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
IranIran
NameFalakhon
NamesakeFalakhon
OperatorIslamic Republic of Iran Navy
Ordered19 February 1974
BuilderConstructions de Mécaniques, Cherbourg
Laid down15 March 1976
Launched2 June 1977
Commissioned31 March 1978
StatusIn service
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeKaman-class fast attack craft
Displacement
  • 249 tons standard
  • 275 tons full load
Length47 m (154 ft 2 in)
Beam7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)
Draft1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Installed power4 × MTU 16V538 TB91 diesels, 14,400 brake horsepower (10.7 MW)
Propulsion4 × shafts
Speed36 knots (67 km/h)
Range2,000 miles (3,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h); 700 miles (1,100 km) at 33.7 knots (62.4 km/h)
Complement30
Armament
NotesAs reported by Jane's (1979)[1]

Construction and commissioning

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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

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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]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 256. ISBN 0-354-00587-1.
  2. ^ a b c 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
  3. ^ Razoux, Pierre (2015). The Iran-Iraq War. Harvard University Press. Appendix D, Table D6, p. 528. ISBN 978-0-674-91571-8.
  4. ^ "Iranian naval fleet arrives in Pakistan", Islamic Republic News Agency, 2 May 2014, retrieved 5 August 2020
  5. ^ "Iranian Navy's Ghadir Submarine Returns Home from Indian Ocean Mission", Fars News Agency, 14 May 2014, retrieved 5 August 2020
  6. ^ 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), no. 164, Appendix E: IRIN's Long-range Task Forces And Naval Visits Abroad, pp. 64–74, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2020, retrieved 15 July 2020