Mortar at sea?

Swedish armed forces award contract for amphibious fire support

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has commissioned Swedish shipbuilder Swede Ship Marine AB to supply eight "seaworthy artillery platforms" for the amphibious battalion in Stockholm and Gothenburg, as detailed in a press release issued by FMV on 17 May 2023.

The ships ordered are essentially light patrol boats equipped with stabilised automatic mortar systems. The ships are intended to provide "indirect fire support with high precision" during coastal and amphibious operations.

The ships will also be equipped with sensors that enable reconnaissance and engagement of land and sea targets, either in support of amphibious forces or for self-defence. Although not explicitly mentioned in the press release, it can be assumed that the ships' fire control systems will be able to process targeting data from other platforms such as amphibious infantry units and unmanned aerial and naval vehicles.

The contract also includes training and spare parts. Delivery of the training system is planned for 2026-2027, with the boats themselves to follow in 2027-2028.

Due to the country's geographical location, the Swedish armed forces have always focussed heavily on coastal operations in the very limited archipelago waters ("skärgården") along the Swedish coast with its many small islands and shallow waterways. In such an environment, the comparatively short range of a mortar system (8-10 km) is not a serious disadvantage compared to other ship-based weapon types, as the lines of sight and fire are inevitably limited.

Operations in this environment also require a special type of vessel with a shallow draught and preferably a water jet propulsion system. Although no details of the type of vessel ordered have been disclosed, the contractor, Swede Ship Marine AB, specialises in exactly this type of vessel: relatively small, fast, shallow-draft, water-jet powered and optimised for operations in near-shore waters. Vessels currently offered by Swede Ship Marine AB include search and rescue vessels, amphibious troop carriers, fast gunboats and mortar carriers, and it is likely that the vessels ordered by FMV will be a version of the latter.

Further details, including the contract value and the specific type of mortar system, have not yet been announced.

Text: FMV / Thomas Nielsen