- Yes, I would.
- No, I would not.
- As built
- 1978 refit
- Doesn’t matter to me
- None; I would not like the Al Bushra-class in game.
As the caption states, the photograph depicts Al Bushra in 1974. Oman was committed to getting the most out of their newly expanding navy and wanted quality weapons. This ethos explains their relatively short time in service before modernization.
TL;DR
- Small patrol ships of the RNO
- Twin 40mm L/70 Bofors automatic cannon shreds aircraft and small surface targets alike
- Electro-optical fire control system on modernized vessels
- Mediocre speed for their size
- Modernized refit trades rear firing arc for Exocet missiles
Why it should be in the game: The Al Bushra-class are historically significant for being the second type of vessel ever commissioned to the RNO. Besides that, they would be quite pleasant ships to play. As built they have solid armament and their lack of raw speed could land them at a slightly lower BR than other Bofors L/70-equipped vessels. The modernized version makes the gun armament even better and adds target tracking but concentrates all firepower forward. Because of these differences adding both refits to the game is theoretically viable. If anti-ship missiles like Exocet were to be added the Al Bushra could also fill a niche as one of the worst possible platforms to field them from (think Sea Harrier but the “Sea” is literal.) While I personally can’t imagine such a scenario being enjoyable the option is there.
History
Al Mansur (caption erroneously claims Al Bushra) at sea with her original fit before delivery to Oman. The quality of the photograph is extremely poor but it appears that the same Breda Type 564 mounting was used here as was fielded in Oman despite the pedestal not quite matching.
When Sultan Qaboos bin Said established the Royal Navy of Oman as an independent entity at the start of the 1970’s, he immediately took to making sure they had viable equipment to perform their duties. The first vessel commissioned was the royal yacht Al Said built by Brooke Marine in England. However, a yacht does not a good patrol vessel make. Both Brooke Marine and the Sultan knew this and the former likely marketed heavily to the latter. Thusly, on January 5, 1971, the RNO placed an order for three 37.5 meter patrol vessels from Brooke Marine. Whether this was an existing design or tailor-made for the RNO is unclear but the earliest mention I have found of a 37.5 meter Brooke Marine craft was this class. The new ships would need to be seaworthy and equipped for endurance missions, and the English shipbuilders delivered with an endurance of over 3,000 nautical miles. For patrol duties the vessels were armed with two 40mm L/70 Bofors cannons, one in front and one in the rear. These particular guns were the latest development from Italian company Breda with a large 144-round magazine, stabilization and electrical traverse mechanisms. The Al Bushra-class would all arrive in Oman in 1973 and were commissioned into service that year. The RNO ordered four more vessels of similar make to the Al Bushras with 76mm cannons as their primary armament, sometimes called the Al Wafi-class, in 1974.
Al Mansur after moderinzation in 1978. Again the vessel was equipped with the latest and greatest weaponry - this time the new twin 40mm Compact mounting and Exocet anti-ship missiles. Since the gun turret itself has no fire control system a remote director was required.
While originally envisaged as patrol craft the Al Bushras were pressed into the role of fast attack craft as well as at the time they were the primary warships of the RNO. For this task the 40mm Bofors guns were deemed insufficient as primary armament and the vessels would be sent to Brooke Marine for modernization. From 1977 to 1978 they were refit with new weapons. The Bofors guns were consolidated into a single 40mm Compact twin mounting with the now open back deck being used to carry two MM38 Exocet missiles. Finally, along with the radar being updated the gun turret required a fire control director so the Sea Archer electro-optical system was used. These changes made the Al Bushras full-fledged fast attack craft, though not very large ones, causing some sources to refer to them as PTGs (missile patrol boats). While on delivery to Oman in December 1978 the transport carrying Al Bushra was hit with hurricane force winds in the Bay of Biscay. Al Bushra fell into the sea and sunk, marking the first loss in the RNO’s history through no fault of their own. The other two ships made it home safely and continued service with no notable incidents. Al Najah, the third member of the class, was stricken in 1983 as the RNO continued to expand with larger more modern fast attack craft. Al Mansur would shortly follow in 1986. The Al Wafi class based on the same hull did not last much longer, however the Brooke Marine 37.5 meter patrol boat proved popular with various nations after Oman with one Algerian-produced ship still being in service to this day. The names of the Al Bushra-class would later be reused when the RNO acquired the new Al Bushra-class offshore patrol vessels in the 90’s.
Specifications
Al Bushra-class Patrol Vessels
Dimensions:
- Length: 37.5 m (123 ft 0 in)
- Beam: 6.9 m (22 ft 8 in)
- Draught: 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Displacement:
- 135 tons standard
- 153 tons deep
Propulsion: 2 Paxman Ventura diesel engines powering 2 shafts (4,800 shaft horsepower)
Maximum speed: 46.3 km/h (25 kt)
Range: 6,019 km (3,250 nmi)
Armament:
- As built:
- 2 x 1 40 mm/70 Bofors cannon in Breda Type 564 mount
- 1978 refit:
- 1 x 2 40 mm/70 Breda-Bofors cannon in OtoBreda 40 mm Compact mount
- 2 x 1 MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles
Number built: 3
Crew: 28
Additional equipment:
- As built:
- Decca 916 surface search/navigational radar
- 1978 refit:
- Decca 1229 surface search/navigational radar
- Sea Archer electro-optical fire control system
Sources
- Jane’s Fighting Ships (various)
- AL BUSHRA patrol boats (1973)
- Minor cold war & Modern Navies - PART 2