IRIS Shamshir (Persian: شمشیر, lit.'Sword') is a Kaman-class fast attack craft in the Southern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.

Shamshir (front) with Jamaran (back)
History
IranIran
NameShamshir
NamesakeShamshir
OperatorIslamic Republic of Iran Navy
Ordered14 October 1974
BuilderConstructions de Mécaniques, Cherbourg
Laid down15 May 1976
Launched12 September 1977
Commissioned31 March 1978
Refit2014
StatusIn service
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeKaman-class fast attack craft
Displacement
  • 249 tons standard
  • 275 tons full load
Length47 m (154 ft 2 in)
Beam7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)
Draft1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Installed power4 × MTU 16V538 TB91 diesels, 14,400 brake horsepower (10.7 MW)
Propulsion4 × shafts
Speed36 knots (67 km/h)
Range2,000 miles (3,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h); 700 miles (1,100 km) at 33.7 knots (62.4 km/h)
Complement30
Armament
NotesAs reported by Jane's (1979)[1]

Construction and commissioning

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Shamshir was built by French Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie at Cherbourg, as one of the second six contracted on 14 October 1974.[2] Her keel was laid down on 15 May 1976 and on 12 September 1977, she was launched.[2] Together with Falakhon and Paykan, she was commissioned into the fleet on 31 March 1978.[2]

Service history

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During Iran-Iraq War, her home port was Bushehr Naval Base.[3]

Her refit was completed in c. 2014 and Iranian chief of naval operations was quoted as saying, "Shamshir missile-launcher warship is capable of firing different mid-range and long-range surface-to-surface missiles, including Nour and Qader, or any other type of missile after its recent overhaul... The warship also has a double-purpose surface-to-surface and surface-to-air artillery which has been built by Iranian industries and the defense ministry and was tested successfully in the drills".[4] He also added that she is equipped with domestically built radars and new weapons systems, including 76mm caliber cannons.[4]

Starting on 9 April 2014, Shamshir departed home for a six-day search and rescue joint drill with Pakistan Navy and Royal Navy of Oman vessels.[5] Other Iranian vessels in this drill were Alvand, Bushehr and Atashbar, the latter of Revolutionary Guard Corps.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 256. ISBN 0-354-00587-1.
  2. ^ a b c Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysaw, eds. (1996), "Iran", Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995, Conway Maritime Press, pp. 183–188, ISBN 978-1557501325
  3. ^ Razoux, Pierre (2015). The Iran-Iraq War. Harvard University Press. Appendix D, Table D6, p. 528. ISBN 978-0-674-91571-8.
  4. ^ a b "Iran's Overhauled Warship Proves Successful in Joint Drills with Oman", Fars News Agency, 9 April 2014, retrieved 5 August 2020
  5. ^ a b Nadimi, Farzin (April 2020), "Iran's Evolving Approach to Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Strategy and Capabilities in the Persian Gulf" (PDF), The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (Policy Focus), no. 164, Appendix E: IRIN's Long-range Task Forces And Naval Visits Abroad, pp. 64–74, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2020, retrieved 15 July 2020