Showing posts with label corvettes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corvettes. Show all posts

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Weapons File III - Laksamana class FSG


Displacement : 675 tons full load
Dimensions : 62.3m (length) x 9.3m (width) x 2.8m (draught)
Propulsion : 4 x MTU 20V diesels, 4 shafts.
Power output : 20,400bhp; 36 knots
Endurance : 2,300nm @ 18 knots
Electronics : RAN 12L/X surface/air search radar, Kelvin Hughes 1007 nav radar, IPN-S command and control system, two NA21 FC systems, DARDO FC system, INS-3 radar interceptor, TQN-2 radar jammer, two OTO Melara 105mm decoy dispensers, ASO 94-41 hull sonar.
Armament : 6 x OTOMAT Teseo Mk II anti-ship missiles, 1 x four-cell Albatros SAM launcher (with 8 reloads), 1 x OTO Melara Super Rapid 76/62 76mm DP gun, 1 x single Otobreda 40mm L/70 AA gun, 2 x triple ILAS-3 324mm Torpedo tubes for Whitehead A244/S ASW torpedoes
Crew : 56
Ships : Laksamana Hang Nadim (134) [ex-Khalid ibn Al-Walid], Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil (135) [ex-Saad bin Abi Waqqas], Laksamana Muhammad Amin (136) [ex-Abdullah ibn Abi Serh], Laksamana Tan Pusmah (137) [ex-Salahuddin Al-Ayoubi].

The Laksamana (literally ‘Admiral’) class fast missile corvettes are the second class of ships brought from Italy (the first ships are the ‘Mahamiru’ (Lerici) class MCMVs). The Laksamanas are originally Iraqi ‘Assad’ class FSGs ordered from Fincantieri. They were however not delivered to the Iraqi Navy following sanctions imposed by the UN because of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The ships remain languished at Genoa until a contract was signed between the Malaysian Government and Fincantieri in 1995 for the supply of two of the hulls; the other two was purchased in 1997. The ships are delivered in two batches in 1997 and 1999. Some specific features were modified and refitted to suit TLDM’s needs. The Laksamanas are broadly similar to the Libyan Wadi M’ragh and the Ecuadorian Navy’s Esmeraldas class corvettes.

The ships pack a mighty punch for a small hull. The OTOMAT anti-ship missiles have Over-the-horizon range enabling it to engage ships hidden by the horizon. It will be assisted in this task by the Super Lynx helicopters of No. 502 Squadron which provides OTH data and mid-course correction. The anti-air weaponry are superior to the larger Kasturi class and even surpasses the Lekius (which have the shorter-ranged Sea Wolf missiles). There are unconfirmed talks that these ships will remove their ASW suite (sonars and torpedoes) in order to improve the ASW capabilities of the Kasturi class corvettes / light frigates.

The ships are named after admirals (more accurately, minister of defence) of the old Malay sultanates. The ships are currently serving in the 24th corvette squadron.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Weapons File II - Kasturi class FSG / FFL


Displacement : 1,900 tons full load
Dimensions : 97.3m (length) x 11.3m (width) x 3.5m (draught)
Propulsion : 4 diesels, 2 shafts
Power Output : 21,460hp; 28 knots
Armament : 8 x MBDA MM40 Exocet Block II Anti-ship missiles, 1 x Giat 100mm DP gun, 1 x Bofors SAK Mk1 57mm DP gun, 2 x twin Emerlec 30mm AA guns, 1 x Bofors 375mm ASW RL
Aviation : helicopter landing pad aft; no hangar.
Crew : 124
Ships : Kasturi (25), Lekir (26)

These two corvettes, sometimes classified as light frigates were ordered from Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf AG (HDW), Germany and were delivered in 1984. A general-purpose design, they are equipped with anti-submarine and anti-surface weaponry. Anti-air capability is somewhat weak as they are only equipped with guns for this task. Originally, the Kasturis were equipped with four MM38 Exocet AShMs. These have been replaced by the more advanced MM40 Exocet, with subsequent increase in firepower (more missiles) and range. The Kasturis are assigned to the 22nd Corvette Squadron.

They are named after two of Hang Tuah’s five companions – Hang Lekir and Hang Kasturi.