Alvand class frigate

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A port view of the Iranian destroyer escort IIS Saam (DE-71), redesignated IS Alvand (F-71).

The Alvand class (also called the Saam class frigate or the 'Vosper Mk 5 type) comprise four Iranian light patrol frigates. Only three are currently in service, although Jane's Fighting ships 2006-07 reports that the wreck of the Sahand is being re-built.

The United Kingdom built all four ships which were originally armed with nine Sea Cat anti-air missiles and five Sea Killer anti-ship missiles. Iranian Navy has replaced the missiles with Chinese variants.

One Alvand-class frigate, the Sahand, was sunk by U.S. forces during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988 after unsuccessfully firing upon an A-6 Intruder flying from the USS Enterprise. It was then struck by Harpoon missiles from this aircraft, and then a coordinated Harpoon attack from its wingman and a nearby surface ship.

1 Specification
2 Ships in the class
3 External links
4 Sources

[edit] Specification

Dimensions:
- Length: 94.5 m (310 feet)
- Beam: 11.07 m (36 feet)
- Draught: 3.25 m (10.5 feet)
Displacement: 1,100 tons (1,540 tons full load)
Armament
- 4 x C-802 anti-ship missiles
- 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 gun
- 1 x twin 20 mm AAA, 2 x single 20 mm AAA
- 2 × 81 mm mortars, 2 × 0.50cal machine guns, 1 x Limbo ASW mortar, 2 x triple 12.75 in torpedo tubes
Crew: 125-146
Maximum speed: 39 knots.
Range: 5,000 nm at 15 knots
Propulsion:
- 2 shafts
- 2 Paxman Ventura cruising diesels
  - 3,800 bhp
  - 17 knots
- 2 Rolls Royce Olympus TM-3A boost gas turbines
  - 46,000 shp
  - 39 knots

[edit] Ships in the class

Ship	Pennant Number	Builder	Launched	Status
Alvand - ex-Saam	71 (ex- DE 12)	Vosper Thornycroft	1968	In Service
Alborz - ex-Zaal	72 (ex DE 14)	Vickers	1969	In Service
Sabalan- ex-Rostam	73 (ex DE 16)	Vickers	1969	In Service
Sahand - ex-Faramarz	74 (ex DE 18)	Vosper Thornycroft	1969	sunk on April 18, 1988