Nasser (Persian: ناصر, lit.'helper') is a class of auxiliary ships built by Iranian shipyard Arvandan and operated by the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1]

Nasser-class ship
Class overview
BuildersArvandan Shipbuilding Co.
OperatorsNavy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
General characteristics
TypeAuxiliary ship
Displacement35 tons of supplies
Length33 m (108 ft 3 in)
Beam8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Installed powerDiesel
Propulsion
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × shafts
Speed27 knots (50 km/h)
Complement86 troops
Armament1 × 12.7mm machine gun

Type

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Arvandan Shipbuilding Co., the manufacturer of these vessels, is a civilian shipyard that specializes in light passenger ferries.[1] According to Jane's Fighting Ships, the ships in the class are yard auxiliary general (YAG),[2] while the International Institute for Strategic Studies classifies them as transport ship (AP).[3] The U.S. Navy has variously described the class as "auxiliary patrol vessel" or "light personnel transport".[1]

Design

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Dimensions and machinery

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The class design is 33 m (108 ft) long, would have a beam of 8 m (26 ft) and a draft of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).[2] It uses two shafts coupled with two diesel engines that provide power for a top speed of 27 knots (50 km/h).[2] Nasser vessels can carry 86 troops or 35 tons of supplies.[2]

Armament

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Joseph Trevithick, a fellow at GlobalSecurity.org, says the vessels seem "lightly armed", adding that it "did not necessarily mean it might not have been threatening".[1] Trevithick also opines that they could be used as minelayers.[1] The 2015 edition of Jane's mentions that the ships are equipped with one 12.7mm machine gun, as well as unknown electro-optic systems.[2]

Ships in the class

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Known ships of the class include:

Name Hull № Code letters Commissioned Status
Unknown 111 Unknown Unknown In service
Unknown 112 Unknown Unknown In service
Unknown 113 Unknown March 2011[2] In service
Unknown 114 Unknown Unknown In service
Unknown 115 Unknown Unknown In service
Shahid Nasserinejad 116 Unknown In service
Shahid Basir TBD TBD TBD Under construction

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Trevithick, Joseph (25 July 2017), "For the U.S. Navy, Iranian Harassment Is Risky Business As Usual", The Drive, retrieved 25 August 2020
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Saunders, Stephen; Philpott, Tom, eds. (2015), "Iran", IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016, Jane's Fighting Ships (116th Revised ed.), Coulsdon: IHS Jane's, p. 395, ISBN 9780710631435, OCLC 919022075
  3. The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) (2020). "Middle East and North Africa". The Military Balance 2020. Vol. 120. Routledge. p. 350. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707968. ISBN 9780367466398. S2CID 219624897.