Barzan-class fast attack craft

The Barzan class is a class of 4 British-designed fast attack missile boats for the Qatari Emiri Navy, also known as Super Vita.^[1]

006 Al Udeid fitting out at VTS Woolston
Class overview
Name	Barzan, Super Vita
Builders	Vosper Thornycroft
Operators	Qatari Emiri Navy
Preceded by	La Comabattante III
In commission	1996 - present day
Planned	4
Completed	4
Active	4
General characteristics
Type	FACM
Displacement	Standard: 380 t (370 long tons; 420 short tons) Full load: 530 t (520 long tons; 580 short tons)
Length	62 m (203 ft)
Beam	9.5 m (31 ft)
Draught	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Installed power	4 × MTU 16V595 TE90 diesel engines 17,500 kW (23,500 hp)
Propulsion	4 propellers
Speed	35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range	1,800 miles (2,900 km) @ 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	35
Sensors and processing systems	Thales MW08 3D G-band surveillance radar Thales Mirador electro-optical target tracker Thales Scout MkII low probability of intercept radar Sperry Marine Bridgemaster-E navigation radar Tacticos combat management system Aeromaritime IFF Mk12 ICS 2000 integrated communications system
Electronic warfare & decoys	DR 3000 ESM system Argo AR 900 ESM system 1 SRBOC decoy launcher
Armament	1 x OTO Melara 76mm 1 x 30mm Goalkeeper 2 x Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles 1 x Mistral 6-cell launcher

History

The Barzan class was ordered by the Qatari Emiri Navy in 1992. Vosper Thornycroft was chosen to build the 4 ships of the class. The 4 ship’s names are QENS Barzan, QENS Huwar, QENS Al Udied and QENS Al Deebeel.

Barzan and Huwar were the first batch to arrive in Qatar in 1996 while Al Udied and Al Deebel arrived as the second batch in 1998.^[2]

Design

The craft are developments of the VT 56m patrol boats delivered to the Kenyan and Omani navies. The hull is made of steel and the superstructure is made of aluminium, while Vosper Thornycroft, now BAE Systems Surface Ships, provided the electricity transmission system, the management board, electrical equipment and countermeasure systems.^[3]

Ships

Pennant number	Name	Builder	Commissioned	Status
004	Barzan برزان	Vosper Thornycroft	1996	Active
005	Huwar حوار		1996	Active
006	Al Udied العديد		1998	Active
007	Al Deebeel الدبل		1998	Active