Omani ship Nasr al Bahr

Nasr al Bahr is an amphibious warfare vessel operated by the Royal Navy of Oman. The ship is larger and more capable than its predecessor, Al Munassir, with the capacity to carry up to 650 t (640 long tons; 720 short tons) of cargo, seven main main battle tanks, or 240 troops. It is equipped with a large bow ramp, allowing vehicles to be disembarked at steep angles.

Nasr al Bahr, in the foreground, operating with HMS Monmouth in 2011
History
Oman
Name	Nasr al Bahr
Ordered	18 March 1982
Builder	Brooke Marine, Lowestoft
Laid down	May 1982
Launched	16 May 1984
Commissioned	13 February 1985
General characteristics
Class and type	Brooke Marine 93 m amphibious warfare ship
Displacement	2,500 t (2,500 long tons) (full)
Length	93 m (305 ft 1 in)
Beam	15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
Draft	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Installed power	7,800 bhp (5,800 kW)
Propulsion	Two Paxman Valenta diesel engines, two shafts
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h)
Range	4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 13 knots (24 km/h)
Complement	84
Sensors and processing systems	Decca TM 1226 sea search and navigational radar Decca 1290 navigational radar Erricson 9LV fire control radar Kelvin Hughes MS 45 echo sounder
Armament	2 × twin Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in) anti-aircraft guns 2 × single Oerlikon 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons
Aviation facilities	Facilities for 1 helicopter up to a Westland Sea King

The vessel's armament includes two twin 40 mm (1.6 in) guns designed to fire shells capable of intercepting anti-ship missiles. Nasr al Bahr was launched in 1985 and underwent an upgrade in 1992, which included the addition of a traditional funnel. However, a more extensive modernization attempt in 1995 was unsuccessful.

The ship has participated in joint exercises with the navies of other countries, including Exercise Saif Sareea, and provided humanitarian aid to the Musandam Governorate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design and development

The Royal Omani Navy, officially known as the Sultan of Oman's Navy until June 1990, is responsible for securing the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and protecting the nation's 370 km (230 mi) coastline.^[1][2] Unusually for the region, the navy possesses amphibious warfare capabilities.^[3] Nasr al Bahr is the second large amphibious warfare ship operated by the navy and was ordered from Brooke Marine as a complement to the smaller Al Munassir, which was already in service.^[4] The design is similar to the Kalaat Beni Hammed class vessels ordered by the Algerian National Navy, and the ships are sometimes considered part of the same class, although they differ in aspects such as propulsion and sensors.^[5] Collectively, these vessels are known as the Brooke Marine 93 m amphibious warfare ships.^[6]

Nasr al Bahr displaces 2,500 metric tons (2,500 long tons; 2,800 short tons) and has an overall length of 93 m (305 ft 1 in) and 80 m (262 ft 6 in) between perpendiculars. The beam is 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in), and the mean draught is 2.3 m (7.5 ft). The ship's complement comprises 13 officers, 16 chief petty officers, and 52 enlisted personnel.^[7]

The vessel is powered by two Paxman Valenta 18RP200CM diesel engines, driving two constant-pitch propellers. These engines produce a combined output of 7,800 bhp (5,800 kW), giving the ship a top speed of 15.5 knots (29 km/h; 18 mph) and a cruising range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph). The vessel has an endurance of 28 days, reduced to 10 days when carrying troops.^[8] Upon entering service, the ship experienced issues with its exhaust system, which initially expelled gases underwater. A solution was implemented in 1992 with the addition of a traditional funnel.^[9] Auxiliary power is provided by three diesel engines generating a combined 180 kW (240 hp).^[10]

The vessel was originally designed to transport up to 380 t (370 long tons; 420 short tons) of cargo or seven main battle tanks, along with a number of landing craft.^[6] This capacity was later increased to a maximum of 450 t (440 long tons; 500 short tons) of beachable cargo, and up to 650 t (640 long tons; 720 short tons) of non-beachable cargo. The vessel can carry a landing force composed of 13 officers, 16 non-commissioned officers, and 211 enlisted troops. The vehicle deck measures 76 m (249 ft) in length and 7.4 m (24 ft) in width, and is equipped with a cargo hatch measuring 30 m (98 ft) by 7 m (23 ft). Disembarkation is facilitated by a bow ramp measuring 18 m (59 ft) by 4.5 m (15 ft) wide and a stern ramp measuring 5 m (16 ft) by 4 m (13 ft). Vehicles can be landed on gradients of up to 1:40. A 16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons) crane is mounted forward and can traverse to unload the cargo deck. The ship also carries two Sea Truck landing craft.^[11]

Armament and sensors

Nasr al Bahr is equipped with a gun-only armament suite, consisting of two twin Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in) L/70 guns in Breda DARDO mounts and two single Oerlikon 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons in GAM B01 mounts.^[8] The Bofors guns, also known as Compact Forty, can fire high-explosive (HE) shells at a rate of 600 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 1,025 m (3,363 ft) per second. They are also capable of firing Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds at 1,350 m (4,430 ft) per second, intended for use against incoming anti-ship missiles.^[12] The Oerlikon cannons have a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute and a muzzle velocity of 1,050 m (3,440 ft) per second.^[13] The vessel features a helipad aft, capable of accommodating a helicopter up to the size of a Westland Sea King.^[5]

For sensors, the ship is equipped with Decca TM 1226 sea search and navigational radar, and Decca 1290 navigation radar.^[6] Initially, a single CSEE Lynx electro-optical fire control system was installed,^[14] later supplemented by an Ericsson 9LV 200 fire control radar.^[8] Electronic support measures (ESM) are provided by the Decca RDL-2 radar detecting and locating system.^[15] A single Kelvin Hughes MS 45 echo sounder is also fitted.^[6] The ship is armed with two Wallop Barricade decoy launchers, for which Oman was the launch customer.^[7][16] Each launcher fires 57 mm (2.2 in) chaff and flare rockets.^[17]

Construction and career

Nasr al Bahr was ordered on 18 March 1982 and laid down by Brooke Marine at their shipyard in Lowestoft in May of the same year. The vessel was launched on 16 May 1984 and commissioned into service with the Royal Navy of Oman on 13 February 1985.^[8] The ship carried the pendant number L.2.^[18] An attempt to modernize the ship's systems in 1995 was unsuccessful, although the aft Oerlikon mount was removed in 1996 to improve stability.^[9] Upon returning to active service, the ship initially spent more time in dock than at sea. However, a 2005 study found that Nasr al Bahr spent 52 days at sea that year—comparing favorably with the rest of the fleet, which recorded between 23 and 75 days at sea, excluding two outliers.^[19]

One of the primary roles of the Royal Navy of Oman is to conduct joint exercises with foreign navies and participate in international port visits.^[20] As the largest vessel in the Omani fleet, Nasr al Bahr frequently takes part in combined naval operations. Notably, the ship participated in Exercise Saif Sareea, a large-scale military exercise between the United Kingdom and Oman, held from 15 November to 8 December 1986.^[21] The two nations have a long history of naval cooperation, with British officers serving in the Omani Navy.^[22]

Nasr al Bahr also took part in Exercise Khanjar Haad on 10 May 2011, which involved joint operations with the French Navy, the United States Navy, and the Royal Navy.^[23] Earlier, in 1990, the vessel visited Goa, India, as part of a broader Indian Ocean deployment aimed at showcasing the Royal Navy of Oman's capabilities abroad.^[24]

In addition to its amphibious warfare role, Nasr al Bahr provides logistical support to Oman's remote territories. This includes transporting personnel and equipment to the strategically important Masirah Island, a site utilized by the United States Armed Forces as a staging post for operations in the Persian Gulf, and a major base for the Royal Air Force of Oman.^[25] In January 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship delivered humanitarian aid—including fuel and other essential supplies—to Khasab in the Musandam Governorate. Fuel was transported in tankers carried in the ship's hold.^[26]