Israel disclosed today that it will soon launch a new missile boat which it claims is far superior to 12 similar craft built for it in France several years ago and faster than any Russian-built vessel of the type known to be in Mid-eastern waters. The first in a series of the new boats armed with Israel’s “Gabriel” surface-to-surface missile, the “Reshef” will be launched Feb. 19 by Israel Shipyards Ltd. on Haifa Bay, according to today’s announcement.
The 415-ton boat took three years to plan and build and cost $10 million: According to Israel Livertovsky, director general of the shipyard, that price is less than it would have cost to build the boat abroad and proves that Israel is independent of foreign shipyards with respect to its naval requirements.
Rear Admiral Benjamin Telem, commander of the Israeli Navy, said today that the Reshef is one of the most sophisticated vessels of its type in the world and was larger, faster, more maneuverable and more heavily armed than the gunboats of the Saar class built for Israel in France. Israel ordered 12 Saar-class boats in France before the 1967 Six-Day War. Seven were delivered and five were embargoed. On Christmas Eve, 1968, Israeli crews “liberated” the embargoed craft from Cherbourg and sailed them to Israel.
According to Admiral Telem, the Reshef and her sisters, to be known as the Saar-IV class, are an improvement on the earlier gunboats in that they in corporate the latest techniques and systems of control. He said they were capable of combat against submarines, surface craft and aircraft.
The Reshef will carry seven “Gabriel” missiles, four depth charge launchers and will be armed with two 76 mm. guns as against one in the French-built boats. The Reshef will carry a crew of 45 officers and men and will be powered by four German-made Maybach diesel engines generating 2670 indicated horsepower for a speed of 32 knots, 36.80 land miles per hour Admiral Telem said the Reshef had a longer cruising range and better sea-keeping qualities than the French made gunboats.
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