Osprey 55-class gunboat
![]() Osprey 55-class gunboat P-19 HSNavmachosat Faliron Bay,Greece.
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Builders |
|
Operators | |
Built | 1986–1990 |
Completed | 7 |
Active | 7 |
General characteristicsArmatolosclass (after re-arming)[1] | |
Type | Gunboat |
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 |
|
Speed | 25 kn (29 mph; 46 km/h) |
Range |
|
Troops | 25 |
Complement | 36 |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Electronic warfare & decoys | Thomson-CSF DR 2000SESM |
Armament |
|
TheOsprey 55-class gunboatis aDanish-designed class of naval ship currently in service in theHellenic NavyandRoyal Moroccan Navy.Two ships were ordered byGreecein March 1988 and built byHellenic 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-millimetre (3 in) guns replaced theBofors 40 mm (1.6 in) gunsin 1995, after being taken from decommissionedGearing-classdestroyers.Options on more of the class were shelved in favour of the slightly largerHSY-55 class.
Four other ships were ordered by theRoyal Moroccan Navyall received between 1987 and 1990.[2]Built inFrederikshavn,Denmark,they were only armed with oneBofors 40 mmand twoOerlikon 20 mm cannon.[3]El Lahiqis equipped with a cartographic sonar and North American navigation systems forhydrographicresearch.[4]
Incidents at sea[edit]
On 4 May 2018 a Turkish-flagged cargo ship namedKarmate(IMO: 8135461, MMSI: 271002030)[5]collided with HSArmatolosP-18 off the coast of the island ofLesbos,while the gunboat was participating in aNATOmission (called Aegean Activity for controlling migrant flows into the Aegean) in theAegean Sea.[6][7][8]According to available information, before the collision the captain of the gunboat sounded warning horns and sent repeated radio messages but there was no response from the Turkish ship while the Turkish ship violated maritime safety rules (like giving priority to a military vessel). The damage to the Greek gunboat was very small according to the available information from the Greek minister of defence.
Ships[edit]
Pennant number |
Name | Navy | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greece | ||||||
P 18 | Armatolos[9] | ![]() |
Hellenic Shipyards Co. | 19 December 1989[1] | 27 March 1990 | In service (2020)[1] |
P 19 | Navmachos[10] | ![]() |
Hellenic Shipyards Co. | 16 May 1990[1] | 15 July 1990 | In service (2020)[1] |
Morocco | ||||||
308 | El Lahiq | ![]() |
Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | July 1987 | 11 November 1987 | In service (2018) |
309 | El Tawfiq | ![]() |
Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | October 1987 | 31 January 1988 | In service (2018) |
316 | El Hamiss | ![]() |
Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | April 1990 | 9 August 1990 | In service (2018) |
317 | El Karib | ![]() |
Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | July 1990 | 23 September 1990 | In service (2018) |
Senegal | ||||||
Without number | Fouta | ![]() |
Danyard A/S Frederickhaven | March 1987 | 1 June 1987 | In service (2018) |
References[edit]
- ^abcdeSaunders 2002, p. 282.
- ^"El Lahiq Osprey-55 class patrol vessel Moroccan Navy".
- ^Saunders 2002, p. 471.
- ^"Eugenio´s Warships - 308 El Lahiq".
- ^Vessel details for KARMATE, marrinetraffic.com
- ^Turkish cargo vessel collides with Greek warship, article in thetimes.co.uk (04/05/2018)
- ^pTurkish trading vessel collides with Greek navy patrol boat, ekatimerini.com (04/05/2018)
- ^Turkish Cargo Ship, Greek Warship Collide in Aegean, nytimes.com (04/05/2018)
- ^Ship's characteristics, Hellenic Navy official website
- ^Ship's characteristics, Hellenic Navy official website
Sources[edit]
- Baker, A.D. (1998).The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999.Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-111-4.
- Saunders, Stephen (2002).Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003.Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group.ISBN0710624328.
- Hellenic Navy website