Al Madinah-class frigate
The Al Madinah class are a series of four frigates built for the Royal Saudi Navy. The ships are named after Saudi cities. The first, Al Madinah was commissioned in 1985, and the fourth, Taif was commissioned in 1986. The four Al Madinah-class frigates are based in the Red Sea.
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Al Madinah class |
| Builders: | Arsenal de Lorient, CNIM, La Seyne, France |
| Operators: |
 |
| In commission: | 1985–present |
| Planned: | 4 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Active: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 377 ft 4 in (115.01 m) |
| Beam: | 41 ft (12 m) |
| Draught: | 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m) |
| Installed power: | 32,500 bhp (24,200 kW) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft, SEMT Pielstick diesel engines |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range: | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement: | 179 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 1 × SA365F Dauphin helicopter |
| Aviation facilities: | Flight deck and hangar |
Description
The frigates were ordered in October 1980 as part of the "Sawari" programme. The Al Madinah class was built in France at the Arsenal de Marine, Lorient (French Government Dockyard and CNIM, La Seyne in the mid-1980s. Their full load displacement is 2,610 tons and they are armed with eight Otomat surface-to-surface missiles, one 8-cell Crotale surface-to-air missile launcher, with 26 missiles total. The vessels are also armed with one 100 mm/44 dual purpose gun, two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, four torpedo tubes. The frigates have an aft helicopter deck and hangar for use by one Dauphin helicopter.[1]
Ships in class
| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 702 Al Madinah | Arsenal de Lorient | 15 October 1981 | 23 April 1983 | 4 January 1985 |
| 704 Hofouf | CNIM, La Seyne | 14 June 1982 | 24 June 1983 | 31 October 1985 |
| 706 Abha | CNIM, La Seyne | 17 December 1982 | 23 December 1983 | 4 April 1986 |
| 708 Taif | CNIM, La Seyne | 1 March 1983 | 25 May 1984 | 29 August 1986 |
Service history
In August 2013, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French ODAS agency signed a contract to upgrade and modernize the Al Medinah-class frigates.[2]
On 30 January 2017, Al Madinah was attacked by Yemeni Houthi militia along the western coast of Yemen in the Red Sea. Two Saudi sailors were killed and three injured in the attack.[3][4]
Citations
- "Al Madinah". deagel.com. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- "DCNS, Thales, MBDA win billion-euro defense contract to upgrade Royal Saudi Navy vessels". navyrecognition.com. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- "Royal Saudi Navy Al Madinah-class Frigate Damaged Following Attack by Houthi Militia Off Yemen". navyrecognition.com. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- "Photos: Saudi Al Madinah-class frigate which was targeted by Houthis arrives to Jeddah". defense-watch.com. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
Further reading
- Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0-85177-605-1. OCLC 34284130. Also published as Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7. OCLC 34267261.