La Combattante II type fast attack craft

The La Combattante II patrol boat was a type of fast attack craft built in France for export during the 1970s. Some 37 were built in various classes for several navies around the world.

Development

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The La Combattante II type fast attack craft began as a German-French joint venture, proposed by the German government to combine a Lürssen-designed fast patrol boat with Aerospatiale's Exocet missile. These were intended for export to Israel. However the French government insisted on a French design from Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) in Cherbourg and for half the boats in the order to be built in France. In the end the first group of 20 boats to be built were transferred to the German Bundesmarine, for political reasons. They were commissioned in 1968 as the Tiger class. A number of these were later sold on to the navies of Greece, Chile and Egypt.

Following this, between 1968 and 1974 CMN built a further 37 vessels for export. these were known as the La Combattante II type, after the vessel used for trials of the Exocet, the patrol craft La Combattante.[1] These were built for the navies of Iran (12 Kaman class), Malaysia (four Perdana class) and Libya (nine Beir Grassa class). In the same period CMN built 12 fast attack craft to a similar design for Israel (the Sa'ar 1-3 classes) which are included by some sources in the type.

These vessels were typically of 234 tons displacement and 47 m (154 ft 2 in) in length, and a typical armament of one 76 mm (3 in) gun forward, four Exocet missiles in box launchers amidships, and a 40 mm (1.6 in) gun aft, though actual outfits varied according to the operators requirements.[2][3]

Ship list

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Iran

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Iran ordered 12 ships of the same class (known in Iran as Kaman class), nine of which were delivered in 1977 and 1978, and three of which were delayed until 1981 as a result of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.[4] The Paykan was sunk during Operation Morvarid in 1980, while Joshan was sunk by USS Simpson during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988. These ships are not to be confused with the new Joshan and Paykan, which were named in their memories. Iran built a heavily upgraded version of this class called the Sina class. As of 2012 Iran has built four Sina-class vessels and is building five more of this class.[5]

Kaman class
Pennant
number
Name Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
P221 Kaman 19 February 1974 5 February 1975 8 January 1976 12 August 1977 In service
P222 Xoubin 4 April 1975 14 April 1976 12 September 1977 In service
P223 Khadang 20 June 1975 15 July 1976 15 March 1978 In service
P225 Joshan 5 January 1976 21 February 1977 23 March 1978 Sunk in 1988
P224 Paykan 15 October 1975 12 October 1976 31 March 1978 Sunk in 1980
P226 Falakhon 15 March 1976 2 June 1977 In service
P227 Shamshir 14 October 1974 15 May 1976 12 September 1977 In service
P228 Gorz 5 August 1976 28 December 1977 22 August 1978 In service
P229 Gardouneh 18 October 1976 23 February 1978 11 September 1978 In service
P230 Khanjar 17 January 1977 27 April 1978 1 August 1981 In service
P231 Neyzeh 12 September 1977 5 July 1978 In service
P232 Tabarzin 24 June 1977 15 September 1978 In service
Source: Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships (1996)[6]

Malaysia

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Perdana class
Pennant
number
Name Commission Year Class
3501 KD Perdana 21 December 1972 Perdana
3502 KD Serang 31 January 1973
3503 KD Ganas 28 February 1973
3504 KD Ganyang 28 March 1973

Libya

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A version called the Beir Grassa class, of which 10 were built and 8 were operational as of 1995, were used by the Libyan Navy.[7] One had been sunk and another disabled during a 1986 confrontation with US forces.

Beir Grassa class
Pennant
number
Name Commissioned
518 Beir Grassa
522 Beir Gzir
524 Beir Gitfa
526 Beir Glulud
528 Beir Algandula
532 Beir Ktitat
536 Beir Alkardmen
538 Beir Alkur
542 Beir Alkuesat

Israel

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An initial group of six boats was ordered in 1965, with an armament of Bofors 40 mm guns, torpedo tubes and provision for fitting sonar. This group was designated the Sa'ar 1 class. When refitted with Gabriel anti-ship missiles, they became the Sa'ar 2 class.

A second group of six boats, the Sa'ar 3 class, was ordered in 1968, with an OTO Melara 76 mm gun instead of the Bofors guns of the Sa'ar 1 class and with anti-submarine provisions omitted.[8]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Preston p178
  2. ^ Preston p179
  3. ^ Conway p127
  4. ^ Jane's Fighting Ships, 2018–19, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's By IHS Markit, 2018, p. 390.
  5. ^ رونمایی از زیردریایی فاتح در سال جاری/ ناوشکن‌های کلاس جماران در راهند. Fars News Agency (in Persian). Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  6. ^ Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysaw, eds. (1996), "Iran", Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995, Conway Maritime Press, pp. 186–187, ISBN 978-1557501325
  7. ^ Jeremy Binnie, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly (2013-06-25). "Libyan Navy joins international exercise - IHS Jane's 360". Janes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  8. ^ Gardiner and Chumbley, pp. 192–193.

References

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  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 (1995) Naval Institute Press|, Annapolis ISBN 1-55750-132-7
  • Preston, Antony The World's Worst Warships (2002) Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0-85177-754-6