Nasser (Persian: ناصر, lit.'helper') is a class of auxiliary ships built by Iranian shipyard Arvandan and operated by the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1]

Nasser-class ship
Class overview
BuildersArvandan Shipbuilding Co.
OperatorsNavy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
General characteristics
TypeAuxiliary ship
Displacement35 tons of supplies
Length33 m (108 ft 3 in)
Beam8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Installed powerDiesel
Propulsion
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × shafts
Speed27 knots (50 km/h)
Complement86 troops
Armament1 × 12.7mm machine gun

Type

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Arvandan Shipbuilding Co., the manufacturer of these vessels, is a civilian shipyard that specializes in light passenger ferries.[1] According to Jane's Fighting Ships, the ships in the class are yard auxiliary general (YAG),[2] while the International Institute for Strategic Studies classifies them as transport ship (AP).[3] The U.S. Navy has variously described the class as "auxiliary patrol vessel" or "light personnel transport".[1]

Design

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Dimensions and machinery

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The class design is 33 m (108 ft) long, would have a beam of 8 m (26 ft) and a draft of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).[2] It uses two shafts coupled with two diesel engines that provide power for a top speed of 27 knots (50 km/h).[2] Nasser vessels can carry 86 troops or 35 tons of supplies.[2]

Armament

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Joseph Trevithick, a fellow at GlobalSecurity.org, says the vessels seem "lightly armed", adding that it "did not necessarily mean it might not have been threatening".[1] Trevithick also opines that they could be used as minelayers.[1] The 2015 edition of Jane's mentions that the ships are equipped with one 12.7mm machine gun, as well as unknown electro-optic systems.[2]

Ships in the class

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Known ships of the class include:

Name Hull № Code letters Commissioned Status
Un­known 111 Un­known Un­known In service
Un­known 112 Un­known Un­known In service
Un­known 113 Un­known March 2011[2] In service
Un­known 114 Un­known Un­known In service
Un­known 115 Un­known Un­known In service
Shahid Nasserinejad 116      Un­known In service
Shahid Basir TBD TBD TBD Under construction

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Trevithick, Joseph (25 July 2017), "For the U.S. Navy, Iranian Harassment Is Risky Business As Usual", The Drive, retrieved 25 August 2020
  2. ^ a b c d e f Saunders, Stephen; Philpott, Tom, eds. (2015), "Iran", IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016, Jane's Fighting Ships (116th Revised ed.), Coulsdon: IHS Jane's, p. 395, ISBN 9780710631435, OCLC 919022075
  3. ^ The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) (2020). "Middle East and North Africa". The Military Balance 2020. Vol. 120. Routledge. p. 350. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707968. ISBN 9780367466398. S2CID 219624897.