- Yes
- No
- 1953: 2 x 120mm, 2 x 37mm, 2 x 20mm, 2 x Machine gun
- 1956: 3 x 120mm, 2 x 37mm, 4 x 20mm, 2 x Machine gun
- 1957 (AMX-13 refit). Not a joke, very serious, if you turn to sharpy the AMX-13’s fall of your deck.
- I said ‘No’ in the first question.
Hello everyone! Today I’m going to suggest one of the three Israeli River-class frigates!
This is the River-class Frigate, INS Miznak (K-32)
Source: File:INSMisgavEntering (cropped).jpg - Wikimedia Commons
History
Spoiler
Source: File:SharmMiznak1957.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
INS Miznak (K-32) started her life as HMCS Hallowell which was laid down in 1943. In 1947 she was sold to Uruguayan interests, but was quickly re-sold in 1949 to a Palestinian group for use as a short-service ferry. In 1952 she was then purchased by Israel and put into service.
Miznak was, just like her sister ships, completely stripped of all her guns, so new guns were fitted to her as well as new anti-aircraft autocannons. She was part of the 1st Fleet of the Israeli navy and would see action during the Sinai War. She was stationed off the coast of Gaza during this time, and was later called to assist in the hunt for the Egyptian destroyer Ibrahim el-Awal. Miznak was not able to make it in time to assist because a pressure pipe was damaged while sailing at high speed. But even without her help, the other Israeli ship managed to hunt down the destroyer and capture her. This captured destroyer would then be taken into Israeli service and become the INS Haifa (K-38).
Type I Hunt-class destroyer escort, INS Haifa (K-38). The captured prize
The damage of the proken pressure pipe was repaired the next day and she returned to Gaza. It was planned to have her carry out more operations during the war, but due to different circumstances this never came to be.
Her career would end in 1959 when she was sold to the Sri Lankan Navy.
Source: File:MiznakAnchorsEilat25121956.png - Wikimedia Commons
When purchased of the Palestinian group that operated her in 1952, all of her original weaponry was ofcourse long removed, and so new weapons had to be fitted. This included some interesting main weaponry.
When first put back into service in 1950, she would be armed with two 120mm OTO Model 1926 cannons in two single mount turrets. Mostly seen in twin mountings on Italian destroyers. These single 120mm gun mounts can be considered quite powerfull for a ship this size. Most River-class frigates were armed with 4-inch (102mm) guns. This number would be increased to three in 1956.
For anti air defence Mivgav was armed with two 37mm Flak 36, and two 20mm Flak 29 Oerlikon guns. As for the Oerlikon guns, Israel can be seen using the surplus of 20mm Flak 29 Oerlikon guns left over from Germany after they lost the war. They are ofcourse identical in performance to the Allied variants. But their mounting is slightly different and it’s a cool little detail I thought I point out. Two more of these 20mm Flak 29’s were added later in 1956.
The photo below shows an excelent view of one of the 20mm Oerlikons. Here we clearly see that it is a German Flak mount. The horizontal hand bars and the mount it is on give it away very clearly.
Another thing worth mentioning are the two machine guns present on the deck below the 20mm gun. They have a shroud over them so it’s impossible to tell what model of machine gun this is. But it’s worth mentioning that these two guns are present too.
Source: File:ActionStationsNorthREdSea23121956.png - Wikimedia Commons
Specifications
Spoiler
Displacement: 2360 tons
Length: 301 feet (91.74 meters)
Breadth: 36,5 feet (11.13 meters)
Draught: 12 feet (3.66 meters)
Machinery: 2 x Steam piston engines
Max speed: 17 knots (31,5 km/h)
Complement: 200
Armament:
1953
2 x 1 120 mm OTO Model 1926
2 x 1 37 mm Flak 36
2 x 1 20 mm Oerlikon Flak 29
2 x 1 Machine gun (Model is unknown)1956
3 x 1 120 mm OTO Model 1926
2 x 1 37 mm Flak 36
4 x 1 20 mm Oerlikon Flak 29
2 x 1 Machine gun (Model is unknown)
1957 (AMX-13 refit) ← This is a joke ofcourse. Or is it?!
3 x 1 120 mm OTO Model 1926
2 x 1 75 mm SA 50
2 x 1 37 mm Flak 36
4 x 1 20 mm Oerlikon Flak 29
2 x 1 Machine gun (Model is unknown)
Well that is all for today. Many more suggestions like these to come in the future!
See you on the battlefield!
Source: File:MiznakChangeGunEilat11957.png - Wikimedia Commons
More Photos
Spoiler
Source: File:BGWlcmBck fmGrce.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:FrigatesPatras81953.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:FrgatesVenice1954.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:K32Valeta1954.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:FrigatesVenice17754.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:INS Miznak Q-32 at Eilat Port 1957.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:MivtachMiznakSharm21957.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:MiznakAtour.png - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:MiznakMivtachSharm21957.png - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:MiznakSharmPrepBenGurion11957.png - Wikimedia Commons
Source: File:FrigateK32SharmBarge1957.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
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Sources
Spoiler
Main source:
https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/אח"י_מזנק_(ק-32)Secondairy source:
אח"י מזנק ק- 32Extra:
https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/שייטת_המשחתות
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:INS_Miznak_Q-32