“The
mujahideen were able to target a frigate of the naval forces of the
apostate Egyptian army in the Mediterranean Sea, north of Rafah, and
that was with a guided rocket,” read a message posted by
Walayat Sinai on Twitter. Later, Islamic State in the Sinai posted another
message on Twitter in which it said “that the naval attack
was the first of its kind and the start of maritme operations in the
Mediterranean.”
Photos published by Islamic State showed a guided missile flying towards
the vessel and an explosion on what the group said was a “frigate.”
The vessel hit in the attack looks in fact to be U.S. Made Swiftships
26 M Fast Patrol Craft.
According to the manufacturer's website: SWIFTSHIPS’ 26 Meter
Fast Patrol Craft is a triple water jet, diesel powered, all-welded
aluminum patrol craft. The hull consists of four (4) watertight bulkheads
forming five (5) watertight compartments. The functionality of this
vessel is to contain and conquer almost any aerial and subsea enemy
threats. The hull and superstructure are constructed in accordance with
applicable codes or requirements of the client.
Between 2010 and 2014 Swiftships designed and built four patrol craft
for the Egyptian Navy, with two assembled in Egypt and the other two
co-produced by Egypt and Swiftships.
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