OPV-70

OPV-70 [1] is an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Royal Moroccan Navy, designed by Raidco Marine and built at STX France SA.

Class overview
Name: OPV-70
Builders:
Operators:  Royal Moroccan Navy
Built: 2008–present
In service: 2011–present
Planned: 4
Completed: 1
Active: 1
General characteristics
Class and type: Bir Anzaran class
Type: offshore patrol vessel
Displacement: 800 tonnes
Length: 70 m
Beam: 11,3 m
Draught: 3,25 m
Installed power: 8.16 MW (5 500 cv)
Propulsion: 2 x Wärtsilä 12V26 diesel engines
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h)
Range: 4200 Nm (7780 km) @ 12 knots
Endurance: 15 days
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 Fast intervention craft on the deck
Complement: 64 officers; ratings 4 pax
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Surface search: DECCA Bridgemaster II radar
Armament:
Aviation facilities: helicopter landing pad / no hangar

The first vessel received, was named after the Battle of Bir Anzaran, between the Polisario Front and Royal Armed Forces in 1979.

Definition of the Equipment and requirements

The main mission is the surveillance of Moroccan EEZ and control of fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, with secondary roles including detecting illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking and supporting counter terrorism and search and rescue patrols along Moroccan coasts.

Bir Anzaran is the first in a series, which will include three more units: P342, P343 and P344 with an option for two more.[2] The Moroccan EM (Etat Major) now discuss the purchase of a more sophisticated and advanced version for the three last ships to be built.

Its hull is made of steel and aluminum structures, for a displacement of 800 tonnes with a maximum speed of 22 knots.[3]

It received its weapons at the port of Casablanca:[3]

Ships [4]
Pennant no. Name Launched Commissioned Status
P-341 Bir Anzaran 25 Aug 2010 23 June 2011 In service
P-342 Under construction.
P-343 Under construction.
P-344 Under construction.

References
  1. STX Europe main page
  2. Janes Navy International
  4. GlobalSecurity – Moroccan Navy equipment
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