Iraq purchased six Assad Class ships from Italy in 1981. Four of the six ships were sold to Malaysia and the other two have been laid up in Italy. In 2005 the new Iraqi government inspected the ships for service but determined that the ships were in to poor condition to enter service.
Will these last two ships just rust away in Italy or will they find a buyer who will pay the money to get them back into shape? Who would be the best countries to take on these ships?
By: Jinan - 24th May 2017 at 09:51
Iraqi corvettes set to leave Italy after 28 years
Jeremy Binnie, London – IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly
29 May 2014
The Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and the Iraqi government have signed an agreement that resolves the long-running dispute over two corvettes that Baghdad ordered in 1980.
The two Assad-class corvettes Musa Bin Nussair (F 210) and Tariq Bin Ziad (F 212) were handed over to the Iraqi Navy in 1986, but were still in Italy when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. The subsequent imposition of a UN arms embargo on Baghdad ensured the ships remained at the Italian Navy’s La Spezia base with skeleton Iraqi crews since that point.
The Italian Embassy in Baghdad, which facilitated the negotiations, announced on 15 May that Fincantieri and the Iraqi government had reached “an agreement that paves the way for closing the protracted dispute.” It also said the shipbuilder would modernise the two corvettes, which are 62.3 m long and have a full-load displacement of 680 tonnes.
Original URL http://www.janes.com/article/38508/iraqi-corvettes-set-to-leave-italy-after-28-years (no longer valid)
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/iraq-buys-former-built-corvettes-frigates-from-italy.315706/page-2#post-5728247
Some pics http://militaryedge.org/armaments/assad-class/
The ships are Moussa Ben Nassair (F 210) and Tariq Ibn Ziad (F212) . THey are shipped on ‘Eide Trader’m which belongs to ‘Eide Marine’.
http://www.cittadellaspezia.com/fotogallery/Il-trasferimento-delle-corvette-2353_1.aspx [pics]
http://www.cittadellaspezia.com/La-Spezia/Economia/Le-corvette-irachene-lasciano-l-234206.aspx [article in Italian]
One of the two units, rather pitched for the long stopping, was also taken to the dockyard for controls and maintenance work.
http://www.lanazione.it/la-spezia/cronaca/corvette-iraq-1.3129523 [some pics of ships going into Eide Trader]
http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2017/05/22/2-iraqi-corvettes-to-go-home_af67eed6-8026-41ca-a605-4bcb255bee07.html [some pics of ships going into Eide Trader]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]253646[/ATTACH]
OTO Melara on board of Iraqi corvettes
OTO Melara goes aboard the Musa Bin Nasir and Tariq Bin Ziyad corvettes, as part of an agreement being finalized between Fincantieri and the Iraqi government. The vessels will be equipped with 76/62 guns, one of the most successful solutions of the company.
The 76/62 Super Rapid (SR) Gun Mount is a light weight, rapid-fire naval gun providing unrivalled performance and flexibility in any air defence and anti surface role, particularly in anti-missile role. Capability for very effective engagement of shore based targets is also provided for unique multi-role performance. The 76/62 SR is suitable for installation on ships of any type and class, including small naval units.
OTO Melara is a world leader in design and production from small to large calibre naval guns, with R&D capabilities ranging from naval guns to conventional and guided ammunition, from artillery to turrets, from missile launchers to airborne armament.
La Spezia 23/05/2014
http://www.leonardocompany.com/en/-/oto-melara-corvette
http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/newsb/defence-news/year-2014-news/may-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1814-oto-melara-7662-super-rapid-guns-selected-for-iraqi-navy-corvettes.html
I think they just fixed them up and made them look nice again. Only the unit that had developed a list was put in dock for inspection and maintenance (probably sprang a leak or something). There doesn’t appear to be any new equipment (sensors mainly). No weapons mounted besides gun armament. Aspide SAM launcher and racks for Otomat remain in place, as does hangar facility for heli’s.
Related: http://www.revistanaval.com/archivo-2001-2003/armada_iraq.htm An analysis of the Iraqi Navy (in Spanish)
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=nl&sl=es&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.revistanaval.com%2Farchivo-2001-2003%2Farmada_iraq.htm (translation)
By: J33Nelson - 22nd May 2017 at 14:10
I started this thread 6 years ago. I can’t believe these ships will be entering service after such a long period of time. Anyone know about the refurbishment these ships went through and how long of life they are expected to have?
By: Tango III - 20th May 2017 at 19:50
The two Assad-class corvettes finally left La Spezia, Italy, after +26yrs (!) in order to be delivered to the Iraqi Navy.
By: Bager1968 - 11th March 2011 at 22:42
How old is that pic??
The pic is from Wiki (Italian):
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F-210_Musa_ibn_Nusayr.jpg
Data 1990 circa
You would think Italy would want to get rid of these ships and discount them like crazy and just make a potential buyer to pay for new weapons and upgraded electronics.
According to the link in the post with the pic, they have been scrapped.
By: J33Nelson - 11th March 2011 at 14:41
How old is that pic?? That ship looks in ok condition for how long it has been laid up there. It looks a lot better than most Russian ships that have been laid up for a long time. I am surprised to see the 76mm cannon still on board. You would think Italy would want to get rid of these ships and discount them like crazy and just make a potential buyer to pay for new weapons and upgraded electronics.
By: Tango III - 11th March 2011 at 10:57
The 2 Assad class corvettes that remained nominally ‘Iraqi’ have been moored up in La Spezia Italy since 1987, and are now scrap metal.
In 2005 Iraq made a deal with Fincantieri to write off the 2 Assad class corvettes and instead buy 4 brand new Large Patrol Boats (Saettia Mk 4 patrol boats), which have finally joined the Iraqi navy starting in 2008
By: Bager1968 - 11th March 2011 at 06:06
I expect that part of the condition issue is that they were stripped of parts to support the 4 sold to Malaysia.
Therefore, to bring them into service someone would have to be gullible enough to buy 2 stripped-out hulks that have been rusting away for 30 years… and pay to have their hulls repaired from all the rusting, and to be completely re-equipped with everything that had been removed or which has rusted to unusability, as well as with more modern equipment.
Sign In
March 11, 2011 at 2:55 am
