La Combattante IIa class fast attack craft

Fast Attack Craft Missile Class La Combattante IIa were originally built for the German Navy as Type 148 Tiger class fast attack craft. They were later transferred to Hellenic Navy and the class was renamed Combattante IIa, as with similar French made ships. All the ships were under mid-life updates in 1980s. P-74 and P-75 were fitted with RGM-84 Harpoons and a new ESM was fitted after transfer.

A version called the "Beir Grassa" class of which 10 were built and 8 were operational as of 1995. They were used by the Libyan Navy

Iran received 12 ships of the same class (known in Iran as Kaman class) between 1977 and 1981. The Iranian guided missile gunboat Paykan was sunk during Operation Morvarid in 1980, while the guided missile gunboat Joshan was sunk during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988, these ship must not be confused with the new Joshan and Paykan which were named in their memories. Iran has built Joshan, Paykan, Derafsh and Kalat which are (heavily upgraded) Iranian-built versions of this class which Iran calls Sina class.

Ship list

Combattante IIa class

Kaman/Sina class

Specifications

• Displacement, tons:234 , 265 full load
• Length (m): 47
• Beam (m): 8
• Draught (m): 2.1
• Speed (knots): 36
• Structure: Steel hull
• Propulsion: 4 MTU MD 16V 538 TB90 diesels; 12,000 hp(m) (8.82 MW) sustained; 4 shafts
• Range, miles:570 at 30 kt; 1,600 at 15 kt
• Crew: 30 (4 officers)
• Missiles: SSM: 4 Aerospatiale MM 38 Exocet (2 twin) launchers (P 72-73); inertial cruise; active radar homing to 42 km (23 n miles) at 0.9 Mach; warhead 165 kg; sea-skimmer.

4 McDonnell Douglas Harpoon (2 twin) launchers (P 74-75); active radar homing to 130 km (70 n miles) at 0.9 Mach; warhead 227 kg.

• Guns:
  • One OTO Melara 3 in (76 mm)/62 compact; 85 rds/min to 16 km (8.6 n miles) anti-surface; 12 km (6.5 n miles) anti-aircraft; weight of shell 6 kg.
  • One Bofors 40 mm/70; 330 rds/min to 12 km (6.5 n miles) anti-surface; 4 km (2.2 n miles) anti-aircraft; weight of shell 0.96 kg; fitted with GRP dome (1984).
• Mines: Laying capability
• Countermeasures: Decoys: Wolke chaff launchers
• ESM: Thomson-CSF DR 2000S; intercept.
• Combat data systems: PALIS and Link 11.
• Weapons control:CSEE Panda optical director. Thomson-CSF Vega PCET system, controlling missiles and guns.
• Radars:
  • Air/surface search: Thomson-CSF Triton; G-band; range 33 km (18 n miles) for 2 m2 target.
  • Navigation: SMA 3 RM 20; I-band.
  • Fire control: Thomson-CSF Castor; I/J-band.

External links

• http://www.ellinikos-stratos.com/eksoplismoi/tpk4.asp
• http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/