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Nasr al Bahr is an amphibious warfare vessel operated by the Royal Navy of Oman. The ship was larger than the preceding amphibious warfare vessel Al Munassir with greater capability including the capacity to carry up to 650 t (640 long tons; 720 short tons) of cargo, up to seven main battle tanks or 240 troops. The vessel is fitted with a large bow ramp that allows for vehicles to be disembarked at steep angles. Armament includes two twin 40 mm (1.6 in) guns that fired shells designed to combat anti-ship missiless. Launched in 1985, the ship was upgraded, including adding a traditional funnel in 1992, but an attempt at a more significant update of systems in 1995 failed. The vessel has participated in exercisess with the navies of other nations and provided humanitarian aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Nasr al Bahr, in the foreground, operating with HMS Monmouth in 2011
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Oman | |
| Name | Nasr al Bahr |
| Ordered | 18 March 1982 |
| Builder | Brooke Marine, Lowestoft |
| Laid down | May 1982 |
| Launched | 16 May 1984 |
| Commissioned | 13 February 1985 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Brooke Marine 93 m amphibious warfare ship |
| Displacement | 2,500 t (2,500 long tons) (full) |
| Length | 93 m (305 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in) |
| Draft | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power | 7,800 bhp (5,800 kW) |
| Propulsion | Two Paxman Valenta diesel engines, two shafts |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Range | 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 13 knots (24 km/h) |
| Complement | 84 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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| Aviation facilities | Facilities for 1 helicopter up to a Westland Sea King |
Design and development
editNasr al Bahr was ordered from Brooke Marine by the government of Oman as a complement to the smaller Al Munassir that was already in service.[1] The design was similar to the Kalaat Beni Hammed class ordered by the Algerian National Navy and the ships are considered to be of the same class, although they differ in details like their powerplant and sensors.[2] Both are collectively known as Brooke Marine 93 m amphibious warfare ships.[3]
Nasr al Bahr displaces 2,500 metric tons (2,500 long tons) and has an overall length of 93 m (305 ft 1 in) and 80 m (262 ft 6 in) between perpendiculars The ship's beam is 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in) and mean draught is 2.3 m (7.5 ft). The ship's complement consists of 13 officers, 16 chief petty officers and 52 other enlisted ranks.[4] The vessel is powered by two Paxman Valenta 18RP200CM diesel engines which dive two constant pitch propellers. They are rated at a combined power of 7,800 bhp (5,800 kW). In service, the ship is rated at 15.5 knots (29 km/h; 18 mph) and has sufficient fuel to cruise for 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 13 kilotonnes (13,000 long tons; 14,000 short tons). The ship has an endurance of 28 days, although this is reduced to 10 days when carrying troops.[5] When the vessel entered service, there were problems with the exhaust system, which was split with some gases being ejected underwater. A solution was found in 1992 with the introduction of a traditional funnel.[6] The ship is fitted with three diesel auxiliary engines with a combined output of 180 kW (240 hp).[7]
The vessel was designed to transport up to 380 t (370 long tons; 420 short tons) of cargo or seven main battle tanks, plus a number of landing craft.[3] This was later extended to a maximum load that could be landed of 450 t (440 long tons; 500 short tons), increasing to 650 t (640 long tons; 720 short tons) for a cargo that that was solely to be transported and did not need to be beached. In terms of personnel, the ship can carry a landing force that included 13 officers, 16 non-commissioned officers and 211 other enlisted ranks. The vehicle deck measures 76 m (249 ft) by 7.4 m (24 ft) and is equipped with a cargo hatch that measured 30 m (98 ft) by 7 m (23 ft). Vehicles and personnel can disembark from a bow ramp that was 18 m (59 ft) long and 4.5 m (15 ft) wide. A stern ramp is also fitted that measured 5 m (16 ft) in length and 4 m (13 ft) in width. The tanks can be disembarked onto land on a gradient that can be up to 1:40. Fitted forward is a crane capable of lifting 16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons) that can move around to enable the cargo deck to be unloaded. Two Sea Truck landing craft are carried.[8]
Armament and sensors
editEquipped with a gun-only armament, Nasr al Bahr carries two twin Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in) L/70 guns in Breda DARDO mounts and two single Oerlikon 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons in GAM B01 mounts.[5] The former weapon, also known as the Compact Forty, fired High Explosive (HE) shells at a rate of 600 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 1,025 m (3,363 ft) per second. They can also fire Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds at a muzzle velocity of 1,350 m (4,430 ft) per second; these shells are designed to destroy incoming anti-ship missiless.[9] The Oerlikon cannons are very similar to weapons used in the Second World War and fire rounds at 1000 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 1,050 m (3,440 ft) per second.[10] The vessel is also equipped with a helipad aft that could accommodate a helicopter up to the size of a Westland Sea King.[2]
For sensors, the ship is fitted with a Decca TM 1226 sea search and navigational radar and a Decca 1290 navigational radar.[3] Originally a single CSEE Lynx electro-optical fire control system was fitted.[11] This was later complemented with a Erricson 9LV 200 fire control radar.[5] A Decca Radar Detecting and Locating system, RDL-2, is included to provide electronic support measures (ESM).[12] A single Kelvin Hughes MS 45 echo sounder is fitted.[3] The ship is equipped with two Wallop Barricade decoy launchers.[4] Each fired 57 mm (2.2 in) chaff and flare rockets.[13] Oman had been the launch customer for the Barricade.[14]
Construction and career
editOrdered on 18 March 1982, Nasr al Bahr was laid down by Brooke Marine at their shipyard in Lowestoft in May. She was launched on 16 May 1984 and commissioned into service on 13 February 1985.[5] The ship carried the pendant number L.2.[15] Given the small nature of the Royal Omani Navy, officially known as the Sultan of Oman's Navy until June 1990, the ship has been involved in a range of activities in addition to amphibious assault.[16] One of her major roles is supplying Oman's strategically important islands, such as Masirah Island.[17]
Key to this is providing Oman's strategically important islands, including Masirah Island, with logistical support. The warship also undertakes joint operations with ships of other navies. Between 15 November and 8 December 1986, the warship participated in Exercise Saif Sareea, a large military exercise between the United Kingdom and Oman.[18] The vessel undertook a cruise across the Indian Ocean to demonstrate the capability of the Omani Navy to other countries, such as her 1990 visit to Goa, India.[19]
An attempt to upgrade the ship's systems in 1995 failed although the aft Oerlikon mount was removed in 1996 to improve stability.[6] On resuming active service, the ship spent more time in dock than at sea. Nonetheless, a study in 2005 found, during the year, Nasr al Bahr was at sea for 52 days, which compared very favourably with the rest of the fleet, which ranged from 23 to 75 days at sea during the period, excluding two outliers.[20] The vessel took part in Exercise Khanjar Haad in 10 May 2011. This exercise involved ships of the Royal Omani Navy working with the navies of other countries, including the Royal Navy, French Navy and US Navy.[21] In January 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship provided humanitarian aid, including carrying fuel and other supplies, to Khasab in the Musandam Governorate. Fuel was loaded onto tankers that were carried in the ship's hold.[22]
Citations
edit- ^ Sharpe 1994, p. 471.
- ^ a b Cowin 1986, p. 169.
- ^ a b c d Cowin 1987, p. 180.
- ^ a b Couhat 1986, p. 429.
- ^ a b c d Wertheim 2005, p. 526.
- ^ a b Sobanski 2004, p. 53.
- ^ Abdul-Whahab 2010, p. 165.
- ^ Couhat 1986, p. 430.
- ^ Friedman 1997, p. 438.
- ^ Friedman 1997, p. 456.
- ^ Friedman 1997, p. 291.
- ^ Friedman 1997, p. 531.
- ^ Friedman 1997, p. 534.
- ^ Friedman 1997, p. 535.
- ^ Śmigielski 1995, p. 297.
- ^ Ehlers 1993, p. 59.
- ^ Sobanski 2004, p. 49.
- ^ Fursdon 1987, p. 45.
- ^ Hiranandani 2005, p. 42.
- ^ Abdul-Whahab 2010, p. 166.
- ^ Stenberg, Kevin. "U.S., Oman, France and U.K. Commence Exercise Khunjar Haad". U.S. Central Command. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Omani Navy Extends Lifeline To Musandam Governorate". Unipath. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Abdul-Whahab, Sabah A. (2010). "Maritime Oil Transport and Pollution Prevention". In Kutz, Myer; Elkamel, Ali (eds.). Environmentally Conscious Fossil Energy Production. Hoboken NJ: Wiley. pp. 143–172. doi:10.1002/9780470432747.ch4. ISBN 978-0-47023-301-6.
- Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-85368-860-0.
- Cowin, Hugh W. (1986). Conway's Directory of Modern Naval Power 1986. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 978-0-85177-362-9.
- Cowin, Hugh W. (1987). Warships. London: Frederick Warne. ISBN 978-0-72321-694-0.
- Ehlers, Hartmut (1993). "The Royal Navy of Oman". Warship International. 30 (1): 59–71.
- Friedman, Norman (1997). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998. Annapolis MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-268-1.
- Fursdon, Edward (January 1987). "Exercise Saif Sareea". The Army Quarterly and Defence Journal. 117 (1): 44–47.
- Hiranandani, Gulab Mohanlal (2005). Transition to Eminence: History of the Indian Navy, 1976–1990. New Delhi: Lancer Publishers. ISBN 978-8-17062-266-6.
- Sharpe, Richard (1994). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1994–95. Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-71061-161-1.
- Śmigielski, Adam (1995). "Oman". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 296–299. ISBN 978-1-55750-132-5.
- Sobanski, Maciej S. (2004). "Marynarka Wojenna Omanu" [Omani Navy]. Okręty Wojenne. 67 (5): 48–54.
- Wertheim, Eric (2005). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, 2005–2006: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems. Annapolis MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-934-7.