31st Missile Boat Squadron (Haifa)

 squadron (military)  Add category

Sa'ar 4.5 (Hebrew: סער 4.5‎) is a class of Israeli Sea Corps missile boats designed and built by Israel Shipyards Ltd. as an improved and stretched Sa'ar 4-class missile boat. There are two different subclasses that are both named Saar 4.5: The first of which initially called Chochit (Hebrew: חוחית‎), but renamed to Aliya (Hebrew: עליה‎); the second of which initially called Nirit (Hebrew: נירית‎) but renamed to Hetz (Hebrew: חץ‎).

Sa'ar 4.5 Hetz-subclass missile boat lacks the helicopter facilities of the Aliya-subclass, but has more weapon systems fitted. It is largely based on the Sa'ar 4-class missile boat with improvements in electronic systems: command and control, detection, classification and identification, fire control system, radar, sonar, electronic warfare and communications. The engines and propulsion systems were also upgraded. The ship itself is 4 meters longer than the Sa'ar 4-class to accommodate the new systems.

The original construction plan for Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boats included 2 helicopter-equipped ships (INS Aliya and INS Geula) and three ordinary missile boats: INS Romach (launched and commissioned in 1981), INS Keshet (launched and commissioned in 1982) and INS Nirit. INS Nirit was laid down in 1984 but the construction ceased due to lack of funds and it was finally launched in 1990 and commissioned in 1991 with some modern equipment, eventuality renamed to INS Hetz.

Order of Battle

INS Romach [Lance]
Launched and commissioned on October 1981,
Modernized in the early 90's to match some up-to-date specifications of the Hetz-subclass.

INS Keshet [Bow]
Launched on October 1982, Commissioned on November 1982.
Modernized in the early 90's to match some up-to-date specifications of the Hetz-subclass.

INS Hetz [Arrow]
Laid down in 1984, launched on October 1990, commissioned on February 1991.

www.israel-shipyards.com/naval-003.asp