New Shahid Soleimani class vessel joins the Iranian IRGC Navy


According to information published by Al Manar on July 26, 2022, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri reported the commissioning of the Shahid Soleimani class high-aspect-ratio twin-hull vessel, made from domestic equipment.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Shahid Soleimani class high aspect ratio twin hull vessel (Picture source: Navy_Iranian)


The design of vessels is described as looking "almost like a pond skater" because of the superstructure sitting above tall legs. Due to the large length of the hulls in the water (also known as pontoons) and also the high height of the deck above the surface, it has a high length-to-width ratio (and is thus called high-aspect-ratio).

This design enables small speedboats to move under the ship, which can technically make certain tactical scenarios possible. In comparison to a conventional catamaran, HARTH design allows decreasing the drag forces of the hull and thus breaking the seawater during sailing more easily, as well as more transverse stability in harsh sea states as a result of low heave, pitch, and roll motion.

It is 65 m (213 ft 3 in) long, and its design has been compared to the Chinese Type 22 missile boat and the Taiwanese Tuo Chiang class.

The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also known as the Sepah Navy and by the English acronym IRGCN) is the naval warfare service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps founded in 1985, and one of the two maritime forces of Iran, parallel to the conventional Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.

IRGC's Navy has steadily improved its capabilities to support unconventional warfare and defend Iran's offshore facilities, coastlines, and islands in the Persian Gulf.

IRGC Navy and Iranian Navy overlap functions and areas of responsibility, but they are distinct in terms of how they are trained and equipped— and more importantly also in how they fight.

The Revolutionary Guards Navy has a large inventory of small fast attack craft, and specializes in asymmetric hit-and-run tactics. It is more akin to a guerrilla force at sea, and maintains large arsenals of coastal defense and anti-ship cruise missiles and mines.


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