The eight ‘seagoing artillery platforms’ ordered by the Swedish armed forces from Swedish shipbuilder Swede Ship Marine AB will be armed with the turreted naval version of the Patria NEMO 120 mm mortar system, Patria confirmed in a 26 May 2023 press release.
Patria will deliver the NEMO mortar systems as a subcontractor to Swede Ship Marine AB, which will then integrate the mortars with the vessels prior to delivery to the Swedish armed forces.
The NEMO (NEw MOrtar) is a lightweight version of Patria’s two-barrel Advanced Mortar System (AMOS) and consists of a remote-controlled, self-loading 120 mm smoothbore mortar fitted in an unmanned turret. Due to its compact size and relatively low weight (around 1,900 kg), the NEMO can be fitted to smaller platforms such as 6×6 wheeled armoured vehicles, light landing craft or, as in this case, fast patrol craft.
The NEMO system has a maximum rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute, with a sustainable rate of six rounds per minute. The weapon can fire its first round less than 30 seconds after a target has been identified and located, while the first three rounds can be fired within 15 seconds. This allows the platform carrying the NEMO to perform ‘shoot-and-scoot’ fire missions, where the platform moves immediately after completing the fire mission in order to avoid potential counter-battery fire. The system is also capable of multiple-round simultaneous-impact fire missions, where the propellant charge and elevation for each shot is adjusted to ensure that all rounds – up to six in the case of the NEMO – fall on the target simultaneously.
The NEMO can fire all common types of 120 mm mortar ammunition, including precision-guided munitions such as the Swedish STRIX infrared-guided anti-armour mortar round. The range of the weapon depends on the ammunition being fired, but typically exceeds 10 km. Although this is less than other common types of naval tube artillery, this is less of a disadvantage in the very constricted, archipelagic waters where the new Swedish vessels are expected to operate.
In addition to typical high-angle indirect-fire missions, the NEMO system is also capable of short-range direct fire, allowing it to be used for self-defence by the host platform or for engaging close-in targets of opportunity.
In addition to the eight NEMO systems, the Swedish contract with Patria includes training equipment and, presumably, spare parts and technical support.
Thomas Lauge Nielsen
