Iranian Navy in the vastness of the World Ocean - a round-the-world voyage
"Makran"
On May 20, 2023, the ships of the 86th flotilla of the Iranian Navy (not to be confused with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy), consisting of the floating base "Makran" and the frigate "Dena", returned to the port of Bandar Abbas after a 236-day round-the-world voyage, the first in stories Iranian fleet, 35,1 thousand nautical miles long.
Tanker "Beta"
Makran is the largest vessel in the Iranian Navy, converted from a large-capacity Aframax tanker built in a Japanese shipyard in 2010.
Main characteristics of the tanker "Beta" (IMO 9486910):
Maximum length, m - 229,60
Width, m — 42,03
Draft, m - 14,70
Displacement, t — 121
Deadweight, t — 105 319
Speed, knots — 14,5.
The refit was carried out at the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co (ISOICO) shipyard. Following sea trials in December 2020, the vessel entered service with the Islamic Republic Navy on 12 January 2021.
Conversion of a tanker into a floating base
As a result of the conversion, the former tanker received a landing pad capable of using heavy helicopters and Drones, hangar. The vessel also received the ability to transport and launch/lift on board small combat boats and mini-submarines.
Makrana runway
Facilities were equipped for storing various supplies and supplies, allowing the Makran to remain autonomously at sea for at least 1000 days, as well as to support the activities of five warships for three months.
According to Iranian media reports, the floating base is equipped with two Augusta Bell 212 helicopters, primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare, two ASH-3D Sea King helicopters, one RH-53D Sea Stallion with the ability to lay and sweep sea mines, Pelican-2 vertical takeoff and landing UAVs with a range of up to 1200 km, six small high-speed missile boats and four fast Zulficar-class mini-submarines of North Korean design. On board can be special forces units and combat swimmers.
Helicopters Augusta Bell 212, RH-53D «Sea Stallion», ASH-3D «Sea King»
UAV "Pelican-2"
The Makran is armed with Shahid Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis cruise missiles with a range of 1000 km and Ghadir anti-ship missiles (330 km), and possibly anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, the ship is armed with at least six small-caliber artillery installations.
Cruise missile "Shahid Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis"
Anti-ship missile "Ghadir"
The ship received a well-equipped hospital with an operating room, X-ray room, dental room, intensive care unit, isolation ward and a staff of highly qualified specialists of various profiles.
Thus, Makran can perform the following tasks:
• Supply of warships on the high seas
• Transportation of various goods
• Special forces base
• Base of combat boats and mini-submarines
• Striking ground and sea targets
• Search and rescue
• Providing assistance to the wounded and sick
• Combating maritime piracy
• Humanitarian missions.
According to media reports, two more tankers are currently being refitted at the ISOICO shipyard under a similar project. The new "advanced floating bases" will be named "Khuzestan" and "Kurdistan".
The participation of Iranian ships in the parade in St. Petersburg on the occasion of the Russian Navy Day on July 25, 2021, became a kind of dress rehearsal for the round-the-world voyage.
"Makran" before the trip to St. Petersburg. Artillery mounts and combat boats are visible
The Makran and the frigate Sahand left Bandar Abbas on May 21 and headed for the Cape of Good Hope. This event caused a stormy and negative reaction in the Western media, which put forward contradictory and sometimes simply fantastic assumptions about the purpose of this trip. According to some, the Makran was carrying Iranian oil products to Venezuela, according to others - weapon to Cuba, Venezuela or Syria, etc.
"Makran" and frigate "Sahand" on the way to St. Petersburg
However, the destination was Russian St. Petersburg. For the first time in the history of the Iranian Navy, its ships made such a long voyage. Although ambitious plans for Atlantic voyages existed before. Back in September 2011, the then commander of the Islamic Republic Navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, announced Iran's intention to deploy its ships off the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Having rounded the Cape of Good Hope, passed through the English Channel and the Danish Straits, the Iranian ships arrived in St. Petersburg on July 24.
Makran in the Danish Straits on July 22, 2021
Since 2014, the Iranian Navy command has planned several round-the-world voyages for its ships, but for various reasons, they have been cancelled. And so on September 20, 2022, the Makran and the frigate Dena from Bandar Abbas began their round-the-world voyage.
Round the World Trip Route
The frigate Dena was built at the Iranian Navy's Factories in Bandar Abbas and delivered to the fleet in 2021. Its full displacement is about 1500 tons, the main propulsion plant with a capacity of 20 hp with Iranian-made diesel engines provides a speed of up to 000 knots.
The armament consists of 76 mm, 40 mm and two 20 mm gun mounts, four Noor anti-ship missile launchers, four Sayad-2 SAM launchers, two three-tube 324 mm torpedo tubes. The runway can accommodate an Augusta Bell 212 anti-submarine helicopter.
Frigate "Dena"
360 degrees from sailors on the Makrana runway
The round-the-world voyage (called The 360-Degree mission) took place along the route Bandar Abbas - Mumbai - Strait of Malacca - Jakarta - Strait of Magellan - Rio de Janeiro - Cape Town - Salalah - Bandar Abbas. The passage from Jakarta to Rio de Janeiro, about 22,1 thousand miles long, took place without calling at intermediate ports.
In Cape Town
Meeting of ships in Bandar Abbas
Sources of
1. Mehr News Agency: Iranian Dena Destroyer on Mission Codenamed "360 Degree"
2. https://fa.alalam.ir/news/6622973
3. Wikipedia
4. Iranian Naval Ships Return from Global Journey - The Jerusalem Post
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