IRIS Falakhon (P226)

IRIS Falakhon (Persian: فلاخن, lit. 'Sling') is a Kaman-class fast attack craft in the Southern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.

History
Iran
Name: Falakhon
Namesake: Falakhon
Operator: Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Ordered: 19 February 1974
Builder: Constructions de Mécaniques, Cherbourg
Laid down: 15 March 1976
Launched: 2 June 1977
Commissioned: 31 March 1978
Status: In service
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: Kaman-class fast attack craft
Displacement:
  • 249 tons standart
  • 275 tons full load
Length: 47 m (154 ft 2 in)
Beam: 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)
Draft: 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Installed power: 4 × MTU 16V538 TB91 diesels, 14,400 brake horsepower (10.7 MW)
Propulsion: 4 × shafts
Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h)
Range: 2,000 miles (3,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h); 700 miles (1,100 km) at 33.7 knots (62.4 km/h)
Complement: 30
Armament:
  • 4 × Harpoon (single cell)
  • 1 × 76mm/65 (single compact)
  • 1 × 40mm/70 Bofors
Notes: As reported by Jane's (1979)[1]

Construction and commissioning

Falakhon was built by French Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie at Cherbourg, as one of the first six contracted on 19 February 1974.[2] Her keel was laid down on 15 March 1976 and on 2 June 1977, she was launched.[2] Falakhon was commissioned into the fleet on 31 March 1978, together with Shamshir and Paykan.[2]

Service history

During Iran-Iraq War, her home port was Bushehr Naval Base.[3] She was part of the naval group –together with Khanjar (P230), Hendijan (1401), Deylam (424) and Ghadir (953)– that arrived at Karachi on 2 May 2014 for a five-day joint exercise with Pakistan Navy,[4] and returned home on 14 May 2014.[5] From 8 to 15 April 2017, along with Sabalan (73) and Lavan (514), she participated in a join naval drill with the Royal Navy of Oman.[6]

References

  1. Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 256. ISBN 0-354-00587-1.
  2. Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysaw, eds. (1996), "Iran", Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1947–1995, Conway Maritime Press, pp. 183–188, ISBN 978-1557501325
  3. Razoux, Pierre (2015). The Iran-Iraq War. Harvard University Press. Appendix D, Table D6, p. 528. ISBN 978-0-674-91571-8.
  4. "Iranian naval fleet arrives in Pakistan", Islamic Republic News Agency, 2 May 2014, retrieved 5 August 2020
  5. "Iranian Navy's Ghadir Submarine Returns Home from Indian Ocean Mission", Fars News Agency, 14 May 2014, retrieved 5 August 2020
  6. Nadimi, Farzin (April 2020), "Iran's Evolving Approach to Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Strategy and Capabilities in the Persian Gulf" (PDF), The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (Policy Focus) (164), Appendix E: IRIN’s Long-range Task Forces And Naval Visits Abroad, pp. 64–74, retrieved 15 July 2020
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