IRIS Hamzeh
Iranian navy corvette (1936–1979; 1998–)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hamzeh (Persian: حمزه) was a corvette serving in the Northern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. It was originally named Shahsavar and was built as the royal yacht of Reza Shah, before being converted into a warship.[citation needed]
Hamzeh in 2018 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Imperial State of Iran | |
| Name | Shahsavar |
| Namesake | Shahsavar |
| Ordered | 9 December 1935 |
| Builder | N.V. Boele's Scheepswerven & Machinefabriek, Bolnes |
| Laid down | 18 January 1936 |
| Launched | 17 June 1936 |
| In service | 1936–1979 |
| Refit | 1956 |
| Home port | Bandar Pahlavi |
 Iran | |
| Name | Hamzeh |
| Namesake | Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib |
| Operator | Islamic Republic of Iran Navy |
| Recommissioned | 1998 |
| Reclassified | Turned into warship |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Sunk in March 2026 Bandar Anzali strike |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Yacht |
| Displacement | 530 tons |
| Length | 53.7 m (176 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 7.7 m (25 ft 3 in) |
| Draft | 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power | 2 × Stork diesel engines, 1,300 brake horsepower (0.97 MW) |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| General characteristics (after reconstruction) | |
| Type | Corvette |
| Sensors & processing systems | Active radar homing to 120 kilometres (65 nmi) at 0.9 Mach |
| Armament |
|
Design
Shahsavar was noted for its special design and considered among the most luxurious yachts in the world.[1]
Dimensions and machinery
The ship Shahsavar was 161 feet (49 m) long at the waterline, and 177 feet (54 m) overall.[1] She had a beam of 25 feet 5 inches (7.75 m), and a depth of 16 feet 4 inches (4.98 m) while her draught was 10 feet 6 inches (3.20 m).[1] She was equipped with two seven-cylinder two-stroke cycle single-acting diesel engines, provided by Gebr. Stork, of Hengelo.[1] This system was designed to provide 1,300 brake horsepower (0.97 MW) for a top speed of 14 knots (26 km/h) at 340 r.p.m.[1] Additionally, she was fitted with a hoist provided by The American Engineering Company.[2]
Reconstruction
The ship was refitted in 1956 by Cantiere navale del Muggiano.[3]
After reconstruction, Hamzeh is classified as a corvette.[4][5][6] It has also been variously described as a training ship,[7] a miscellaneous auxiliary ship (AG)[8] or a patrol craft (PBO).[9]
Service history
Hamzeh rejoined the Iranian fleet in January 1998.[10]
On 22 March 2026, she was sunk by the Israeli Air Force during airstrikes on the Northern Fleet headquarters in Bandar Anzali.[11]
