Algerian amphibious transport dock Kalaat Béni Abbès

Kalaat Beni Abbes (L-474) (Arabic: (474) قلعة بني عباس) is an amphibious transport dock^[2] of the Algerian National Navy. The ship built by the Italian firm Fincantieri as an enlarged and improved version of the San Giorgio class. The ship measures 143 metres (469 ft) long and 21.5 metres (71 ft) wide.^[2]

Kalaat Béni Abbès underway
History
Algeria
Name	Kalaat Béni Abbès
Namesake	Kalâa Ait Abbas
Ordered	August 2011
Builder	Fincantieri
Launched	8 January 2014
Commissioned	4 September 2014
Identification	MMSI number: 605126919 Callsign: 7TLK
Status	Active
General characteristics
Type	Amphibious transport dock
Displacement	8,800 t (8,700 long tons)
Length	- 142.9 m (469 ft) LOA - 127.6 m (419 ft) LPP
Beam	21.5 m (71 ft)
Draught	5.3 m (17 ft)
Propulsion	2 × diesel engines Wärtsilä 12V32 12,000 kW (16,000 hp)
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range	7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	152 petty officers, quartermasters and sailors; 438+12 marines
Sensors & processing systems	1 × Leonardo-Finmeccanica MFRA 3D AESA radar - 2 × navigation radar - 1 × helo deck radar
Armament	1 OTO Melara 76 mm/62 SR Super Rapido 2 × OTO Melara Oerlikon KBA 25 mm/80 8-cell SYLVER A50 VLS for 8 Aster 15&30 missiles (1x8 more A50 VLS FFBNW)[1]
Aircraft carried	3 AW101 transport helicopters or 5 Super Lynx helicopters type
Aviation facilities	Hangar for recovery of Super Lynx helicopters type

The ship has a continuous flight deck with two deck-landing spots for helicopters at the bow and stern.^[3]

Ordered in 2011, the ship was commissioned by the Algerian National Navy on 4 September 2014.^[4][5] The first official docking - and commissioning ceremony - was on 28 March 2015 in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the ANP and the High Command of the Algerian National Navy.^[6]

The 2021 Algerian-Israeli naval incident took place near this ship. It deployed two Superlynx anti-submarine warfare helicopters to detect an intruder Israeli submarine while Algerian submarines surrounded it and chased it away.^[7]

Capabilities

Stern view of the ship, 2016

The ship has an opening dock to the rear which allows it to launch up to three landing craft. The port side of the ship has davits which are able to launch three landing craft, and two fast boats for commandos. The ship also houses a garage for 15 heavy tanks and housing for 440 soldiers plus 150 crew.^[8] The ship also carries a 60-bed hospital and operating theaters.^[4]

The ship is continuously assisted by three craft also built by Fincantieri, named Chaland, which can each carry a heavy tank or a maximum of 140 personnel.^[4]

Weapon systems

The ship is fitted with an EMPAR radar for detecting long-range threats, and 16 Aster 15 missiles in two vertical A-50 launchers, as well as a 76 mm turret and two Oerlikon KBA 25x137 mm cannons that can be used for defence against aircraft or surface targets. The vessel also has a complete electronic warfare suite provided by Thales and Elettronica, linked to two SCLAR-H Oto-Melara decoy launchers.^[9][10]