| Osprey 55-class gunboat | |
|---|---|
 Osprey 55 class gunboat HS Navmachos (Κ/Φ Ναυμάχος) at Faliron Bay. | |
| Class overview | |
| Builders: |
Hellenic Shipyards, Scarmanga (Greek ships) Danyard A/S, Frederikshaven, Denmark |
| Operators: | Hellenic Navy, Royal Moroccan Navy, Senegalese Navy |
| Built: | 1986–1990 |
| Completed: | 7 |
| Active: | 7 |
| General characteristics Armatolos class (after re-arming)[1] | |
| Type: | Patrol boat |
| Displacement: | 555 long tons (564 t) full load |
| Length: | 54.8 m (179 ft 9 in) |
| Beam: | 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in) |
| Draught: | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion: |
2× MTU 16V 1163 TB63 diesels 10,000 hp (7,500 kW) 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 25 kn (29 mph; 46 km/h) |
| Range: |
500 mi (430 nmi; 800 km) at 25 kn (29 mph; 46 km/h) 2,800 mi (2,400 nmi; 4,500 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h) |
| Troops: | 25 |
| Complement: | 36 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Thomson-CSF Triton Surface search radar Selenia RTNX fire control radar |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: | Thomson-CSF DR 2000S ESM |
| Armament: |
1× OTO Melara 76 mm gun 1× Bofors 40mm gun Provision for mines |
The gunboat class Osprey 55 is a Danish-designed class of naval ship currently in service in the Hellenic Navy and Royal Moroccan Navy. Two ships were ordered by Greece in March 1988 and built by Hellenic Shipyards. The first one was laid down on 8 May 1989 and launched on 19 December 1989. The second ship was laid down on 9 November 1989 and launched on 16 May 1990. Armament is of modular design and therefore can be changed. 76-mm guns replaced the Bofors 40-mm in 1995, after being taken from decommissioned Gearing-class destroyers. Options on more of the class were shelved in favour of the slightly larger HSY-55 class.
4 other ships were ordered by the Royal Moroccan Navy all received between 1987 and 1990.[2] Built in Frederikshavn, Denmark, they were only armed with 1 Bofors 40 mm and 2 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. El Lahiq is equipped with a cartographic sonar and North American navigation systems for Hydrographic researchs.[3]
Ships[]
| Pennant number |
Name | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | |||||
| P 18 | Armatolos | Hellenic Shipyards, Skaramanga | 8 May 1989[1] | 19 December 1989[1] | 27 March 1990[1] |
| P 19 | Navmachos | Hellenic Shipyards, Skaramanga | 9 November 1989[1] | 16 May 1990[1] | 15 July 1990[1] |
| Morocco | |||||
| 308 | El Lahiq | Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | July 1987[4] | 11 November 1987[5] | |
| 309 | El Tawfiq | Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | October 1987[4] | 31 January 1988[5] | |
| 316 | El Hamiss | Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | April 1990[4] | 9 August 1990[5] | |
| 317 | El Karib | Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | July 1990[4] | 23 September 1990[5] | |
| Senegal | |||||
| Fouta | Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | November 1986[6] | March 1987[6] | 1 June 1987[6] | |
References[]
- Baker, A.D. (1998). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
- Saunders, Stephen (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0710624328.
- Helenic Navy website
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