Alvand-class frigate | |
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A starboard view of the Iranian destroyer escort IIS Saam (DE-71), redesignated IRS Alvand (F-71) | |
Class overview | |
Builders: |
Vosper Thornycroft, Vickers, United Kingdom |
Operators: | Iran |
Succeeded by: | Moudge-class frigate |
Building: | 0 |
Completed: | 4 |
Active: | 3 |
Lost: | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement: | 1,100 tons (1,540 tons full load) |
Length: | 94.5 m (310 ft) |
Beam: | 11.07 m (36 ft) |
Draft: | 3.25 m (10.5 ft) |
Propulsion: | 2 Paxman Ventura cruising diesels 3,800 bhp, and 2 Rolls Royce Olympus TM-3A boost gas turbines 46,000 shp (34,000 kW) on 2 shafts |
Speed: | 17 knots (31 km/h) on diesels39 knots (72 km/h) on gas turbines |
Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) |
Complement: | 125-146 |
Armament: |
4 x C-802 anti-ship missiles 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 gun 1 x twin 35 mm AAA, 2 x single 20 mm AAA 2 × 81 mm mortars 2 × 0.50cal machine guns 1 x Limbo ASW mortar 2 x triple 12.75 in torpedo tubes |
The Alvand class was originally a class of four frigates known as the Saam Class built for the pre-revolutionary Iranian Navy. They were renamed the Alvand Class after the revolution.
Three remain in service since the fourth was sunk by the US Navy in 1988 during the Iran-Iraq War.
Development & Building[]
The ships were built in the UK by Vosper Ltd and based on their Mark 5 design with the following arms & equipment:-[1]
- ASuW - 1 x quintiple Sea Killer Mk2 surface to surface missile
- AAW - 1 x triple Sea Cat surface to air missile launcher
- ASW 1x 3 barrelled Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10 Limbo launcher
- Guns - 1 x Mark 8 Mod 0 4.5 inch general purpose & 1 x twin 35mm Oerlikon AA
- Electronics - Plessey AWS 1 air surveillance radar with on-mounted IFF; 2 x Contravenes Seahunter systems (For use with Sea cat, Sea Killer & the 35mm mount); Decca RDL 1 passive direction finding equipment
They were refitted in the UK shortly before the 1979 Iranian Revolution.[2]
History[]
The ships were originally named after characters from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, but after the Islamic Revolution they were renamed after mountains in Iran.[3]
They saw action during the "Tanker War" phase of the Iran–Iraq War and proved effective against Iraqi forces. However after one was sunk, and other significant loses taken, during Operation Praying Mantis they saw little further use as the Iranian Navy proved no match for the US Navy.[4]
Upgrades[]
The Sea Killer missiles were replaced by Chinese made C-802s in the 1990s, and the Sea Cats replaced by the addition of a 20mm AA gun leaving remaining ships with practically no effective anti-aircraft ability.
2 x triple 12.75 in torpedo tubes, 2 x 81 mm mortars & 2 x 0.50 cal machine guns were also fitted.[3]
Successors[]
The Moudge class frigate is a modified Iranian-built version of the Alvand, with five either in service or building.[5]
Ships in the class[]
Ship | Pennant Number | Builder | Launched | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alvand - ex-Saam | 71 (ex- DE 12) | Vosper Thornycroft | 1968 | In Service |
Alborz - ex-Zaal | 72 (ex DE 14) | Vickers | 1969 | In Service |
Sabalan- ex-Rostam | 73 (ex DE 16) | Vickers | 1969 | In Service |
Sahand - ex-Faramarz | 74 (ex DE 18) | Vosper Thornycroft | 1969 | sunk on April 18, 1988. |
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Moore, John Jane's Fighting Ships, 1974–75, pub Jane's Publishing Co Ltd, 1975, ISBN 0-354-00506-5-page 175.
- ↑ Global Security.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Military Factory.
- ↑ BBC 10 January 2012.
- ↑ New Wars.
External links[]
- Photos of Alvand-class frigates in Operation Praying Mantis
- http://www.iinavy.org/faramarz.htm
- http://www.mafhoum.com/press8/237P2.pdf
- http://www.ii.uj.edu.pl/~artur/enc/F2.htm
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