IRIS Falakhon (P226)
IRIS Falakhon (Persian: فلاخن, lit. 'Sling') is a Kaman-class fast attack craft in the Southern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Iran | |
| Name: | Falakhon |
| Namesake: | Falakhon |
| Operator: | Islamic Republic of Iran Navy |
| Ordered: | 19 February 1974 |
| Builder: | Constructions de Mécaniques, Cherbourg |
| Laid down: | 15 March 1976 |
| Launched: | 2 June 1977 |
| Commissioned: | 31 March 1978 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type: | Kaman-class fast attack craft |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 47 m (154 ft 2 in) |
| Beam: | 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in) |
| Draft: | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Installed power: | 4 × MTU 16V538 TB91 diesels, 14,400 brake horsepower (10.7 MW) |
| Propulsion: | 4 × shafts |
| Speed: | 36 knots (67 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,000 miles (3,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h); 700 miles (1,100 km) at 33.7 knots (62.4 km/h) |
| Complement: | 30 |
| Armament: | |
| Notes: | As reported by Jane's (1979)[1] |
Construction and commissioning
Falakhon was built by French Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie at Cherbourg, as one of the first six contracted on 19 February 1974.[2] Her keel was laid down on 15 March 1976 and on 2 June 1977, she was launched.[2] Falakhon was commissioned into the fleet on 31 March 1978, together with Shamshir and Paykan.[2]
Service history
During Iran-Iraq War, her home port was Bushehr Naval Base.[3] She was part of the naval group –together with Khanjar (P230), Hendijan (1401), Deylam (424) and Ghadir (953)– that arrived at Karachi on 2 May 2014 for a five-day joint exercise with Pakistan Navy,[4] and returned home on 14 May 2014.[5] From 8 to 15 April 2017, along with Sabalan (73) and Lavan (514), she participated in a join naval drill with the Royal Navy of Oman.[6]
References
- Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 256. ISBN 0-354-00587-1.
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysaw, eds. (1996), "Iran", Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1947–1995, Conway Maritime Press, pp. 183–188, ISBN 978-1557501325
- Razoux, Pierre (2015). The Iran-Iraq War. Harvard University Press. Appendix D, Table D6, p. 528. ISBN 978-0-674-91571-8.
- "Iranian naval fleet arrives in Pakistan", Islamic Republic News Agency, 2 May 2014, retrieved 5 August 2020
- "Iranian Navy's Ghadir Submarine Returns Home from Indian Ocean Mission", Fars News Agency, 14 May 2014, retrieved 5 August 2020
- Nadimi, Farzin (April 2020), "Iran's Evolving Approach to Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Strategy and Capabilities in the Persian Gulf" (PDF), The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (Policy Focus) (164), Appendix E: IRIN’s Long-range Task Forces And Naval Visits Abroad, pp. 64–74, retrieved 15 July 2020