Kasturi Class Frigate
Encyclopedia
The Kasturi class is a ship class
of two ships in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy
. The ships are considered light frigate
s or large corvette
s, and are called both in news sources.
The class comprises two ships, the KD Kasturi (F25) and KD Lekir (F26). The class is named after the lead ship of the class, in honour of Hang Kasturi who is one of the five famed warriors of the Malacca Sultanate
. Though smaller than the Rahmat class, the Kasturi class is more offensively capable.
, Hamburg
will build the first two Meko A100
New Generation Patrol Vessel of the Kedah class OPV
(of a planned 26 ship class) facility for the Royal Malaysian Navy
.
Kasturi and Lekir were launched on 14 May 1983 and commissioned on 15 August 1984. Both ships are presently serving with 22 Corvette Squadron and homeported at TLDM Lumut
.
The Colombian Navy's four-ship Almirante Padilla class
is based on the same Blohm + Voss FS 1500 design, but with a different weapons and electronics suite.
SSMs. However, the Kasturi class lack am anti-aircraft missile system, and rely on MANPAD systems for air defence. The FS1500 design, which is modular, allows for future upgrades which has been planned, but none has been announced by the Malaysian Navy.
During LIMA 2007, Boustead Heavy Industries Sdn Bhd, the current builder of the Kedah class received a Letter of Intent
from the Malaysian Government for the Kasturi Service Life Extension Programme. It was expected that the 100 mm gun would be replaced with a medium calibre gun (either the 76 mm Oto-Melara
or the Bofors 57 mm gun
. The aft gun would be replaced completely and a two MSI 30 mm guns would replace the Emerlec guns. No SAMs
are expected to be fitted on the ship.
system, provided by four MTU diesels driving two shafts and developing 21,460 hp driving two Controllable Pitch propellers. This gives a maximum speed of 28 knots, and a range of 7,000 nm at 14 knots.
SeaLynx 300
or the Eurocopter Fennec
helicopter.
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of two ships in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
. The ships are considered light frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s or large corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s, and are called both in news sources.
The class comprises two ships, the KD Kasturi (F25) and KD Lekir (F26). The class is named after the lead ship of the class, in honour of Hang Kasturi who is one of the five famed warriors of the Malacca Sultanate
Malacca Sultanate
Established by the Malay ruler Parameswara, the Sultanate of Malacca was first a Hindu kingdom in 1402 and later became Muslim following the marriage of the princess of Pasai in 1409. Centered in the modern town of Malacca, the sultanate bordered the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam in the north to...
. Though smaller than the Rahmat class, the Kasturi class is more offensively capable.
Design
The ships were built by the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard in Kiel, Germany. While Blohm + VossBlohm + Voss
Blohm + Voss , is a German shipbuilding and engineering works. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; there were plans to sell 80% of Blohm + Voss to Abu Dhabi Mar Group, but talks collapsed in July 2011.-History:It was founded on April 5, 1877, by Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss as a...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
will build the first two Meko A100
MEKO
The MEKO family of warships was developed by the German company Blohm + Voss.MEKO is a registered trademark. The portmanteau stands for "Mehrzweck-Kombination" . It is a concept in modern naval shipbuilding based on modularity of armament, electronics and other equipment, aiming at ease of...
New Generation Patrol Vessel of the Kedah class OPV
Kedah Class OPV
The Kedah class is a class of offshore patrol vessels of the Royal Malaysian Navy and named after the lead ship of the class, 171 KD Kedah. The Kedah class is based on the MEKO 100 design by Blohm + Voss. A total of 27 ships was planned, with only six having been ordered from Malaysian builders...
(of a planned 26 ship class) facility for the Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
.
Kasturi and Lekir were launched on 14 May 1983 and commissioned on 15 August 1984. Both ships are presently serving with 22 Corvette Squadron and homeported at TLDM Lumut
Lumut
Lumut is a coastal town in the state of Perak, Malaysia, situated about 84 km from Ipoh, 12 km from the town of Sitiawan and it is the gateway to Pangkor Island. It is a quaint little town famous for its beautiful seashell and coral handicrafts...
.
The Colombian Navy's four-ship Almirante Padilla class
Almirante Padilla class frigate
The Almirante Padilla Class Frigate is a group of frigates operated by the Colombian Navy. The designation of this class is Type FS 1500 and there are 4 ships in service. The ships were built by Howaldtswerke in Kiel, Germany...
is based on the same Blohm + Voss FS 1500 design, but with a different weapons and electronics suite.
Armament
The Kasturi-class have a 100 mm/55 DP main gun, while the anti-ship capability is provided by the MM40 ExocetExocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
SSMs. However, the Kasturi class lack am anti-aircraft missile system, and rely on MANPAD systems for air defence. The FS1500 design, which is modular, allows for future upgrades which has been planned, but none has been announced by the Malaysian Navy.
During LIMA 2007, Boustead Heavy Industries Sdn Bhd, the current builder of the Kedah class received a Letter of Intent
Letter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
from the Malaysian Government for the Kasturi Service Life Extension Programme. It was expected that the 100 mm gun would be replaced with a medium calibre gun (either the 76 mm Oto-Melara
Otobreda 76 mm
The Otobreda 76 mm gun is a naval artillery piece built by the Italian defence conglomerate Otobreda. It is based on the Oto Melara 76mm/L62 Allargato, which was bigger and heavier...
or the Bofors 57 mm gun
Bofors 57 mm gun
The Bofors 57 mm guns are a series of dual-purpose naval guns designed and produced by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
. The aft gun would be replaced completely and a two MSI 30 mm guns would replace the Emerlec guns. No SAMs
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
are expected to be fitted on the ship.
Propulsion
The Kasturi class is powered by a CODAD propulsionCombined diesel and diesel
Combined diesel and diesel is a propulsion system for ships using two diesel engines to power a single propeller shaft. A gearbox and clutches enable either of the engines or both of them together to drive the shaft....
system, provided by four MTU diesels driving two shafts and developing 21,460 hp driving two Controllable Pitch propellers. This gives a maximum speed of 28 knots, and a range of 7,000 nm at 14 knots.
Aircraft
The Kasturi class does not have a hangar facility, and thus does not have an embarked helicopter. The landing platform aft is suitable for an AgustaWestlandAgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is an Anglo-Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company. It was formed in July 2000 when Finmeccanica S.p.A. and GKN plc agreed to merge their respective helicopter subsidiaries to form AgustaWestland with Finmeccanica and GKN each holding a 50% share.AgustaWestland is now a...
SeaLynx 300
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
or the Eurocopter Fennec
Eurocopter Fennec
|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.-External links:* * *...
helicopter.
Service life extension
A Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) was awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard in 2009. The upgrade program includes:- TACTICOS CMS
- Thales DA-08 air search radar
- Mirador-IR optronic director
- MAV marine navigation radar
- 2 × Eurotorp B515 with A244S Whitehead ASW torpedoes
- DR3000S ESM suite
- Link Y MK 2.5
- TERMA SKWS decoys
- 8 × MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II
- ATLAS Electronik DSQS-24C hull mounted sonar
- Removal of 100mm A gun and replace with 57mm Bofors
- Removal of Emerlec 30mm guns and replace with MSI 30mm DS30B guns