KD Laksamana Hang Nadim (F134)

KD Laksamana Hang Nadim (F134) is the lead ship of Laksamana-class corvette currently in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. She are currently serving in the 24th corvette Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy. She is based on the Fincantieri Type 550 corvette design.[2][3]

KD Laksamana Hang Nadim (F134)
History
Iraq
NameKhalid Ibn Al Walid
NamesakeKhalid ibn al-Walid
OrderedFebruary 1981
BuilderFincantieri, Mestre
Laid down3 June 1982
Launched5 July 1983
Completed1987
IdentificationPennant number: F216
FateNever delivered to Iraq due to sanctions, later sold to Malaysia 1995
Malaysia
NameKD Laksamana Hang Nadim
NamesakeHang Nadim
Acquired26 October 1995
Commissioned28 July 1997
IdentificationPennant number: F134
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class and typeLaksamana-class corvette
Displacement675 long tons (686 t) full load
Length62.3 m (204 ft 5 in)
Beam9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
Draught2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
  • 4 MTU 20V 956 TB 92 diesels
  • 4 shafts developing
  • 20,400 bhp (15,200 kW)
Speed36 knots (67 km/h)
Range2,300 nautical miles (4,300 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement56
Sensors and
processing systems
  • RAN-12 air/surface search radar
  • RTN-10X fire control radar
  • Kelvin Hughes 1007 navigation radar
  • Diodon hull sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Gamma suite
  • SCLAR chaff
Armament
NotesThe missile might be removed due to being obsolete[1]

Development

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The Laksamana-class corvettes of the Royal Malaysian Navy are modified Assad-class corvettes built by Fincantieri, Italy. They were originally ordered by Iraqi Navy in February 1981.[4] The corvettes were never delivered to Iraq and instead refitted and sold to Malaysia in mid 1990s.[5]

Service history

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Laksamana Hang Nadim were originally ordered by the Iraqi Navy as Khalid Ibn Al Walid (F216). Her keel was laid down on 3 June 1982, launched on 5 July 1983 and she was completed in 1987.[4] Upon her completion, Khalid Ibn Al Walid was laid up at Muggiano due to trade embargo during Iran–Iraq War that prevented her from being delivered to Iraq.[4] She was finally released for delivery in 1990, but as Iraq was again embargoed following its invasion of Kuwait, the ship was kept laid up by Fincantieri. It was proposed that she would be requisitioned by Italian Navy or sold to either Morocco or Colombia.[6]

Royal Malaysian Navy signed a contract with Fincantieri for Khalid Ibn Al Walid and her sister Saad Ibn Abi Wakkad on 26 October 1995. She and her sister were refitted at Muggiano and later arrived in Malaysia in September 1997.[5] The ship was commissioned as KD Laksamana Hang Nadim on 28 July 1997.[5] After served for a long time in Royal Malaysian Navy, it was confirmed that she and other sister ships will be upgrade to extend their service life.[7]

Citations

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  1. ^ "Malaysian Defence - Back To Future II".
  2. ^ "RMN Official Page-Laksamana Class".
  3. ^ "Laksamana Class Missile Corvette - Naval Technology". www.naval-technology.com.
  4. ^ a b c Sharpe 1989, p. 282
  5. ^ a b c Saunders 2009, p. 497
  6. ^ Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 188-189
  7. ^ "Back in The Saddle Again".

References

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  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781557501325.
  • Sharpe, Capt. Richard (1989). Jane's Fighting Ships 1989-90. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710608864.
  • Saunders, Stephen (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.