, became the new Executive officer of the Skjold on the 24th of February.
These three weeks were used for preparations for vibration measurements in week 13. The southern part of Norway gave us a cold welcome with gale force winds and snowshowers. The bow skirt and the stern seal are due for maintanance but are still in good shape. The last replacement was in Virginia in February 02.

At the yard are also three of the Hauk-class FPBs going through a modernisation and one of the mcmvs Hnoms Otra. The HAT/SAT crew of the Hauk-cl is supporting us during the yard period. 

Week 8-11 Work-up and fam-rides
These three weeks were used to give the new crewmembers a work-up and give familarization rides for personell from other departments in the navy. Both groups from basic training and from the naval academy were taken out to sea. Especially the officers from the navigational training facility realized the big challenges in adapting the standing procedures to 55 knots and the cockpit design. During the work-up we also assisted a small craft in distress outside Bergen.

Week 1-6 Training and maintanance
KNM Skjold is entering a period of test activities prior to the planned stay at the yard in Mandal. All the experiences from the last year is analysed and evaluated. Some new crewmemners have arrived and the focus is once again on education and training The Skjold is now manned for test activities and other peacetime missions.

Week 49 Change of Command
December 2nd there was a change of command on KNM Skjold. 
Commanding offiser Liutantant Commander Rune Andersen who has been in command since 17th of April 2001 and who has been responsible for the US deployment withdrew.
Liutantant Commander Trygve C Nøkleby hoisted his command as the third commanding officer of Skjold.