Tondar-class fast attack craft
The Tondar class (Persian: تندر, lit. 'thunder', also known as Houdong class) consists of ten fast attack crafts operated by Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran.[1]
Class overview | |
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Builders | Zhanjiang Shipyard, China |
Operators | Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
Preceded by | Type 021-class missile boat |
Built | 1991–1996 |
In service | 1994–present |
Planned | 10 |
Completed | 10 |
Active | 10 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Fast attack craft |
Displacement |
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Length | 38.6 m (126 ft 8 in) |
Beam | 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) |
Draught | 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) |
Installed power | Diesel |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 35 knots (65 km/h) |
Complement | 3 officers and 25 sailors |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Armament |
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History
The negotiations to sign a contract for the vessels started in 1991, but was delayed for some time over the type of missiles installed on the ships.[1] The ships were manufactured at Zhanjiang Shipyard, China and were delivered to Iran in two batches, the first five in September 1994 and the remaining in March 1996.[1]
Design
Dimensions and machinery
The ships have a standard displacement of 174 tonnes (171 long tons) and 208 t (205 long tons) at full load.[1] The class design is 38.6 m (127 ft) long, would have a beam of 6.8 m (22 ft) and a draft of 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)[1] and would have used three propeller shafts, powered by three diesel engines. This system was designed to provide 8,025 horsepower (5.984 MW) for a top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h).[1]
Armament
According to the 2020 edition of "The Military Balance" published by the IISS, the ships are equipped with two twin launchers that fire Iranian-made AShM, Ghader.[2] 2015–16 version of Jane's Fighting Ships however, had reported that the ships carry four Noor missiles.[1] The missiles rely on active radar homing to 120 kilometres (65 nmi) at 0.9 Mach.[1]
The close-in weapon system on the ships consists of two 30mm/65 twin AK-230 guns,[1][2] while the secondary armament is two 23mm/87 twin guns.[1]
Sensors and processing systems
Tondar-class vessels use Chinese SR-47A surface search radar and RM 1070-A navigation system, both working on I-band.[1] For fire control, they use Type 341 Radar (also known as Rice Lamp) on I/J-band.[1]
Ships in the class
The ships in the class which were renamed in c. 2006, are:[1]
Ship | Namesake | Pennant number | Commissioned | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shahid Mahdavi (ex-Fath) | Nader Mahdavi | P313-1 (ex 301) | September 1994 | In service |
Shahid Kord (ex-Nasr) | Bijan Kord | P313-2 (ex 302) | September 1994 | In service |
Shahid Shafiei (ex-Saf) | Nasrollah Shafiei | P313-3 (ex 303) | September 1994 | In service |
Shahid Tavassoli (ex-Ra'd) | Gholam-Hossein Tavassoli | P313-4 (ex 304) | September 1994 | In service |
Shahid Hojjatzadeh (ex-Fajr) | P313-5 (ex 305) | September 1994 | In service | |
Shahid Dara (ex-Shmas) | Eshagh Dara | P313-6 (ex 306) | March 1996 | In service |
Shahid Absalan (ex-Me'raj) | Khodadad Absalan | P313-7 (ex 307) | March 1996 | In service |
Shahid Raeisi (ex-Falaq) | Asadollah Raeisi | P313-8 (ex 308) | March 1996 | In service |
Shahid Golzam (ex-Hadid) | P313-9 (ex 309) | March 1996 | In service | |
Shahid Sohrabi (ex-Qadr) | P313-10 (ex 310) | March 1996 | In service |
References
- 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. 388, ISBN 9780710631435, OCLC 919022075
- 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.