Kingdom of Saudi Arabian Navy in Twilight

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Navy in Twilight

Personnel: 10,200 (including 1,200 Marines).

Naval Aviation: 18 SA-365F/AS Dauphin for ship-based attack/ASW; 4 SA-365N Dauphin for SAR, 6 SA-332F Super Puma attack helo and 6 AS-332B1 Super Puma transport helos.

0 + 10 Diesel-Electric Attack Submarines
Saudi Arabia has plans to purchase up to ten submarines, the current runner-ups are the Dutch Walrus/Zeeleeuw/Moray-class, the British Type 2400; the West German IKL 2000; the Swedish Kockums Type 471, a French design and a Italian design. As of 1992, no contracts have been approved. Reports that the Saudis have ordered midget submarines from South Korea are incorrect.

0 + 3 F-3000-class Guided Missile Frigates
Displacement of 3,800 tons. Speed of 28kts. Crew of 180. Armament consists of two quad Exocet MM40 or Otomat SSM launchers, one Aster-15 VLS SAM system, one single 100mm/55 Compact, four single 533mm torpedo tubes, one SA-365F/AS Dauphin helo. To be built in France contact signed in 1989, no order placed as of 1992. Plans are to have the first one launched in 1995 and the last in 1998. The above information is provisional, there are already plans to update the SSM/SAM launchers.

4 Al Madinah-class Guided Missile Frigates
702 Al Madinah; 704 Hofouf; 706 Abha; 708 Taif
Displacement of 2,610 tons. Speed of 30kts. Crew of 179. Armament consists of two quad Otomat Mk2 SSM launchers, one eight-cell Crotale ERIS SAM launcher, one single 100mm/55 Compact, two twin 40mm Breda AA guns, four 533mm ASW torpedo tubes, 1 Dauphin ASW helo. Considered to be very complex ships with a great deal of new, untried electronic equipment.

4 US PCG-class Guided Missile Corvettes
612 Badr; 614 Al-Yarmook; 616 Hitteen; 618 Tabuk
Displacement of 1,038 tons. Speed of 30kts. Crew of 58. Armament consists of two quad Harpoon launchers, on Mk75 76mm/62 gun, one Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, one single 81mm mortar, two single Mk18 auto grenade launchers, two triple 4324mm ASW torpedo tubes. Program delayed well behind schedule, with the ships considerably overloaded.

9 US PGG-class Guided Missile Patrol Boats
511 As-Siddiq; 513 Al-Farouq; 515 Abdul-Aziz; 517 Faisal; 519 Khalid; 521 Amr; 523 Tariq; 525 Oqbah; 527 Abu Obaidah
Displacement of 495 tons. Speed of 34kts. Crew of 38. Armament consists of two twin Harpoon launchers, on Mk75 76mm/62, one Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, two single 20mm, one 81mm mortar, two single Mk19 auto grenade launchers. Delivered behind schedule and considerably over designed displacement.

3 ex German Jaguar-class Torpedo Boats
Al Dammam; Khybar; Makkah
Displacement of 210 tons. Speed of 40kts. Crew of 36. Armament consists of two single 40mm Bofors AA guns, four single 533mm torpedo tubes. Used for training and nearing the end of their service lives; one is reportedly in reserve and the remaining seldom leave the pier.

2 + 4 UK Sandown-class Minehunters
420 Al Jawf; 422 Shaqra; 424 Al Kharg; 426 Onizah; 428 Al Rass; 430 Al Bahain
Displacement of 465 tons. Speed of 15kts. Crew of 47. Armament consists of one twin 30mm AA guns. Last four to enter service 1994-1997. Has two PAP-104 mine hunting submersibles and carries mine-disposal divers.

4 US MSC 322-class Minesweepers
412 Addiriyah; 414 Al-Quysumah; 416 AL-Wadeeah; 418 Safwa
Displacement of 407 tons. Speed of 14kts. Crew of 39. Armament consists of one twin 20mm AA gun. Used primarily patrol boats and are fitted with mechanical minesweeping gear.

4 US LCU-1646-class Utility Landing Craft
Displacement of 403 tons. Speed of 11kts. Crew of 14 + 20 troops. Armament consists of two single 20mm AA guns. Cargo capacity of 168 tons.

8 US LCM(8) Landing Craft
Displacement of 58 tons. Speed of 13kts. Crew of 5. Armament consists of two single Mk19 auto grenade launchers. Can carry 30 tons of cargo or 80 troops.

Source is the “Combat Fleets of the World: 1993”