The Kasturi-class corvettes are two ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy, KD Kasturi and KD Lekir. They were acquired in the mid-1980s. The two ships constitute the Malaysian Navy's 22nd Corvette Squadron, their homeport being Lumut. After about 25 years of service, they underwent an extensive modernisation known as Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) starting in 2009, enabling them to be employed for another 10 to 15 years. They have since been returned to active duty.
The two ships of the class are named after Hang Kasturi and Hang Lekir, two heroic figures from the Malay 15th-century epic narrative Hikayat Hang Tuah. They share this characteristic with the two Lekiu-class frigates, KD Lekiu and KD Jebat, as well as the old frigate-turned-training ship KD Hang Tuah, all of which are named after figures from the epic as well.
The class was ordered in February 1981, and built by the German Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard. Both ships were simultaneously launched on 14 May 1983 and commissioned on 15 August 1984. Two more were planned, but were never ordered.[1] The Kasturi class is based on HDW's FS 1500 design.[1] The two ships constitute the Royal Malaysian Navy's 22nd Corvette Squadron. Their homeport is Lumut at the west coast of the Malayan Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean.[2]
Characteristics
Sensors and electronics
The SLEP modernisation comprised extensive changes to the original configuration of the ships, aimed at both extending their service life as well as improving combat capabilities. The TACTICOS Combat Management System from Thales replaced the older Signaal SEWACO MA command system and the DR3000S Electronic Support Measures suite including the Therma SKWS Decoy Launching System was installed. The DA-08 search radar and the WM22 fire control radar were overhauled, and the Thales MIRADOR electro-optical sensor replaced the Signaal LIOD optronic director. A DSQS-24C hull-mounted sonar from Atlas Elektronik was installed to complement the new torpedo-launch capabilities.[3][4]
Armament
The Kasturi class original armament was heavily altered by the 2009 modernisation as well. The 57 mm Bofors was moved from the aft to the bow, where it replaced the 100 mm gun as the main gun. No new aft gun was installed. The two manually operated Emerlec 30 mm twin-barrel anti-air guns were replaced with 30 mm single-barrel MSI DS30B guns. Anti-submarine capabilities were enhanced by replacing the dated Bofors 375 mmanti-submarine rocket launcher with two EuroTorp B515 triple torpedo launchers equipped with Whitehead A244-S torpedoes.[3]
There are conflicting reports about the Exocet anti-ship missiles. Some sources state that the Kasturi class prior to the SLEP had been equipped with the Exocet MM38, an old variant of the missile, and that the modernisation included an upgrade to the newer and more capable Exocet MM40 Block II variant.[3] Other sources state that the ships had been equipped with MM40 Block II missiles straight from the beginning.[2][5]
Propulsion
The Kasturi class is powered by a CODAD propulsion system, provided by four MTU diesels driving two shafts and developing 23,460 horsepower (17,490 kW) driving two controllable pitch propellers. This gives a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph), and a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[2]
Aircraft
The Kasturi class has a helideck aft suitable for the Malaysian Navy's Super Lynx 300 and Fennec helicopters. Lacking a hangar, it does not carry an embarked helicopter. According to support future mission it will be fitted with hand-launched UAV system as Schiebel has been selected.
Service Life Extension Program (SLEP)
In August 2009, a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was awarded to Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation to overhaul the aging corvettes, with work to be carried out locally at the Boustead Naval Shipyard in Lumut.[6] By this time, KD Kasturi had reportedly not been operational since 2007, and it would eventually take almost seven years for her to resume operational status in early 2014.[3] KD Lekir remained in active duty until the SLEP work on her began in October 2011 and was completed in November 2014.[7] The SLEP is estimated to have extended the corvettes' service life by around 15 years.[3]
Despite the work being incomplete on KD Lekir at that time, both ships participated in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014.[8]
^Friedman, Norman (1997). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998. US Naval Institute. p. 227.
^"Boustead Unit Gets RM 703.823 Million Contract From Defence Ministry". Bernama. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^"KD Lekir Successfully Modernised". Rentaka. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
^. Bernama. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
Bibliography
Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA. ISBN1-55750-111-4.
Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-132-7.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kasturi-class corvettes.
Boustead Naval Shipyard Awarded SLEP Contract
December 28, 2022
kasturi, class, corvette, ships, royal, malaysian, navy, kasturi, lekir, they, were, acquired, 1980s, ships, constitute, malaysian, navy, 22nd, corvette, squadron, their, homeport, being, lumut, after, about, years, service, they, underwent, extensive, moderni. The Kasturi class corvettes are two ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy KD Kasturi and KD Lekir They were acquired in the mid 1980s The two ships constitute the Malaysian Navy s 22nd Corvette Squadron their homeport being Lumut After about 25 years of service they underwent an extensive modernisation known as Service Life Extension Program SLEP starting in 2009 enabling them to be employed for another 10 to 15 years They have since been returned to active duty KD Lekir F26 with USS Bunker HillClass overviewNameKasturi classBuildersHowaldtswerke Deutsche WerftOperators Royal Malaysian NavyPreceded byLaksamana classCompleted2Active2General characteristicsTypeFS 1500 corvetteDisplacement1850 tons full loadLength98 m 322 ft Beam11 5 m 38 ft Draft3 5 m 11 ft Propulsion4 MTU 20V 1163 TB92 diesels 23 460 bhp 17 490 kW 2 shaftsSpeed28 knots 52 km h 32 mph Range5 000 nmi 9 300 km 5 800 mi at 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph Complement124Sensors and processing systemsTACTICOS Combat Management System Thales Link Y Mk 2 5 DA 08 search radar WM 22 fire control radar DSQS 24C sonarElectronic warfare amp decoysDR3000S ESM suite Scimitar jammers SKWS decoysArmamentGuns 1 Bofors 57 mm gun 2 MSI DS30B 30 mm cannon Anti air MANPAD SAM Anti ship 8 Exocet MM40 Block 2 Anti submarine 2 triple Eurotorp B515 with A244 S ASW torpedoesAircraft carried1 x Super Lynx 300Aviation facilitiesHelicopter landing platformThe two ships of the class are named after Hang Kasturi and Hang Lekir two heroic figures from the Malay 15th century epic narrative Hikayat Hang Tuah They share this characteristic with the two Lekiu class frigates KD Lekiu and KD Jebat as well as the old frigate turned training ship KD Hang Tuah all of which are named after figures from the epic as well Contents 1 Development 2 Characteristics 2 1 Sensors and electronics 2 2 Armament 2 3 Propulsion 2 4 Aircraft 3 Service Life Extension Program SLEP 4 Ships of the class 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksDevelopment EditThe class was ordered in February 1981 and built by the German Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft HDW shipyard Both ships were simultaneously launched on 14 May 1983 and commissioned on 15 August 1984 Two more were planned but were never ordered 1 The Kasturi class is based on HDW s FS 1500 design 1 The two ships constitute the Royal Malaysian Navy s 22nd Corvette Squadron Their homeport is Lumut at the west coast of the Malayan Peninsula facing the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean 2 Characteristics EditSensors and electronics Edit The SLEP modernisation comprised extensive changes to the original configuration of the ships aimed at both extending their service life as well as improving combat capabilities The TACTICOS Combat Management System from Thales replaced the older Signaal SEWACO MA command system and the DR3000S Electronic Support Measures suite including the Therma SKWS Decoy Launching System was installed The DA 08 search radar and the WM22 fire control radar were overhauled and the Thales MIRADOR electro optical sensor replaced the Signaal LIOD optronic director A DSQS 24C hull mounted sonar from Atlas Elektronik was installed to complement the new torpedo launch capabilities 3 4 Armament Edit The Kasturi class original armament was heavily altered by the 2009 modernisation as well The 57 mm Bofors was moved from the aft to the bow where it replaced the 100 mm gun as the main gun No new aft gun was installed The two manually operated Emerlec 30 mm twin barrel anti air guns were replaced with 30 mm single barrel MSI DS30B guns Anti submarine capabilities were enhanced by replacing the dated Bofors 375 mm anti submarine rocket launcher with two EuroTorp B515 triple torpedo launchers equipped with Whitehead A244 S torpedoes 3 There are conflicting reports about the Exocet anti ship missiles Some sources state that the Kasturi class prior to the SLEP had been equipped with the Exocet MM38 an old variant of the missile and that the modernisation included an upgrade to the newer and more capable Exocet MM40 Block II variant 3 Other sources state that the ships had been equipped with MM40 Block II missiles straight from the beginning 2 5 Propulsion Edit The Kasturi class is powered by a CODAD propulsion system provided by four MTU diesels driving two shafts and developing 23 460 horsepower 17 490 kW driving two controllable pitch propellers This gives a maximum speed of 28 knots 52 km h 32 mph and a range of 5 000 nautical miles 9 300 km 5 800 mi at 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph 2 Aircraft Edit The Kasturi class has a helideck aft suitable for the Malaysian Navy s Super Lynx 300 and Fennec helicopters Lacking a hangar it does not carry an embarked helicopter According to support future mission it will be fitted with hand launched UAV system as Schiebel has been selected Service Life Extension Program SLEP EditIn August 2009 a Service Life Extension Program SLEP was awarded to Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation to overhaul the aging corvettes with work to be carried out locally at the Boustead Naval Shipyard in Lumut 6 By this time KD Kasturi had reportedly not been operational since 2007 and it would eventually take almost seven years for her to resume operational status in early 2014 3 KD Lekir remained in active duty until the SLEP work on her began in October 2011 and was completed in November 2014 7 The SLEP is estimated to have extended the corvettes service life by around 15 years 3 Despite the work being incomplete on KD Lekir at that time both ships participated in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014 8 Ships of the class EditPennant Name Builders Launched Commissioned Division Squadron NotesF25 KD Kasturi Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft May 1983 August 1984 22nd Corvette Squadron Undergoing refit starting 2021F26 KD Lekir Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft May 1983 August 1984 22nd Corvette SquadronGallery Edit KD Kasturi during SEACAT 2006 KD Lekir and USS Carl Vinson KD Lekir underway in the Strait of Malacca KD Lekir at sea in 2009 KD Lekir and the Lekiu class frigate KD Jebat tied up at Stokes Hill Wharf in July 2005 KD Lekir during the CARAT 2008 exercise See also EditList of naval ship classes in service Almirante Padilla class A Colombian ship class also based on the FS 1500 design References Edit a b Gardiner and Chumbly p 258 a b c Saunders Stephen 2004 Jane s Fighting Ships 2004 2005 Jane s Information Group p 454 a b c d e Back in the Saddle Again Marhalim Abbas malaysiandefence com 17 January 2014 Archived from the original on 16 October 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2015 Boustead Naval Shipyard Awarded SLEP Contract KL Security Review Retrieved 12 January 2015 Friedman Norman 1997 The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems 1997 1998 US Naval Institute p 227 Boustead Unit Gets RM 703 823 Million Contract From Defence Ministry Bernama 12 August 2009 Retrieved 12 January 2015 KD Lekir Successfully Modernised Rentaka 4 November 2014 Retrieved 13 January 2015 Navy Deploys KD Kasturi KD Lekiu In Search For MH370 Bernama 19 March 2014 Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 13 January 2015 Bibliography EditBaker A D The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998 1999 Annapolis Maryland USA ISBN 1 55750 111 4 Gardiner Robert Chumbley Stephen amp Budzbon Przemyslaw 1995 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1947 1995 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 132 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kasturi class corvettes Boustead Naval Shipyard Awarded SLEP Contract Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kasturi class corvette amp oldid 1126558328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
