Alvand-class frigate

The Alvand class (Persian: کلاس الوند) or Saam class (Persian: کلاس سام) was originally a class of four frigates built for the Imperial Iranian Navy. They were renamed after the Iranian Revolution, and served in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy during Iran-Iraq War. Three still remain in service. A fourth was sunk by the U.S. Navy in 1988.

IRIS Alvand
Class overview
Name	Alvand / Saam class
Builders	Vosper Thornycroft, Vickers
Operators	Imperial Iranian Navy  Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Succeeded by	Moudge class
Built	1968–1972
In service	1971–present
Completed	4
Active	3
Lost	1
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	1,100 tons (1,540 tons full load)
Length	94.5 m (310 ft)
Beam	11.07 m (36.3 ft)
Draught	3.25 m (10.7 ft)
Propulsion	2 Paxman Ventura cruising diesels 3,800 bhp (2,800 kW), and 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM2 boost gas turbines 46,000 shp (34,000 kW) on 2 shafts
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h) on diesels; 39 knots (72 km/h) on gas turbines
Range	5,000 nmi (9,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement	125-146
Armament	4 × C-802 anti-ship missiles 1 × 4.5 in (114 mm) Mark 8 gun 1 × twin 35 mm (1.4 in) AA guns 2 × single 20 mm (0.79 in) guns 2 × 81 mm (3 in) mortars 2 × 0.50 cal machine guns 1 × Limbo ASW mortar 2 × triple 12.75 in (324 mm) torpedo tubes

Development and construction

The ships were built in the United Kingdom by Vosper Ltd and based on their Mark 5 design with the following arms & equipment:^[1]

• ASuW – 1 × quintuple Sea Killer Mk2 surface-to-surface missile
• AAW – 1 × triple Sea Cat surface-to-air missile launcher
• ASW – 1 × 3 barrelled Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10 Limbo launcher
• Guns – 1 × Mark 8 Mod 0 4.5 inch general purpose & 1 × twin 35mm Oerlikon AA
• Electronics – Plessey AWS 1 air surveillance radar with on-mounted IFF; 2 × Contraves Seahunter systems (For use with Sea cat, Sea Killer & the 35mm mount); Decca RDL 1 passive direction finding equipment

They were refitted in the UK shortly before the 1979 Iranian Revolution.^[2]

History

The ships were originally named after characters from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. After the Islamic Revolution they were renamed after mountains in Iran.^[3]

They saw action during the "Tanker War" phase of the Iran–Iraq War and proved effective against Iraqi forces. After one was sunk, and other significant losses taken, during Operation Praying Mantis they saw little further use as the Iranian Navy proved no match for the U.S. Navy.^[4]

Upgrades

The Sea Killer missiles were replaced by Chinese made C-802s in the 1990s. The Sea Cats were replaced by the addition of a 20 mm (0.79 in) AA gun.

Two triple 12.75-inch (324 mm) torpedo tubes, two 81 mm (3 in) mortars and two 0.50 caliber machine guns were also fitted.^[3]

Successors

The Moudge-class frigate is a modified Iranian-built version of the Alvand class, with five either in service or under construction.^[5]

Ships in the class

Ship	Pennant number	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
Alvand (ex-Saam)	71 (ex DE 12)	Vosper Thornycroft	3 March 1968	25 July 1968	May 1971	In service
Alborz (ex-Zaal)	72 (ex DE 14)	Vickers	3 March 1968	4 March 1969	1 March 1971	In service
Sabalan (ex-Rostam)	73 (ex DE 16)	Vickers		4 March 1969	26 May 1972	In service
Sahand (ex-Faramarz)	74 (ex DE 18)	Vosper Thornycroft		30 July 1969	February 1972	sunk on 18 April 1988.

See also

• Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
• Current Iranian Navy vessels