The Alvand class (), or Saam class () (also known as the Vosper Mark V class) was originally a class of four frigates built for the Imperial Iranian Navy. They were renamed following the Iranian Revolution, and served in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy during the Iran–Iraq War.

Only one remains in service.

IRIS Sahand was sunk by the U.S. Navy during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988.

Two were sunk during the 2026 Iran war.

{| class="wikitable col1center"

|+ Ships in the class

! scope=col | Image

! scope=col | Ship

! scope=col | Pennant number

! scope=col | Builder

! scope=col | Laid down

! scope=col | Launched

! scope=col | Commissioned

! scope=col | Status

|-

| 200px|alt=IRIS Alvand

! scope="row" | (ex-Saam)

| 71 (ex DE 12)

| Vosper Thornycroft

| 3 March 1968

| 25 July 1968

| May 1971

| style="background:#f8d7da;" | Sunk during the 2026 attack on Bandar Abbas.

|-

| 200px|alt=IRIS Alborz

! scope="row" | (ex-Zaal)

| 72 (ex DE 14)

| Vickers

| 3 March 1968

| 4 March 1969

| 1 March 1971

| style="background:#d8f0d2;" | In service (in dry dock).

|-

| 200px|alt=IRIS Sabalan

! scope="row" | (ex-Rostam)

| 73 (ex DE 16)

| Vickers

|

| 4 March 1969

| 26 May 1972

| style="background:#f8d7da;" | Sunk during the 2026 attack on Bandar Abbas.

  • ASuW – 1 × quintuple Sea Killer Mk2 surface-to-surface missile
  • AAW – 1 × triple Sea Cat surface-to-air missile launcher
  • ASW – 1 × 3 barrelled Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10 Limbo launcher
  • Guns – 1 × Mark 8 Mod 0 4.5 inch general purpose & 1 × twin 35mm Oerlikon AA
  • Electronics – Plessey AWS 1 air surveillance radar with on-mounted IFF; 2 × Contraves Seahunter systems (For use with Sea cat, Sea Killer & the 35mm mount); Decca RDL 1 passive direction finding equipment

They were refitted in the UK shortly before the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

History

The ships were originally named after characters from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. After the Islamic Revolution, they were renamed after mountains in Iran.

They saw action during the "Tanker War" phase of the Iran–Iraq War and proved effective against Iraqi forces. After one was sunk and another damaged during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988 they saw little further use, as the Iranian Navy proved no match for the U.S. Navy.

An Alvand-class frigate in port at Konarak, Iran was reported to have been struck from the air during the 2026 Iran war.

Upgrades

The Sea Killer missiles were replaced by Chinese made C-802s in the 1990s. The Sea Cats were replaced by the addition of a AA gun.

Two triple torpedo tubes, two mortars and two 0.50 caliber machine guns were also fitted.

See also

  • Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
  • Current Iranian Navy vessels

References

Sources

  • https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224923/http://www.iinavy.org/faramarz.htm
  • http://www.mafhoum.com/press8/237P2.pdf
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20041222105239/http://www.ii.uj.edu.pl/~artur/enc/F2.htm
  • Photos of Alvand-class frigates in Operation Praying Mantis