Iranian corvette Shahid Soleimani
Shahid Soleimani (Persian: شهید سلیمانی) is the lead ship of an Iranian class of missile corvettes with the same name. It was built by the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard and is operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy of Iran.
Shahid Soleimani corvette | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Iran | |
| Name | Shahid Soleimani |
| Namesake | Qasem Soleimani |
| Owner | Iran |
| Operator | Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Builder | Shahid Mahallati Shipyard, Bushehr |
| Commissioned | 5 September 2022 |
| Homeport | Bandar Abbas, Iran |
| Status | In active service |
| Notes | Hull number FS313-01[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Missile corvette |
| Displacement | ~600 tonnes |
| Length | 65.0 m (213 ft 3 in) |
| Beam | 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power | Diesel engine |
| Propulsion | 4 × engines |
| Speed | 32 knots (59 km/h) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) |
| Sensors and processing systems | Radars and latest electronics |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 x helicopter |
| Notes | Ability to carry 3 × Fast attack boats. |
Design Edit
Hull Edit
The ship has a catamaran (twin hull) design with sharp angles to give it a more stealthy design. Its design has been compared to the Chinese Type 22 missile boat and the Taiwanese Tuo Chiang class. According to Iranian officials the ship's hull is made of aluminium instead of steel which decreases the weight and is a new innovation in the Iranian shipbuilding industry.[1]
Armament Edit
This warship is equipped with six anti-ship cruise missiles including four long-range ones (likely Noor or Ghadir) and two short-range anti-ship missiles (likely Nasir) in an order of two long-range and one short-range box launchers on each side behind the superstructure. It is also the first Iranian warship to be equipped with VLS. Its VLS includes 6 bigger cells for surface-to-surface cruise missiles and 16 smaller ones for surface-to-air missiles all of which are located behind the command bridge. The warship Shahid Soleimani is also equipped with four 20 mm gatling guns (likely Asef), one 30 mm auto-canon and two chaff dispensers.[1][2] According to Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, Shahid Soleimani class vessels have been equipped with different missiles with ranges of 200, 300 and 750 kilometers, as well as with a new 2,000-kilometer-range cruise missile named 'Ghadr-474'.[3]
Radars and electronics Edit
Intelligence and reconnaissance monitoring, surface and subsurface and air traffic monitoring are among the duties of this vessel and it is equipped with Iran's most advanced electronics and electronic warfare systems.[1]
Propulsion Edit
Shahid Soleimani is powered by four indigenous diesel engines which gives it a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) and a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi).[1]
Other equipment Edit
The warship also has a helipad and a crane under it which is used to launch and retrieve fast attack boats. The ship can carry three fast attack boats and has the ability to retrieve and rearm them.[1]
History Edit
After the end of construction at the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard[2] on 14 June 2022, it underwent sea trials but at that time instead of four 20 mm gatling guns, it was equipped with four 12.7 mm machine guns which were later replaced. On 5 September 2022, Shahid Soleimani was commissioned into IRGC's navy branch in a commissioning ceremony.[1]
Ships in class Edit
| Ship | Hull No. | Commissioned | Home Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shahid Soleimani | FS313-01 | 2022 | Bandar Abbas |
| Hassan Bagheri | FS313-02 | Undergoing sea trials | TBA |
| Sayyad Shirazi | FS313-03 | Under construction | TBA |
| Ra'is-Ali Delvari | FS313-04 | Under construction | TBA |
See also Edit
References Edit
- ^ a b c d e f g "Military Knowledge: Shahid Soleimani Catamaran Warship". Islamic World News. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ^ a b Sutton, H. I. (2021-03-23). "Mysterious Ship In Iranian Shipyard Is Likely IRGC's New Flagship". Naval News. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ^ a b "IRGC Vessels Armed with New Long-Range Cruise Missile". Tasnim News Agency. 2023-05-13. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "خبرگزاری فارس - فیلم| بدون تعارف با سردار تنگسیری در کنار ناو شهید سلیمانی". خبرگزاری فارس. 2022-09-09. Retrieved 2023-07-01.