Radar cross section is the most obvious for reducing a warships signature. However, before these weapons can be deployed, the target has to be found, hence the developing need to reduce the RCS value of a given warship and to reduce or eliminate the residual levels of acoustic and electro magnetic emissions, for example IR (infra red) and to employ passive ECM (electronic counter measures). Once detected and located, a warship was vulnerable to either surface attack, by gunfire initially then long range surface to surface missiles such as Harpoon or Exocet MM38 as they were developed, or indeed by submarine attack. Thus for many years after WWII, warships were relatively easily to detect with surface search radars such as SPS 5 and SPS10 and later developments in surface search technology pushed the detection boundaries out still further. Equally, little thought was given to reducing the so called RCS (radar cross section) of vessels. So, following WWII and into the Cold War, it was considered unnecessary to retain the elaborate camouflage patterns developed for wartime. No longer could a camouflaged vessel remain undetected. No matter how effective the camouflage, the introduction of long-range surface search radars such as the Type 271 and later the Type 277, altered the equation. In many ways this mimicked the natural world, where light and colour are used to blend with the surroundings and produce a form of invisibility. By the end of WWII the techniques of camouflage had been refined to allow a ship to be concealed within the environment. In WWI this took the form of camouflage that used deception as its prime element, with ships being painted in stark dazzle patterns able to deceive the enemy as to the direction, speed and range of the vessel. Since the dawn of war at sea, inventors and military thinkers have dreamed of warships being invisible to the enemy. Since the Visby class entered service, much has been written regarding these ships being the first commissioned warships with the ability to be actually invisible to radar and indeed across the electro magnetic spectrum. The Guided Missile Patrol Vessel - PGG K32 Helsingborg We also continue with the build of the Soviet Aviation Cruiser Kiev, plus our Mystery Picture slot. For the first time in any publication, we have a detailed research photo file on Helsingborg, a Swedish Visby class stealth corvette. Welcome once again to our regular sortie into the world of fighting ships. Pic 10: Looking carefully at the base of the stanchions it will be seen that those on the afterdeck can be dropped down. Pic 9: Even the mast is shaped in such a way as to reduce its own radar cross section. Note the mast and navigation light arrangements. Pic 8: Conical housing for the multi role surveillance radar. Pic 6: The gun turret is radar reflective. Pic 5: Helsingborg is fitted with 57mm dual purpose gun. Pic 4: A more recognisable hull in this shot of the bows showing the spray rails. Pic 3: Bridge and foremast almost as one and a departure from conventional design. Pic 2: A hull design that owes much of its shape to a more conventional hardchine design. Presently one of the most advanced stealth warships and reputed to be almost invisible in a combat scenario. Pic 1: Helsingborg, a Swedish Navy Visby class corvette. Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8, Pic 9, Pic 10,
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