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The Ultra Fast Attack Craft, commonly known as the UFAC[2] or Colombo class, is a Sri Lankan ultra high-speed class of patrol boats meant for a variety of naval missions from off-shore coastal patrol missions to high-speed, high-maneuver littoral warfare. They are based on the Shaldag boats made by Israel.[2]
 Maldivian Coast Guard Colombo-class coastal surveillance vessel
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Colombo class |
| Builders | Colombo Dockyard Limited |
| Operators | See Operators |
| Subclasses | See Subclasses |
| Cost | USD$2.95 million (Series III)[1] |
| In commission | 1996 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ultra fast attack craft |
| Displacement | 52 long tons (53 t) (Series I and II) 56 long tons (57 t) (Series III) |
| Length | 24.3 m (79 ft 9 in) (Series I and II) 24 m (78 ft 9 in) (Series III) |
| Beam | 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) |
| Draught | 3 m (9 ft 10 in) (Series I and II) 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) (Series III) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) (Series I and II) and 53 knots (98 km/h; 61 mph) (Series III) |
| Range | 500–600 nmi (930–1,110 km; 580–690 mi) |
| Complement | 10–12 |
| Armament | 1 x Typhoon stabilized system with M242 Bushmaster/Oerlikon 20 mm cannon & additional armaments |
Built by Colombo Dockyard Limited for the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN),[1] they became the workhorse of the SLN against Sea tiger boats of the LTTE.
History
editOn December 27, 2007, one UFAC Series II was destroyed and another damaged during an encounter between Sri Lankan Navy and Sea Tiger patrol boats between Delft Island and Mannar.[3]
On March 22, 2008, a UFAC was taken out via Sea Tiger suicide attack at the waters off Nayaru and the Kokilai lagoon south of Mulaithivu District.[4]
Subclasses
editSeries I
editThe boats of the Series I are 24 m (78 ft 9 in) long with a monohull with a vibration-free deck, powered by twin MTU main engines developing 1,630 kW (2,190 hp) each, driving Kamewa water jets.[5] This enables the boat to reach speeds of 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) and have an endurance of 500 nautical miles (930 km; 580 mi). They have a crew of 10.[5]
Around 12 were delivered to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN).[1]
Series II
editSeries II the successor to the earlier type. Main upgrades include the increase of accommodation for a crew of 12 and major improvements the superstructure.[5]
Like the Series I, around 12 were delivered to the SLN.[1]
Series III
editThe Series III is the recent addition to the class and has incorporated current combat requirements and experience in the battlefield archived by the SLN. This new type can achieve speeds in excess of 53 knots (98 km/h; 61 mph), the fastest of its class in the region while housing up to 12 persons in a crew.[5] Series III was designed by the Colombo Dockyard to the Israeli Shaldag Mk II design. First launch of Series III held on 27 July 1996 and it went beyond the abilities of Shaldag Mk II design by exceeding it from the speed, range and payload.[5]
The propulsion system consists of two MTU 12V 396 TE94 (1,630 kW; 2,190 hp each) diesel engines driving two articulated surface drives, which were initially designed for competitive speedboats. Arneson Surface Drive-16 articulating propulsion systems drives provide the vessel with thrust vectoring control similar to the Super Dvora Mk III and Shaldag Mk II.[5]
Their thrust-vectoring propulsion system allows Series III to function in shallow waters at draughts of 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) facilitating special operations forces delivery on enemy shores and catastrophe relief missions.
36 Series III UFACs were known to be built for the SLN.[1]
Coastal surveillance vessel
editThe two coastal surveillance vessels built for the Maldivian Coast Guard are very similar to the Series III Ultra Fast Attack Craft. They have more range but at a lower speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and no armament.[6]
Armament
editCurrently all Colombo-class boats have been designed to allow for the installation of Typhoon 25-30 mm stabilized cannon which can be slaved to state-of the art mast-mounted, day and night all weather long range electro-optic systems.[7]
In addition to their main armament, they carry additional weapon systems such as 20 mm Oerlikon rear autocannons, automatic grenade launchers, 7.62 mm GPMGs and 12.7 mm HMGs.
Series III gun boats comes with Elop MSIS optronic director and Typhoon GFCS as its own weapons control system. Also these crafts use surface search: Furano FR 8250 or Corden Mk 2; I-band as its radar.
As of 2006, the main armament has been upgraded with the addition of M242 Bushmaster 25 mm (25x137mm) chain-fed autocannons.[8]
Operators
edit
Maldives- Maldivian Coast Guard – Coastal surveillance vessels[9][10] under the National Security Service.[6]
Sri Lanka- Sri Lanka Navy – Ultra Fast Attack Crafts.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Shamindra Ferdinando. "Navy obtains Ultra Fast Attack Craft from Dockyard Ltd". island.lk. Archived from the original on 19 November 2003. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Sri Lanka Military Industry". Global Security. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Inside Story of Latest Sea Confrontation (Update)". Sri Lanka Guardian. 27 December 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "One UFAC destroyed, 10 sailors MIA". Sri Lanka Guardian. 22 March 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Colombo Dockyard Limited – Ultra Fast Attack Boats and Logistic and Surveillance Craft". naval-technology.com. SPG Media Group PLC. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Coastal Surveillance Vessel" (PDF). www.cdl.lk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "The Sunday Leader Online - Issues". Archived from the original on 26 August 2017.
- ^ "News Features". Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Shipbuilding - Ship repairs - Heavy engineering" (PDF). uqp.no. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Feasibility Report - Ship / Boat Building, Nautical Tourism, Marina Development" (PDF). www.srilankabusiness.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.