Barzan-class fast attack craft

The Barzan class is a class of 4 British-designed fast attack missile boats for the Qatari Emiri Navy, also known as Super Vita.[1]

006 Al Udeid fitting out at VTS Woolston
Class overview
NameBarzan, Super Vita
BuildersVosper Thornycroft
Operators Qatari Emiri Navy
Preceded byLa Comabattante III
In commission1996 - present day
Planned4
Completed4
Active4
General characteristics
TypeFACM
Displacement
  • Standard: 380 t (370 long tons; 420 short tons)
  • Full load: 530 t (520 long tons; 580 short tons)
Length62 m (203 ft)
Beam9.5 m (31 ft)
Draught2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Installed power4 × MTU 16V595 TE90 diesel engines 17,500 kW (23,500 hp)
Propulsion4 propellers
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range1,800 miles (2,900 km) @ 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement35
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Thales MW08 3D G-band surveillance radar
  • Thales Mirador electro-optical target tracker
  • Thales Scout MkII low probability of intercept radar
  • Sperry Marine Bridgemaster-E navigation radar
  • Tacticos combat management system
  • Aeromaritime IFF Mk12
  • ICS 2000 integrated communications system
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • DR 3000 ESM system
  • Argo AR 900 ESM system
  • 1 SRBOC decoy launcher
Armament

History

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The Barzan class was ordered by the Qatari Emiri Navy in 1992. Vosper Thornycroft was chosen to build the 4 ships of the class. The 4 ship’s names are QENS Barzan, QENS Huwar, QENS Al Udied and QENS Al Deebeel.

Barzan and Huwar were the first batch to arrive in Qatar in 1996 while Al Udied and Al Deebel arrived as the second batch in 1998.[2]

Design

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The craft are developments of the VT 56m patrol boats delivered to the Kenyan and Omani navies. The hull is made of steel and the superstructure is made of aluminium, while Vosper Thornycroft, now BAE Systems Surface Ships, provided the electricity transmission system, the management board, electrical equipment and countermeasure systems.[3]

Ships

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Pennant number Name Builder Commissioned Status
004 Barzan برزان Vosper Thornycroft 1996 Active
005 Huwar حوار 1996 Active
006 Al Udied العديد 1998 Active
007 Al Deebeel الدبل 1998 Active

References

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  1. ^ "Barzan (Vita) Class Fast Strike Craft". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  2. ^ "BARZAN (VITA) CLASS". defencejournal.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  3. ^ "United Kingdom to provide 8 Barzan-class fast attack craft to Ukraine". www.navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2020-09-25.