- Yes, I would.
- No, I would not.
One of the Al Wafi-class vessels underway as seen from USS Buchanan in 1989. Whether the Al Wafi-class is a wholly different class depends on the source but most consider it its own class. However it is extremely similar to the preceding Al Bushra-class, being based on the same hull.
TL;DR
- Small patrol ships of the RNO
- 76mm OTO-Melara Compact turret for taking on larger foes
- Rapid firing 20mm Oerlikon KAA for close in defense
- Electro-optical fire control system
- Mediocre speed for their size
Why it should be in the game: The Al Wafi-class are basically one-to-one with the Peacock-class in game terms - same gun, same (or at least very similar) fire control, and same top speed. These ships do present a significantly smaller target and have an autocannon for close range fights but are overall very similar to the latter. Because of this Inserting it into the main tree doesn’t really make sense and Orla already exists as a premium Peacock, but the different hull distinguishes the ship enough to make it an interesting squadron ship.
History
Al Fulk (B5) underway in 1978. The main gun armament and fire control director mirror that of the Peacock-class corvette which entered service some years later with the Royal Navy. The Peacocks were more seaworthy and probably had better accommodations since they were much larger.
The Al Bushra-class patrol vessels, designed and built by Brooke Marine in England, were some of the first vessels to be commissioned in the Royal Navy of Oman, being ordered less than a year after its inception. However, while they were perfectly adequate patrol ships, the Al Bushras’ anti-ship capabilities were viewed as insufficient. They were armed with two 40mm Bofors guns which were good weapons but had limited engagement range. Therefore on April 26, 1974 the RNO ordered a new group of four vessels based on the Al Bushra. These would come to be known as the Al Wafi-class. They were almost identical to the Al Bushras but traded in the Bofors guns for a 76mm OTO-Melara Compact mounting at the bow and a 20mm Oerlikon KAA in an A41 mounting at the stern. The 76mm gun, lacking a built-in fire control system, required external direction and so the Sea Archer electro-optical unit was used. Owing to their large armament relative to their size the Al Wafi-class were sometimes referred to as fast attack craft. They were commissioned in 1977 which was good timing as the Al Bushras were back in Britain getting new weapons fits. There were no notable incidents during the Al Bushras’ service besides one being deployed to Jazirat Umm al Ghanam in late 1983 due to increasing tensions near the Strait of Hormuz. The craft were deemed sufficient for their roles and never received any refits. By the 90’s they were beginning to show their age and in 1995 they were all decommissioned. In their place came the new Al Bushra-class offshore patrol vessels (not to be confused with the earlier Al Bushras.) Originally the Al Bushras were going to recycle the 76mm gun mounts from the Al Wafis, but the RNO opted to procure new 76mm Super Rapid guns for the Al Bushras instead.
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:
- 1 x 1 76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact cannon
- 1 x 1 20 mm/90 Oerlikon KAA cannon in A41 mount
Number built: 4
Crew: 27
Additional equipment:
- Decca 1229 surface search/navigational radar
- Sea Archer electro-optical fire control system