Shaldag-class patrol boat

The Shaldag-class patrol boat (Hebrew: שלדג, Kingfisher) is a small but fast class of patrol boats developed for the Israeli Navy and launched in 1989,^[1] it has since seen service with several other navies.

An Argentinian Shaldag-class patrol boat
Class overview
Name	Shaldag
Builders	Israel Shipyards Ltd.
Operators	See Operators
Subclasses	See Subclasses
Built	1989–present
In commission	1989–present
General characteristics
Type	Fast patrol boat
Displacement	72 tons
Length	24.8 m (81 ft 4 in)
Beam	6.0 m (19 ft 8 in)
Draught	1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	2 × MTU 12V 396 TE engines 2 × steerable KaMeWa water jets
Speed	50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) max
Capacity	up to 6 tons
Complement	15
Armament	1 × Typhoon Weapon System with 25 mm (1.0 in) gun 1 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 2 × 0.5-inch general purpose machine guns Depth charges

It is designed for security tasks where high intercept speeds are required, such as interdiction of terrorism and illegal smuggling. Its salient features are high speed in rough seas, with good seakeeping and outstanding manoeuvrability, exceptionally low slamming in all sea states, dry decks at all speeds and very spacious and accessible internal arrangement.

History

The Shaldag class was conceptualized by Israel Shipyards in response to request from the Israeli Navy for a fast patrol boat to protect Israeli waters from terrorist threats.^[2]

Design and construction

 

Shaldag-class fast patrol boat of the Israeli Navy in the Mediterranean Sea

The hull, deck and deckhouse are of welded marine aluminium alloy, with transverse frames and longitudinals. Integral double bottom tanks contain fuel with an additional gravity fuel tank at the center. The hull is divided into six watertight compartments which meet strict international flooded damage stability criteria.

Armament

The vessels are armed with a Typhoon Weapon Station, mounting a Bushmaster M242 and electro-optics systems.^[3] They are equipped with foredeck and aftdeck rings for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and a single gun mount. There are mounts for 0.5-inch machine guns on both sides of the main deck. The boat is able to accommodate most advanced new weapon systems, such as the rapid-fire stabilized gun mount, remotely controlled by a night vision system.

The Shaldag Mark II variants are equipped with Spike ER surface to surface missiles.^[4]

Operators

Military operators

•   Equatorial Guinea: Operated by Equatorial Guinean Navy.^[5]
•   Israel: Operated by Israeli Navy.^[6]
•   Nigeria: Operated by the Nigerian Navy.^[7]
•   Philippines: Operated by the Philippine Navy.^[8] Known locally as the Nestor Acero-class Fast Attack Interdiction Crafts.^[9]
•   Senegal: Purchased for the Senegalese Navy.^[10]
•   Sri Lanka: 7 used by the Sri Lankan Navy.^[11]

Law enforcement agencies

•   Argentina: Used by Argentine Naval Prefecture.^[12] 4 Shaldag Mk IIs.^[6]
•   Azerbaijan: Purchased for the State Border Service (Azerbaijan).^[13]
•   Cyprus: Used by Cyprus Port and Marine Police.^[14]
•   Romania: Three Shaldag Mk IVs with Romanian Border Police.^[6]

Potential civilian operators

•   Philippines: The Philippine Coast Guard has considered the use of the Shaldag Mk II.^[15]

Subclasses

•  
  Shaldag Mk I
•  
  Shaldag Mk II
•  
  Shaldag Mk III
•  
  Shaldag Mk IV
•  
  Shaldag Mk V

References

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shaldag-class patrol boat.

1. "Israel to purchase four Shaldag fast-class patrol boats". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
2. Legien, Wolfgang (2011). "Shaldag Fast Patrol Craft" (PDF). Naval Forces IV. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
3. indomiliter (2021-05-15). "AL Filipina Akuisisi Delapan Unit Kapal Cepat Rudal Shaldag MKV Class". Indomiliter.com. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
4. . www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
5. . Jane's Naval Construction and Retrofit Markets. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
6. "Shipyard's Deliveries". Israel Shipyards Ltd. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
7. "Nigeria: Govt-Israel in U.S.$25 Million Arms Deal". AllAfrica. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
8. Nepomuceno, Priam (14 May 2021). "Missile boats to boost PH Navy's capability to defend key waters". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
9. "Philippine Navy commissions two Israeli made Nestor Acero class fast assault interdiction craft". Naval Recognition. 28 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
10. "Senegalese Shaldag patrol boat scheduled for delivery soon". 4 May 2020.
11. "Israel Shipyards Shaldag-class FPB family at Euronaval 2018".
12. Piñeiro, Luis (22 May 2018). "Argentina recibe las primeras lanchas rápidas de intervención Shaldag". defensa.com. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
13. "Azerbaijan Buying Coast Guard Vessels From Israel | Eurasianet".
14. Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2.
15. "IMDEX 2019: Philippine Coast Guard in talks with Israel Shipyards for Shaldag Mk II".