Ramadan-class missile boat

Class overview
NameRamadan class
BuildersVosper Thornycroft, Portchester
Operators Egyptian Navy
Built1978–1982
In commission1981–present
Planned6
Completed6
Active4
Laid up2
General characteristics
TypeMissile boat
Displacement312 t (307 long tons) full load
Length52 m (170 ft 7 in) oa
Beam7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
Draught2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement40
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
  • 2 × twin Otomat Mk2 SSM
  • 1 × 76 mm (3 in) OTO Melara DP gun
  • 1 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Breda AA gun

The Ramadan-class missile boat are a series of six missile boats that have been in service with the Egyptian Navy since 1981, which were constructed in the United Kingdom. The first ship was launched in 1979 and entered service in 1981. Four remain in service with two laid up.

Design and description

Based on a British design,[1] the Ramadan class measures 52.0 metres (170 ft 7 in) long overall and 48.0 m (157 ft 6 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in) and a draught of 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in).[2] The missile boats have a standard displacement of 307 tonnes (302 long tons) and a full load displacement of 350 t (340 long tons).[1][a] The vessels are powered by four MTU 20V538 TB 91 diesel engines turning four propeller shafts creating 18,000 brake horsepower (13,000 kW) and a maximum speed of 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph). The ships have storage for 43.3 t (42.6 long tons; 47.7 short tons) of oil fuel giving them a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[1][b]

The Ramadan-class missile craft are armed with two twin launchers for Otomat surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs). They also mount one OTO Melara 76-millimetre (3 in) gun forward and a pair of twin-mounted Breda 40 mm (2 in) anti-aircraft guns. They are equipped with Marconi S820 air and surface search radar, S180 radar and two ST802 fire control radars. The two ST802 radars work in tandem with the Marconi Sapphire fire control system alongside two Lawrence Scott optical directors. The ships are also equipped with a Decca-Racal Cygnus jammer, two MEL Protean chaff dispensers and Cutlass intercept radar. These all supply information to the Ferranti CAAIS automated data system.[2] They have a complement of 40.[1]

Ships in class

Construction data[2]
Number Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
561, 670 Ramadan Vosper Thornycroft, Portchester, United Kingdom 22 September 1978 6 September 1979 20 July 1981 Laid up[3]
562, 674 El Kadesseya 23 February 1979 31 January 1980 15 September 1981 Laid up[3]
563, 672 Khyber 23 April 1979 19 February 1980 6 April 1982 Active
564, 676 El Yarmouk 15 May 1979 12 June 1980 18 May 1982 Active
565, 678 Badr 29 September 1979 17 June 1981 17 June 1982 Active
566, 680 Hettein 29 February 1980 25 November 1980 28 October 1982 Active

Construction and career

The six ships were ordered on 4 September 1977 from Vosper Thornycroft of the United Kingdom. After construction the first pair sailed together for Egypt and arrived on 13 November 1981. The second pair arrived on 23 July 1982 and the third pair in December 1982.[2] In 1998, two of the class had their radars upgraded, followed by the remaining four beginning in 2001. In March 2000, all six vessels had their communications systems upgraded. Beginning in 2007, their CAAIS data system was upgraded to the Nautis-3 command-and-control data system along with an upgrade from the Mk1 Otomats to the Mk2 version.[3] El Kadesseya was taken out of service in 2000, followed by Ramadan in 2005.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Couhat has the ships having a standard displacement of 262 t (258 long tons) and a full load displacement of 312 t (307 long tons).[2]
  2. ^ Couhat has the engines creating 16,000 hp (12,000 kW) and a maximum speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph).[2]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 87.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Couhat 1986, p. 160.
  3. ^ a b c d Wertheim 2013, p. 172.

References

  • Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9-7-815911-4954-5.