Saar 4 class missile boat
Encyclopedia
The Saar 4 or Reshef class missile boat
s were built at the Israel Shipyards
and based on Israeli Navy
designs grounded in accumulated experience derived in the operation of "Cherbourg" (Saar 3
) class.
Saar 4 ships first battle engagements were made in the October 1973 Yom Kippur War
. During this war, two Saar 4 ships engaged in missile battles with Egypt
ian and Syria
n ships and coastal targets.
are modified Saar IV (Reshef class) fast attack craft. In 1974, a contract was signed with Israeli Defence Industries for the construction of three of the modified Reshef class vessels at the Haifa
facility of Israeli Shipyards. A further three were built immediately after at the Sandock Austral shipyard in Durban
, South Africa, with three more being built at the same facility several years later. The imposition of the international embargo on the sale of arms to South Africa
on 4 November 1977 forced the project to be carried out under a cloak of high security. The South African variants were fitted with Gabriel missile
s, otherwise known as 'Scorpion' missiles, and had two Oto Melara
guns instead of a single one with a Phalanx CIWS
.
In 2000, two of the Israeli boats were sold to the Sri Lankan Navy
, forming the Nandimithra Class. It is not certain if these ships retain the Harpoon
missile capability, however these ships retained their Gabriel missile
capability.
The Hellenic Coast Guard
uses three Sa'ar 4 patrol boats armed only with a 30 mm gun. A crane is installed at the deck space normally reserved for missiles.
Missile boat
A Missile Boat is a small craft armed with anti-ship missiles. Being a small craft, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming an inexpensive navy...
s were built at the Israel Shipyards
Israel Shipyards
Israel Shipyards is one of the largest shipbuilding and repair facilities in the eastern Mediterranean. The company also operates the first and only privately owned port in Israel....
and based on Israeli Navy
Israeli Sea Corps
The Israeli Navy is the naval arm of the Israel Defense Forces, operating primarily in the Mediterranean Sea theater as well as the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea theater. The current commander in chief of the Israeli Navy is Aluf Ram Rothberg.-History:...
designs grounded in accumulated experience derived in the operation of "Cherbourg" (Saar 3
Saar 3 class missile boat
Sa'ar 3 class is a class of missile boats built in France at the Cherbourg shipyard based on Israeli Navy modification of the German Navy's Jaguar class fast attack craft. They are also known as the stars of Cherbourg ....
) class.
Saar 4 ships first battle engagements were made in the October 1973 Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
. During this war, two Saar 4 ships engaged in missile battles with Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n ships and coastal targets.
Variants
The Warrior class strike craft (ex Minister class) in service with the South African NavySouth African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
are modified Saar IV (Reshef class) fast attack craft. In 1974, a contract was signed with Israeli Defence Industries for the construction of three of the modified Reshef class vessels at the Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
facility of Israeli Shipyards. A further three were built immediately after at the Sandock Austral shipyard in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa, with three more being built at the same facility several years later. The imposition of the international embargo on the sale of arms to South Africa
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, adopted unanimously on 4 November 1977, imposed a mandatory arms embargo against apartheid South Africa. This resolution differed from the earlier Resolution 282, which was only voluntary...
on 4 November 1977 forced the project to be carried out under a cloak of high security. The South African variants were fitted with Gabriel missile
Gabriel missile
Gabriel missiles, created by Israel Aircraft Industries, are a range of anti-ship missiles that use the technique of sea-skimming.- Origin :...
s, otherwise known as 'Scorpion' missiles, and had two Oto Melara
Otobreda 76 mm
The Otobreda 76 mm gun is a naval artillery piece built by the Italian defence conglomerate Otobreda. It is based on the Oto Melara 76mm/L62 Allargato, which was bigger and heavier...
guns instead of a single one with a Phalanx CIWS
Phalanx CIWS
The Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system. It is a close-in weapon system and was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division...
.
In 2000, two of the Israeli boats were sold to the Sri Lankan Navy
Sri Lankan Navy
-The Beginning and World War II:In January 1938 the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force was created with Commander W.G. Beauchamp as Commanding Officer under ordinance No I of 1937. On 31 August 1939 at the out set of World War II, the CNVF was mobilized for war duties...
, forming the Nandimithra Class. It is not certain if these ships retain the Harpoon
Boeing Harpoon
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
missile capability, however these ships retained their Gabriel missile
Gabriel missile
Gabriel missiles, created by Israel Aircraft Industries, are a range of anti-ship missiles that use the technique of sea-skimming.- Origin :...
capability.
The Hellenic Coast Guard
Hellenic Coast Guard
The Hellenic Coast Guard is the national coast guard of Greece. Like most other coast guards, it is a paramilitary organization that can support the Hellenic Navy in wartime, but resides under separate civilian control in times of peace...
uses three Sa'ar 4 patrol boats armed only with a 30 mm gun. A crane is installed at the deck space normally reserved for missiles.
See also
- Saar 4.5 class missile boatSaar 4.5 class missile boatSa'ar 4.5 is a class of Israeli Sea Corps missile boats designed and built by Israel Shipyards Ltd. as an improved and stretched Sa'ar 4-class missile boat...
- Saar 5 class missile boat
- Israeli Sea CorpsIsraeli Sea CorpsThe Israeli Navy is the naval arm of the Israel Defense Forces, operating primarily in the Mediterranean Sea theater as well as the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea theater. The current commander in chief of the Israeli Navy is Aluf Ram Rothberg.-History:...
- Tunis Raid