RTOP-11 Kralj Petar Krešimir IV |
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | Croatian navy |
| Ordered: | 1990 |
| Builder: | Kraljevica SY |
| Launched: | 1992 |
| Fate: | in service, undergoing modernization |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 385 tons full load |
| Length: | 53.6 m / 175.9 ft |
| Beam: | 8.5 m / 27.9 ft |
| Draught: | 2.3 m / 7.5 ft |
| Propulsion: | 3 diesel engines, 3 shafts, 15,300 hp |
| Speed: | 36 knots |
| Complement: | 33 |
| Armament: |
4-8 RBS-15 SSM, 1×Bofors 57 mm/70 DP, 1×AK-630 CIWS with 6×30 mm, 2×20 mm or 2×12.7 mm MG, 4-6 mines (8 RBS-15 if no mines are carried) |
Kralj Petar Krešimir IV is the first of a 2-strong class of Croatian Kralj ("King") class missile boats (fast attack craft). It is named after the Croatian king Petar Krešimir IV. It was built in the Kraljevica shipyard in 1991 and commissioned in 1992. It is an upgraded version of the Rade Končar missile boat class and is 8.5 meters longer. Kralj Petar Krešimir IV and its sister ship Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir are the only ships in their class. A potential third ship was under consideration in 1999, but the ship was never commissioned due to budget constraints.
Kralj class missile boats were first introduced into service in 1992 and were originally meant to replace Osa 1 class boats in the Yugoslav Navy. The navy ordered ten warships in 1990 with the first ship to be delivered in late 1992. The first ship was eventually launched and handed to the Croatian Navy. Kralj Petar Krešimir IV didn't take part in the war of independence, but in October 1994 she sunk, assisted by the fast attack vessel OBM-41 Dubrovnik, the former Yugoslav missile boats RČ-310 Velimir Škorpik of the Osa I class and TČ-219 Streljko of the Shershen class in a live firing drill known as operation Posejdon.[1][2]
Croatia also completed the second ship Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir in 2001. Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir is slightly larger (less than a meter) than Kralj Petar Krešimir IV, but supports identical weapon systems and sensors as its sister ship. Croatia has no intention of building more ships of the Kralj class.
According to long-term defence plans from 2006, the ships were to undergo an extensive modernization by 2010 but this has now been canceled. The upgrade was to include new ASW equipment, radars and anti-aircraft systems, all worth €20 million. However, due to the recent purchase of Helsinki class boats, the ships will only undergo a basic overhaul and engine replacement worth €5 million.
The Kralj class ships are currently the largest warships within the Croatian navy. However, plans exist to purchase or domesticly build four large corvettes or frigates. These will supplement existing missile boats and are scheduled to start entering service by 2012.
The Croatian navy also operates a fifth missile boat Šibenik, which belongs to a previous Končar class and is considered to be a predecessor of the Kralj class. It was launched in 1978 and after a complete modernization (during which the Soviet-built anti-ship missiles and engines were replaced by Western-built ones) was brough up to its successors' standard. The ship was handed over to the Croatian navy in late 1991 and saw military service during the war. It was overhauled and lightly upgraded in 2008.
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Combat System could be changed as to the mission requirements.