The Shahid Soleimani class (Persian: شهید سلیمانی, romanized: Shahid soleimani, lit: martyr Suleimani) are the principal surface combatant ship of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy of Iran. These are an Iranian class of missile corvettes and bear the name of Qasem Soleimani, a prominent Iranian military officer, who was the commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force from 1998, until he was assassinated on 3 January 2020 by the United States in Baghdad,Iraq alongside Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. These ships are being built by various shipyards in Bushehr, Qeshm and Bandar Abbas and are operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy of Iran.
.jpg) The lead ship, Shahid Soleimani, in 2022
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Shahid Mahallati Shipyard, Bushehr |
| Operators | IRGC-Navy |
| Built | 2022–present |
| In commission | 2022–present |
| Planned | +4 |
| Building | 1 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Active | 3 |
| 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 × helicopter |
| Notes | Ability to carry 3 × fast attack boats |
Design
editHull
editThese ships are known for their unique catamaran (twin hull) design with sharp angles to give it a more stealthy design. The design has been compared to the Chinese Type 22 missile boat and the Taiwanese Tuo Chiang class. According to Iranian officials, these warship's have hulls that are made of aluminum instead of the regular steel which decreases their weight. The use of aluminum is an innovation in the Iranian shipbuilding industry, adopted in past few years.[1]
Armament
editThese warships are 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. These warships are the first Iranian warship to be equipped with a vertical launching system (VLS). The VLS armament component includes six 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 lead warship, Shahid Soleimani, is equipped with six 23 mm gatling guns (likely Asef), one 30 mm auto-canon and two chaff dispensers. These are also incorporated in other warships of the class. [1][2] According to Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, Shahid Soleimani-class vessels have been equipped with different types of missiles with varied ranges of 200, 300 and 750 kilometers respectively, as well as with a new 2,000-kilometer-range cruise missile named Ghadr-474, to boost their firepower.[3] Tangsiri later said that Sayyad Shirazi and Hassan Baqeri, the other two warships of the class currently in service have been equipped with 16 Navvab vertically-launched missiles and 6 Sayyad-3 missiles.[4]
Radars and electronics
editIntelligence and reconnaissance monitoring, surface and subsurface and air traffic monitoring are among the duties of these vessels and are equipped with Iran's most advanced electronic warfare systems.[1] The main fire-control radars of the built ships are yet to be installed.
Propulsion
editThe Shahid Soleimani class of warship are all powered by four indigenously developed diesel engines which gives 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
editThe warship also have aviation facilities, a helipad, and a crane under it which is used to launch and retrieve fast attack boats. The ships can carry three fast attack boats and have the ability to retrieve and rearm them.[1]
History
editAfter the end of construction at the Shahid Mahallati Shipyard[2] on 14 June 2022, the lead ship IRIS Shahid Soleimani, underwent rigorous sea trials. During sea trials the lead ship was equipped with four 12.7 mm machine guns which were later replaced with four 20 mm gatling guns. 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 | 2024 | Bushehr |
| Sayyad Shirazi | FS313-03 | 2024 | Bandar Abbas |
| Ra'is-Ali Delvari | FS313-04 | Under construction | TBA |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "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.
- ^ "New Warships Armed with Various Missiles: IRGC General". Tasnim News Agency. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
- ^ "خبرگزاری فارس - فیلم| بدون تعارف با سردار تنگسیری در کنار ناو شهید سلیمانی". خبرگزاری فارس. 2022-09-09. Retrieved 2023-07-01.