Navies of Tunisia and Greece conduct joint naval military exercise


According to information released by the Tunisian Ministry of Defense on April 2, 2021, Tunisia and Greece have conducted a joint naval military exercise on April 1, 2021. This naval exercise was conducted by the Hellenic and Tunisian Navy to develop collaboration in the field of maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 PR HASDRUBAL 509 fast attack craft of Tunisian Navy. (Picture source Shipspotting)


The Hellenic Navy has involved its Salamis (F-455) frigate in this naval exercise while the Tunisian Navy has participated in this joint maritime exercise with its PR HASDRUBAL 509.

The HASDRUBAL 509 is a German-made Type 143 Albatros class fast attack craft constructed by German shipbuilders Lürssen and Kröger. According to the military balance 2020, the Tunisian navy has a total of six ships of this class.

The Type 143 Albatros-class boats were in service with the German Navy and sold to Tunisia and Ghana in 2005. The ships were constructed using composite hulls, designed by Lürssen. She has a displacement of 398 tons, a length of 7.80 m, a beam of 7.80 m, and a draught of 2.6 m.

The Albatros-class is powered by four MTU 16V 956 TB91 diesel engines developing 17,700 horsepower (13.2 MW) driving four shafts. The ship can reach a top speed of 40 knots (56 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km) at 30 knots (56 km/h). She is armed with two OTO-Melara 76 mm naval guns, four MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles, and two 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes.

The Salamis (F-455) is the fourth ship of the Hydra-class frigate in service with the Hellenic Navy. Four ships of this class are in service with the Hellenic Navy. They were designed in Germany and are based on the MEKO 200 design. The first ship was commissioned in 1992 and upgraded in 2007 to allow the firing of the RIM-162 ESSM surface-to-air missile. In 2019, the implementation of the so-called "Mid-Life Modernization program" was launched including new electronic combat systems, sensors, and radars.

The Hydra-class frigate is powered by Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system including two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines developing 60,656 hp (45,231 kW) and two MTU 20V 956 diesel engines developing 10,040 hp (7,490 kW). The ship can reach a top speed of 31 knots (57 km/h) with a range of 4,100 nautical miles (7,600 km).

The Salamis (F-455) is armed with one Mk 45 Mod 2A naval gun, two Mk15 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS (Close-In Weapon System, two Mk141 4 × 8 Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, Mk 48 Mod 2 vertical launcher for 16 × RIM-162 ESSM air defense missiles, and two Mk32 Mod 5 2 × 324mm T/T for Mk46 torpedoes.


Navies of Tunisia and Greece conduct joint naval military exercise Salamis F 455 925 001
Salamis (F-455) Hydra-class frigate of the Hellenic Navy. (Picture source Wikipedia)