According to information published by Военный Осведомитель on September 6, 2022, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) has accepted the lead ship of the Shahid Suleimani class high-aspect-ratio twin-hull vessel, now under construction.
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Iranian Shahid Suleimani class high-aspect-ratio twin-hull vessel (Picture source: Военный Осведомитель)
The design of vessels is described as looking "almost like a pond skater" because of the superstructure sitting above tall legs. Due to the large length of the hulls in the water (also known as pontoons) and also the high height of the deck above the surface, it has a high length-to-width ratio (and is thus called high-aspect-ratio).
This design enables small speedboats to move under the ship, which can technically make certain tactical scenarios possible. In comparison to a conventional catamaran, HARTH design allows decreasing the drag forces of the hull and thus breaking the seawater during sailing more easily, as well as more transverse stability in harsh sea states as a result of low heave, pitch, and roll motion.
It is 65 m (213 ft 3 in) long, and its design has been compared to the Chinese Type 22 missile boat and the Taiwanese Tuo Chiang class.
The Tuo Chiang-class corvette is a Taiwanese-designed class of fast (up to 45 knots, 83 km/h, 52 mph) and stealthy multi-mission corvettes built for the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy.
The class of corvette is armed with eight subsonic Hsiung Feng II and eight supersonic Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles launchers, a Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, and a 76 mm (3 in) main gun. The ship can operate up to sea state 7 in waves up to 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 m) high.
