The Yarmook-class corvette is a class of corvettes in service with the Pakistan Navy. The class is primarily based on Damen Group's Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) 1900.[3] The primary role of the class is to patrol the sea area.
_sailed_in_the_Gulf_of_Oman.jpg) PNS Tabuk in the Gulf of Oman
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Yarmook class |
| Builders | Damen Shipyards, Galati, Romania (Galați shipyard) |
| Operators |  Pakistan Navy |
| In service | 2020–present |
| In commission | 13 February 2020 – present |
| Planned | 4 |
| Building | 2 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics (Batch-I)[1] | |
| Type | Corvette |
| Displacement | 2,300 t (2,300 long tons) |
| Length | 91.3 m (299 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 14.4 m (47 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 4 m (13 ft 1 in) |
| Installed power | CODAD, 4 × Caterpillar 3516 diesel engines |
| Speed | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Range | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)[2] |
| Endurance | 40 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × RHIB boats |
| Complement | 60+ |
| Sensors and processing systems | MR-36A I-band Surface/ Air Search and Track Radar |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | Decoy flare, chaff launchers |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 × helicopter and 1 × UAV |
| Aviation facilities | Flight deck |
History edit
Damen signed an agreement with Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan on 30 June 2017 to design and build two multipurpose corvettes for Pakistan Navy. The Dutch shipbuilder selected its shipyard in Galați, Romania to build these vessels. According to Pakistan Navy officials, the corvettes will "act as force multipliers in enhancing [the] navy's capability of safeguarding maritime frontiers and will offer more flexibility in the conduct of [the] Pakistan Navy's initiative of independent Regional Maritime Security Patrols in the Indian Ocean Region".[4] On 13 July 2020, PNS Yarmook was inducted into the Pakistan Navy.[5]
The keel of the first vessel of the second batch of two offshore patrol vessels (OPV) for the Pakistani Navy was laid in 2022.[6][7] The OPVs of the second batch are larger than the first batch and based on the Damen OPV 2600 design.[8]
On 12 September 2023 PNS Hunain was launched at Damen Shipyards Galați in Romania.[9][10]
Last corvette of the second batch (PNS Yamama) was launched on 19 February 2024 at Damen Shipyards Galați in Romania.[11]
Design and characteristics edit
The displacement of both the vessels is 2,300 tonnes. They are designed to carry out a variety of maritime operations and are able to transport both a helicopter and a unmanned aerial vehicle. They can also carry two high-speed rigid-hulled inflatable boats of 11.5 meters (38 ft) and 6.5 meters (21 ft) simultaneously. In addition to that, they are designed to accommodate two twenty-foot equivalent units for special mission-based operations.[12]
The vessels of the second batch have a length of 98 meters (322 ft), a beam of 14.4 meters (47 ft) and a draft of 4 meters (13 ft).[13] The displacement of both vessels is approximately 2600 tonnes.[7] Besides being larger than the corvettes of the first batch, the second batch corvettes are also more heavily armed.[14]
Ships in class edit
| Yarmook-class corvettes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Pennant | Shipyard | Launched | Commissioning | Notes | ||
| Batch-I | |||||||
| PNS Yarmook | F-271 | Damen Shipyards Galati | 17 May 2019[3] | 13 February 2020[12] | Named after the Battle of the Yarmuk. | ||
| PNS Tabuk[15] | F-272 | 3 September 2019 | 12 November 2020[16] | Named after the Battle of Tabuk. | |||
| Batch-II | |||||||
| PNS Hunain | F-273 | Damen Shipyards Galati | 12 September 2023[9] | Named after the Battle of Hunayn. | |||
| PNS Yamama | F-274 | 19 February 2024[17][18] | Named after the Battle of al-Yamama | ||||
References edit
- ^ "Pakistan's New OPV – PNS Yarmook – Is At NAVDEX 2023". 20 February 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan Navy inducts first Yarmook-class corvette".
- ^ a b "Commissioning ceremony of Offshore Patrol Vessel PNS 'YARMOOK'". damen.com. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Pakistan Navy inducts Damen-built corvette PNS Yarmook". Gulf News. 14 July 2020.
- ^ Fatima Bahtić (13 October 2022). "Damen starts construction on two OPVs for Pakistan Navy". Naval Today.
- ^ a b Tobias Kappelle (19 September 2023). "Damen laat eerste schip van vervolgorder voor Pakistan te water". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ "Damen begins construction of Pakistani Navy's second batch of OPVs". Naval Technology. 14 October 2022.
- ^ a b Fatima Bahtić (14 September 2023). "Damen launches new offshore patrol vessel for Pakistan Navy". Naval Today.
- ^ "Damen launches Pakistan Navy's first OPV 2600 in Romania". Naval News. 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Pak Navy boosts maritime security with launch of PNS Yamama". The Express Tribune. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Commissioning ceremony of Offshore Patrol Vessel PNS 'YARMOOK'". damen.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Ridzwan Rahmat (5 September 2022). "Damen discloses further details of Pakistan's OPV 2600 vessels". Janes.com.
- ^ Tayfun Ozberk (4 March 2024). "Damen showcases OPV 2600 model tailored for the Pakistan Navy". Naval News.
- ^ Sultan Mehmood Hali (21 December 2020). "PNS Tabuk – reliving past history". TheNews.com.pk.
- ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (13 November 2020). "Pakistan Navy Commissions Second Yarmook-class Corvette". Naval News. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Damen launches 4th Yarmook class OPV PNS Yamama for Pakistan". Navy Naval News Navy Recognition. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Pak Navy boosts maritime security with launch of PNS Yamama". The Express Tribune. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.