IRIS Naghdi

Naghdi c. 1969
History
Iran
NameNaghdi
NamesakeLtCdr. Nasrollah Naghdi
Operator
BuilderLevingston Shipbuilding Company
Laid down12 September 1962
Launched10 October 1963
Commissioned22 July 1964
Refit1970, 1978, 1988, 2009
Identification
FateSunk during the 2026 Iran conflict
General characteristics (as built)
Class & typeBayandor-class corvette
Displacement
  • 914 tons standard
  • 1,153 tons full load
Length84 m (276 ft)
Beam10.1 m (33 ft)
Draft3.1 m (10 ft)
Speed20 knots (37 km/h)
Range
  • 2,400 nmi (4,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
  • 4,800 nmi (9,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement140
Notes[1][2]

Naghdi (Persian: نقدی) was a Bayandor-class corvette of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, serving in the Southern Fleet. Launched in 1963 and commissioned into the fleet in 1964, Naghdi was transferred to Iran by the United States under the Mutual Assistance Program.[1] She was destroyed alongside her sister ship, IRIS Bayandor, during the 2026 Iran War.

Service history

Naghdi and her sister ship Bayandor arrived at Naval Base Guam on 10 April 1970 for an overhaul. On the way home, the two ships made port calls to Subic Bay, Singapore, Colombo, Sri Lanka and Cochin, India.[3] An alleged dump of 50,000 gallons of fuel in the sea by the ships prior to the repair stirred local controversy.[4] The two underwent another major repair at the same base in 1978.[5]

During the Iran–Iraq War, Naghdi's home port was in Bushehr Naval Base, along with her three sister ships.[6]

Naghdi, her sister Bayandor and the amphibious ship Tonb decked at Colombo, Sri Lanka and Mumbai, India during a multi-purpose anti-piracy, flag and training mission that started on 30 January 2018 and ended on 17 March 2018.[7]

In January 2026, Nagdhi took part in the BRICS "Will for Peace" joint naval exercise at Simon's Town, South Africa, apparently violating an instruction from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that Iran should not participate in the exercise.[8]

Sinking

Naghdi was sunk in strikes by United States forces on 28 February 2026, the opening day of hostilities in the 2026 Iran War. She was destroyed at her mooring at Konarak, Iran, alongside her sister ship, Bayandor.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Saunders, Stephen; Philpott, Tom, eds. (2015), "Iran", IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016, Jane's Fighting Ships (116th Revised ed.), Coulsdon: IHS Jane's, p. 394, ISBN 9780710631435, OCLC 919022075
  2. ^ Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysaw, eds. (1996), "Iran", Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995, Conway Maritime Press, p. 184, ISBN 978-1557501325
  3. ^ "6 Month Stay: Iranian Ships Depart Guam", Pacific Daily News, Agana Heights, Guam, p. 26, 26 September 1970
  4. ^ Go, Janet (30 April 1970), "The Log: Iranian Ships", Pacific Daily News, Agana Heights, Guam, p. 21
  5. ^ Murphy, Joe (26 September 1978), "Pipe Dream", Pacific Daily News, Agana Heights, Guam, p. 18
  6. ^ Razoux, Pierre (2015). The Iran-Iraq War. Translated by Nicholas Elliott. Harvard University Press. Appendix D, p. 528. ISBN 978-0-674-91571-8.
  7. ^ Nadimi, Farzin (April 2020), "Iran's Evolving Approach to Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Strategy and Capabilities in the Persian Gulf" (PDF), The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (Policy Focus), no. 164, Appendix E: IRIN’s Long-range Task Forces And Naval Visits Abroad, pp. 64–74, archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2020, retrieved 15 July 2020
  8. ^ Fabricius, Peter (14 January 2026). "SANDF apparently defied presidential orders to remove Iran from a joint naval exercise". Daily Maverick.
  9. ^ Borens, Avery; Schmida, Benjamin; Fattah, Adham; Reddy, Ria; Campa, Kelly; Ganzeveld, Annika (1 March 2026). "Iran Update Evening Special Report, March 1, 2026". Institute for the Study of War. Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  10. ^ Tayfun Ozberk (4 March 2026). "Iran's Catamaran Corvette Struck During Operation Epic Fury". Naval News.