Algerian frigate Rais Korfou

	Rais Korfou in Málaga, c. 1990s
History
Soviet Union
Name	SKR-129
Builder	A.M. Gorky Shipyard, Zelenodolsk, Tatar ASSR
Yard number	254
Laid down	7 July 1982
Launched	11 November 1983
Commissioned	30 August 1984
Identification	Hull number: 844
Fate	Transferred to Algeria October 1984
Algeria
Name	Rais Korfou; (رايس قورصو);
Namesake	Hasan Corso
Commissioned	3 January 1985
Homeport	Mers El Kébir
Identification	Pennant number: 903
Status	In active service
General characteristics
Type	Koni II-class frigate
Displacement	1,463 t (1,440 long tons) standard; 1,930 t (1,900 long tons) full load;
Length	96.4 m (316 ft)
Beam	12.6 m (41 ft)
Draught	3.5 m (11 ft)
Propulsion	CODAG; 2 × Russki B-68 diesel engines, 11,630 kilowatts (15,600 shp); 1 × SGW Nikolayev M8B gas turbine, 13,250 kilowatts (17,770 shp); 3 × shafts;
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h)
Range	1,800 NM (3,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement	130
Sensors and ; processing systems	Pozitiv-ME1.2 air/surface search radar; 3P-60 UE weapons control; MR-104 Rys fire control radar; MPZ-301 fire control radar; Don-2 navigation radar; "High Pole B" IFF; MG-322 sonar;
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	NRJ-6A ESM; 2 × PJ-46 decoy launchers;
Armament	2 × twin-barrel 76 mm AK-726; 2 × twin-barrel 30 mm AK-230; 2 × 2 533 mm torpedo launchers ; 2 × RBU-6000 Smerch-2 anti-submarine rockets; 2 × depth charge racks; 22 × naval mines;

Rais Korfou (903) (Arabic: رايس قورصو, also transliterated Rais Korfo or Rais Korfu) is a Koni II-class frigate of the Algerian National Navy.

Design and description

Rais Korfou is a Project 1159T frigate (NATO reporting name: Koni II). The frigate has a length of 96.4 m (316 ft), beam of 12.6 m (41 ft) and draught of 3.5 m (11 ft). The frigate has a displacement of 1,463 tonnes (1,440 long tons) standard and 1,930 tonnes (1,900 long tons) at full load. The ship is powered by combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system, consisted of one SGW Nikolayev M8B gas turbine with 13,250 kilowatts (17,770 shp) and two Russki B-68 diesel engines with 11,630 kilowatts (15,600 shp) connected to three shafts. She has a top speed of 27 knots (50 km/h) with gas turbine and 22 knots (41 km/h) with diesels only, and range of 1,800 NM (3,300 km) with cruising speed of 14 knots (26 km/h). The ship has a complement of 130 personnel.^[1]

The ship is armed with two AK-726 twin-barrel 76 mm guns and two AK-230 twin-barrel 30 mm autocannons. For anti-submarine warfare, the frigate are equipped with a pair of RBU-6000 213 mm (8 in) Smerch-2 12-barrel anti-submarine rocket launchers and two depth charge racks. The ship could also carry 22 naval mines.^[1] As built, Rais Korfou was equipped with one 4K33 Osa-M (SA-N-4 'Gecko') twin missile launcher with capacity of 20 missiles for anti-aircraft and limited anti-surface capability.^[2]^[3]

As built, the ship sensor suites includes 3P-60 UE weapons control, MR-302 Rubka ("Strut Curve") air/surface search radar, Don-2 navigation radar, "High Pole B" IFF, "Watch Dog" and "Quad Loop" Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems, two optronic directors, and MG-322 hull-mounted sonar. Fire control for the weapons consisted of Fut-B ("Hawk Screech") radar for the 76 mm guns, MR-104 Rys ("Drum Tilt") radar for the 30 mm autocannons, and MPZ-301 ("Pop Group") radar for missile control. The vessel was also equipped with two PK-16 decoy-dispenser system which used chaff as a form of missile defense.^[3]

Modernization

Rais Korfou underwent a modernization refit in Kronstadt from 1997 to November 2000. The refit included the replacement of MR-302 Rubka with Pozitiv-ME1.2 radar, the removal of 4K33 Osa-M missile launcher and Fut-B radar, fitting of two twin 533 mm torpedo launchers amidships and replacement of ESM and decoy systems with new NRJ-6A ESM system and two PJ-46 decoy launchers.^[1]

Construction and career

The frigate was laid down on 7 July 1982 at the A.M. Gorky Shipyard in Zelenodolsk with yard number 254. Launched on 11 November 1983, the ship was temporarily commissioned with the Soviet Navy on 30 August 1984 as SKR-129 with hull number 844.^[4]

The ship departed Soviet Union for Algeria in October 1984.^[2] She was commissioned into Algerian National Navy as Rais Korfou in Algiers on 3 January 1985.^[3]

References

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c Saunders 2015, p. 4.
^ ^a ^b Sharpe 1989, p. 4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Saunders 2004, p. 5.
^ "Guard Ships - Project 1159". russian-ships.info. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

Bibliography

Sharpe, Richard (1989). Jane's Fighting Ships 1989-90. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710608864.
Saunders, Stephen (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710626233.
Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2015). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. IHS Global Limited. ISBN 978-0-7106-3143-5.

External links

Media related to 903 Rais Korfou (ship, 1985) at Wikimedia Commons

[FOOTNOTESaunders20154-1] Saunders 2015, p. 4.

[FOOTNOTESharpe19894-2] Sharpe 1989, p. 4.

[FOOTNOTESaunders20045-3] Saunders 2004, p. 5.

[4] "Guard Ships - Project 1159". russian-ships.info. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2023.

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