US FLAGSTAFF 2 CLASS (HYDROFOILS)
Date Posted: 15 April 1991
IN SERVICE: 3
SHIMRIT M 161 LIVNIT M 162 SNAPIRIT M 163
Displacement, tons: 105 full load
Dimensions, feet (metres): 84 × 24 × 5 (25.6 × 7.3 × 1.6)
Main machinery: 2 Allison 501KF gas turbines; 5400 shp; 4 shafts
Speed, knots: 48.
Range, miles: 2600 at 8 kts hullborne; 1000 at 42 kts foilborne
Complement: 15
Missiles: SSM: 2 McDonnell Douglas Harpoon; active radar homing to 130 km
(70 nm) at 0.9 Mach; warhead 227 kg.
2 IAI Gabriel III; anti-radiation homing to 36 km (19.4 nm) at 0.7 Mach;
warhead 75 kg.
Guns: 2 MBT/Oerlikon TCM 30; 850 elevation; 650 rounds/minute to 10 km
(5.5 nm) anti-surface; 3 km (1.6 nm) anti-aircraft; weight of shell 1 kg or
0.36 kg.
2 - 12.7 mm MGs.
Countermeasures: ESM/ECM: Intercept/jammer.
Fire control: Probable data link system.
Radars: Navigation: I band.
Programmes: Shimrit was ordered in the USA from Grumman Lantana Yard,
Florida with Livnit and possibly 10 more to be built in Israel. Shimrit
launched 27 May 1981. Subsequently there were considerable teething
troubles but Shimrit was eventually accepted in mid-1982. Snapirit,
completed June 1985, is now third and last of originally planned class of
12. This might be due to dissatisfaction with the design for the tasks
assigned. There are reports of a new US/Israel missile hydrofoil design,
possibly an improved Flagstaff 2 called Ziyanit.
Structure: Aluminium superstructure. Radome conceals fire control and
countermeasures aerials.
Operational: Livnit and Snapirit are probably non-operational.
