Tariq-class destroyer

The PNS Babur, the Tariq class destroyer, in 2004
Class overview
Name: Tariq
Builders:
Operators: Pakistan Navy
Preceded by: Type-12 Leander
Succeeded by: F-22P Zulfiquar
Cost: $120 million USD (2002):97-98[1]
Built: 1969–1975
In commission: 1993–
Building: 6
Completed: 6
Active: 4
Retired: 2[2]
General characteristics
Class and type: Amazon-class/Type 21
Type: Destroyer
Displacement:
  • As builtin England:
    • 3,250 long tons (3,302 t) full load
  • As modernized in Pakistan:
    • 3,700 long tons (3,759 t) full load
Length: 384 ft (117 m) o/a
Beam: 41 ft 7 in (12.67 m)
Draft: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range:
  • 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 17 kn (31 km/h)
  • 1,200 nmi (2,200 km) at 30 kn (56 km/h)
Troops: 2 × Btn, Pakistan Marines
Complement: 15 Officers, 200 Enlists
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:		 TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System)
Armament:
Aircraft carried:
Aviation facilities: Flight deck and hangar

The Tariq-class destroyer are the class of the destroyer warships that were acquired through transfer from the Royal Navy in 1993–94. The Tariq were formerly commissioned in the Royal Navy's Surface Fleet as the Amazon-class/Type 21 as they were only classified as "general purpose frigates" in the Royal Navy.[3]

The frigates were immediately acquired when the United States refused to renew the lease of the four Garcia and four Brooke-class frigates, due to the enforcement of the Pressler Amendmentl therefore, Pakistan had to return to the United States at the end of their five-year lease.

In 2008, the Pakistan Navy had carried out a successful test of Camcopter S-100, an Unmanned aerial vehicles, from the flight deck of the Tariq-class destroyer.[4]

Ships

ImagePNS DesignationRN DesignationCommissioned with RNFate
BaburAmazonCommissioned in the Royal Navy in 1974Transferred in 1993 to Pakistan Navy. Decommissioned in 2015.[5]
TariqAmbuscadeCommissioned into Royal Navy in 1975.Transferred to Pakistan Navy in 1993, currently in active duty service as the lead ship of her class.
Tippu SultanAvengerCommissioned into Royal Navy in 1975Transferred to Pakistan Navy in 1994, currently in active duty service.
KhaibarArrowCommissioned into Royal Navy in 1976Transferred to Pakistan Navy in 1994, currently in active duty service.
BadrAlacrityCommissioned into Royal Navy in 1977Transferred to Pakistan Navy in 1994. Decommissioned in 2014.[2]
Shah JahanActiveCommissioned into Royal Navy in 1977Transferred in 1994 to Pakistan Navy, currently in active duty service.

Negotiation and procurement

Procurement and negotiation of acquiring the Type 21 frigates dates back to 1966 when the United Kingdom first offered to Pakistan to jointly built three Type 21 frigates but the Ayub administration rejected the proposal who wanted to allocate the funds to acquire Daphné-class submarines from France.:63[6]

In 1987–88, Adm. T. K. Khan entered in negotiating with the Royal Navy and began lobbying to the Zia administration for releasing the funds to acquire the Amazon-class frigates in 1988.:62-63[7] Despite the initial efforts with the Royal Navy, Pakistan Navy went towards leasing out the four Garcia and the four Brooke-class warships from the United States Navy in 1988, selected based on the technological evaluation and Pakistani military specifications.:147-148[6]:97[1] The lease was set for five years with an option of renewing or purchasing the lease afterwards based on the mutual understanding between two nations.:148[6]

After the enforcement of the military embargo by the U.S. Congress in 1994, the lease was not renewed, therefore, the eight warships had to be returned to the U.S. Navy, resulting Pakistan's sea borders vulnerable to the war time activities of the Indian Navy.:148[6]:476[8]

During this time, Adm. S.M. Khan used his personal relations with the Adm. of the Flt. Sir Julian Oswald, who helped him with negotiate with the British government to immediately procured and acquired the entire frigates of the Amazon-class/Type 21 from the Royal Navy in 1993-94.:476[8] The Pakistan MoD purchased the entire fleet of Type 21 frigates from the United Kingdom at a price of US$60 million, and reportedly spent nearly the same amount on classifying and modernizing the warships from their role as the "general purpose frigates" to the "destroyer" standards.:97-98[1]

On 1 November 1993, the lead ship, Tariq (formerly HMS Ambuscade), reported to its base in Karachi and the transfer all warships completed on 1 January 1995.[9] The induction of the Tariq-class destroyer marked the replacement of the Garcia and Brooke-class destroyers in the Pakistan Navy's surface command.[9]

Modernization

In 2002, it was reported that Pakistan had spent additional US$60 million to modernize the Tariq-class fleet according their Navy's specification from the "general purpose frigates" to the combat variant "destroyer" standards.:97-98[1] In the service of the Royal Navy, the Exocet, torpedo tubes, and Lynx helicopters were distinct features in the Amazon/Type 21 frigates.[5] With the Pakistan Navy's service, Exocet missiles were removed as well as torpedo tubes which were subsequently removed in all warships with the exception made in Badr and Shah Jahan.[9]

The weapon systems and computers fitted in the Tariq features the Swedish technology.[9] The flight deck and the Lynx helicopters were remained fitted with the Tariq and arrived in Karachi with their respected warships.[9]

The Royal Navy did not transfer the Exocet and Seacat missiles that were replaced with the Chinese-made LY-60 SAM system.[9] Instead, the more capable U.S.-built Harpoon missiles were installed that replaces the British's weapon system.[9] Extensive installation of computer software and missile deployments allowed the classification of Tariq from the DDE (destroyer escort) to the DDG (guided missile), with lead ship featuring the mixed installation of Zarb, Harpoon, and LY-60 guided missiles.[9]

In 2008, it was reported by the ISPR that the Pakistan Navy have successfully tested a flight takeoff and landing of the Camcopter S-100 UAV from the Tariq-class flight deck.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cheema, Pervaiz Iqbal (2002). "Evolution of the Navy". The Armed Forces of Pakistan (google books) (1st ed.). NYU Press. p. 200. ISBN 9780814716335. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 Ansari, Usman (19 May 2014). "Reports: Increase in Pakistan Defense and Nuclear Budgets Likely". Defense News. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  3. ↑ ]
  4. ↑ Camcopter S-100 – Continued Success In Shipboard Trials (PDF), Schiebel Elektronische Geraete GmbH, 14 April 2008
  5. 1 2 "Sailing under a different flag – former Royal Navy vessels serving with other navies" (html). Save the Royal Navy. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Goldrick, RAN, R. Adm James (1997). "Pakistan Navy: 1947–71". No Easy Answers: The Development of the Navies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, 1945-1996 (PDF) (1st ed.). Surrey, Eng.: Lancer Publishers. p. 269. ISBN 9781897829028. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Anwar, Muhammad (2006). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer (1st ed.). London, UK: AuthorHouse. p. 275. ISBN 9781425900205. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  8. 1 2 Shah, Mian Zahir (2001). Bubbles of Water: Or, Anecdotes of the Pakistan Navy. Karachi, Pakistan: PN Book Club Publication. p. 487. ISBN 9789698318031. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Shabbir, Usman (1 June 2003). "Tariq (Amazon) Class (TYPE 21) (DD/FF) « PakDef Military Consortium" (html). pakdef.org. Karachi, Sindh Pak.: Pakistan Military Consortium. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  10. ↑ Camcopter S-100 – Continued Success In Shipboard Trials (PDF), Schiebel Elektronische Geraete GmbH, 14 April 2008
  • "Tariq (Amazon) Class (TYPE 21) (DD/FF) « PakDef Military Consortium". pakdef.org.
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