NAVYPEDIA

Photo

1973

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
סער [Sa'ar]	331		CMN, Cherbourg, France		25.11.1968	1970	stricken 1990
סופה [Soufa]	332		CMN, Cherbourg, France		4.2.1969	1970	stricken 1992
געש [Ga'ash]	333		CMN, Cherbourg, France		24.6.1969	1970	stricken 1990
חרב [Herev]	341		CMN, Cherbourg, France		20.6.1969	1970	stricken 1990
חנית [Hanit]	342		CMN, Cherbourg, France		1969	1970	to Chile 1988 (Iquique)
חץ [Hetz]	343		CMN, Cherbourg, France		14.12.1969	1970	to Chile 1988 (Covadonga)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	220
Displacement full, t	250
Length, m	44.9
Breadth, m	7.00
Draught, m	1.70 mean 2.50 deep
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 Maybach-Mercedes MD872 diesels
Power, h. p.	13500
Max speed, kts	42
Fuel, t	diesel oil 30
Endurance, nm(kts)	2500(15)
Armament	2 x 3 or (1 x 3 + 1 x 2) Gabriel Mk 1 SSM, 1 x 1 - 76/62 OTO-Melara Compact, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90
Electronic equipment	TH-D1040 Neptune, RTN-10X Orion radars
Complement	35 - 40

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Built by CMN, Cherbourg, although designed by Lürssen Werft of Bremen. Classified as 'Sa'ar 3' class. Last five escaped to Israel from Cherbourg on 24 December 1969 nominally as Norwegian oilfield supply craft named Starboat I-V under Panamanian flag despite the French arms embargo. Arrived in Israel January 1970 after world publicity for their endurance and seaworthiness. Sa'ar delivered after the embargo was lifted.

Modernizations

1980s, all: + 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, MN53 ECM or NS-9000 suite, 6 24-tube decoy launchers and 4 single-tube decoy launchers

1980s, all: - 2 x 3 or (1 x 3 + 1 x 2) Gabriel Mk 1 SSM; + 2 x 1 Harpoon SSM (2 RGM-84C), 1 x 3 Gabriel Mk 2 SSM (3 Gabriel Mk 2)

Naval service

No significant events.