According to a Tweet published by DIMDEX on February 14, 2021, the second of the four Doha-class corvettes for the Qatari Navy built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri, the "Damsah" F 102 was launched on February 13, 2021, during a ceremony at the Fincantieri-Muggiano shipyard in Italy.
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The official launching of the second Doha-class corvette Damsah for the Qatari Navy. (Picture source DIMDEX)
The official ceremony was attended by the Major General Mubarak Mohammed A.K. Al-Khayarin, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration and Logistics Affairs for Qatar Armed Forces, Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio, Italian Navy Maritime Commander of Area North, and Giuseppe Giordo, general manager of the naval vessel division of Fincantieri Shipyard.
In August 2017, Qatar has confirmed an order of seven vessels from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri following the signing of a preliminary contract in June 2016. The order included four air defense corvettes of over 100 meters in length, one amphibious vessel (LPD - Landing Platform Dock acting as a mobile radar station for the corvettes), and two patrol vessels (OPV - Offshore Patrol Vessel)The new multi-role corvette for the Qatari was unveiled during DIMDEX, a naval defense exhibition that was held in Qatar on March 2018. The first Doha-class corvette “Al Zubarah” was launched in February 2020.
The Doha-class corvette has a length of 107 meters, a beam of 14.70 meters, and a displacement of 3,250 tons. The ship is powered by a combined diesel and diesel turbine plant (CODAD) and can reach a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) She accommodate 112 persons on board, of whom 98 of the crew.
The Doha-class corvette is armed with one OTO Melara 76 mm gun, 16 Aster 30 Block 1NT surface-to-air missiles, eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, two Leonardo Marlin-WS 30 mm cannon remote-controlled weapon stations, and one RIM-116 Rolling Airframe anti-ship missile system.
The Doha-class is capable of operating high-speed boats such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern. The flight deck and hangar are sized for hosting one NH90 naval helicopter.
