Sa'ar 4-class missile boat


The Sa'ar 4 or Reshef-class missile boats were a series of missile boats built based on Israeli Navy designs grounded in accumulated experience derived in the operation of "Cherbourg" classes. Thirteen were built at the Israel Shipyards, ten for the Israeli Navy and three for the South African Navy. Another six were built for the South African Navy in South Africa with Israeli assistance.
Sa'ar 4 boats' first battle engagements occurred in the October 1973 Yom Kippur War when two Sa'ar 4 boats, INS Reshef and INS Keshet, engaged Egyptian and Syrian ships and coastal targets. Israel had sold most of its Sa'ar 4 boats to other navies, but INS Nitzachon and INS Atzmaut remained in active Israeli Navy service until 2014.

Variants

Israel

Ten Sa'ar 4-class boats were built for the Israeli Navy. only two remain in service. Three were disassembled, with systems taken for use in the construction of vessels. Three vessels and one hull stripped of systems were sold to Chile. Two vessels were sold to Sri Lanka.
Vessel nameMeaningHistoryFateStatus
INS ReshefSparkLaunched in 1973.
Commissioned on February 1973.		Sold to Chile in 1997 as LM-34 Angamos.Sold
INS KeshetBowLaunched in 1973.
Commissioned on August 23, 1973.		Sold to Chile in 1981 as LM-31 Chipana.Sold
INS RomachLanceLaunched
in 1974.		Sold to Chile in 1979 as LM-30 Casma.Sold
INS KidonJavelinLaunched in 1974.Disassembled. Various systems reassembled atop hull in 1994. The old hull sunk as an underwater memorial.Retired
INS TarshishTarshishLaunched in 1975.Disassembled. Some systems reassembled atop hull in 1995. The old hull sold to Chile in 1997 as LM-35 Papudo.In 1998 cannibalized for spares Chilean Navy
INS YaffoJaffaLaunched in 1975.Disassembled. Various systems reassembled atop new hull in 1998.Retired
INS NitzachonVictoryLaunched on 10 July 1978.
Commissioned on September 1978.		Redirected to anti-submarine warfare.
Retired 15 January 2014		Retired
INS AtzmautIndependenceLaunched on 3 December 1978.
Commissioned on February 1979.		Redirected to anti-submarine warfare.
Retired 5 March 2014		Sunk in July 2016, by 2 Harpoon s - launched by INS Hetz and INS Herev, in missile test conducted by the 3rd Flotilla.
INS MoledetHomelandLaunched in 1979.Redirected to anti-submarine warfare.
Sold to Sri Lanka in 2000 as SLNS Suranimala.		Sold
INS KomemiyutSovereigntyLaunched in 1980.Redirected to anti-submarine warfare.
Sold to Sri Lanka in 2000 as SLNS Nandimitra.		Sold

South Africa

The in service with the South African Navy are modified Sa'ar 4 fast attack craft. In 1974, a contract was signed with Israeli Military Industries for the construction of three of the modified Reshef class vessels at the Haifa facility of Israeli Shipyards. A further three were built immediately after at the Sandock Austral shipyard in Durban, South Africa, with three more being built at the same facility several years later. The imposition of the international embargo on the sale of arms to South Africa on 4 November 1977 forced the project to be carried out under a cloak of security. The South African variants were fitted with Gabriel missiles, known in South Africa as 'Scorpion' missiles, and had two Oto Melara 76 mm guns instead of a single one with a Phalanx CIWS.

Sri Lanka

In 2000, two of the Israeli boats were sold to the Sri Lankan Navy, forming the. It is not certain if these boats retain the Harpoon missile capability, however, these boats retained their Gabriel missile capability.