Posted on 06/23/2009 6:02:09 PM PDT by SandRat
The latest addition to the Iraqi Navy fleet, Patrol Ship “The Fatah,” arrives at the Port of Umm Qasr, June 21. Courtesy photo.
UMM QASR — Leading a procession of Iraqi Navy (IqN) ships and escorted by three MI-17 helicopters, the latest addition to the Iraqi fleet, Patrol Ship “The Fatah,” arrived in port here, June 21.
Fatah is the first of four ships contracted from the Fincantieri Shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, and is being designated as the flagship of the IqN.
The 34-member Iraqi crew sailed the Fatah here from La Spezia, completing a 5,100-nautical mile, 26-day voyage. The journey brought the ship through the Mediterranean Sea, transiting the Suez Canal and eventually navigating around the Arabian Peninsula.
Iraq Minister of Defense, Abd Al Qadr, began his remarks by conveying the Iraqi Prime Ministers’ pleasure with receiving the first of four vessels that will provide a protection capability for his Navy over the coming years.
“We have carved out these naval vessels from the food of our people, so you have to protect them, take care of them and provide maintenance for them,” Abd Al Qadr said. “I repeat it is provided to you, rather building schools or hospitals or other things, in order to have all the protection for your people and sons of your people.
“I remind you this is with the support of the Government of National Unity and the Iraqi parliament to develop our armed forces and assume full independence for protecting Iraq’s land, airspace and waters.”
Italian Ambassador to Iraq, Maurizio Melani, announced, “The Iraqi fleet has been enriched by this vessel and it has the duty to defend the territorial waters and the natural resources of Iraq. The capability is extremely important to the prosperity, wealth, stability and security of Iraq.
“Together with its partners with the European Union and NATO, Italy wants to support the capacity building of Iraq in the security field. I congratulate you for this achievement and I would like to stress the solidarity and support to the country of Iraq.”
The Naval Advisory and Training Team for Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq will continue to help train the IqN. MNSTC-I’s goal is to develop a capable-and-responsive force, properly organized, trained, equipped, stationed, and sustained with appropriate procedures in place to support naval forces conducting maritime security operations in the region.
(Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq Release)
Looks about the sized of the boat we go fishing on around Catalina island, off the southern California coast.
But she's about the size of the Cyclone Class that we operatein those waters, and off the Horn of Africa.Here is a better picture of her/him . Still at the dock in Italy I believe.
She's a lot bigger than what they had before she was delivered.
Cyclone class boat.
Cyclone Class:
Displacement: 331 tons (336 metric tons) full load
Length: 170 ft (52 m)
Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m)
Propulsion: Four Paxman diesels; four shafts; 3,350 shaft horsepower (2.50 MW)
Speed: 35 knots (40 mph; 65 km/h)
Crew: Four officers, 24 enlisted personnel
Armament: 1 × MK 96 autocannon
1 × MK 38 25 mm autocannon
5 × .50 caliber machine guns
2 × MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launchers
2 × M60 machine guns
Displacement: 401 tons (standard) Length: 53.4 m (175 ft) (overall) Beam: 8.10 m (26.6 ft)
Draft: 5.4 m (18 ft)
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 x V1716 T2 MSD diesel Isotta Fraschini, variable pitch propelers. (2.36MW)
Speed: 23 knots (43 km/h)
Range: 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement: 38
Armament: 1xpcs 30 mm
1 Small Caliber Gun
So Fatah is bigger with a larger crew, but slower and armed with a single 30 mm Cannon rather than the two 25mm ones the US ship mounts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.