The Alvand class (Persian: کلاس الوند), or Saam class (Persian: کلاس سام) (also known as the Vosper Mark V class) was originally a class of four frigates built for the Imperial Iranian Navy. They were renamed following the Iranian Revolution, and served in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy during the Iran–Iraq War. IRIS Sahand was sunk by the U.S. Navy during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988. All the remaining vessels were sunk during the 2026 Iran war.
== Development and construction == The ships were built in the United Kingdom by Vosper Ltd and based on their Mark 5 design with the following arms & equipment:
ASuW – 1 × quintuple Sea Killer Mk2 surface-to-surface missile AAW – 1 × triple Sea Cat surface-to-air missile launcher ASW – 1 × 3 barrelled Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10 Limbo launcher Guns – 1 × Mark 8 Mod 0 4.5 inch general purpose & 1 × twin 35mm Oerlikon AA Electronics – Plessey AWS 1 air surveillance radar with on-mounted IFF; 2 × Contraves Seahunter systems (For use with Sea cat, Sea Killer & the 35mm mount); Decca RDL 1 passive direction finding equipment They were refitted in the UK shortly before the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
== History == The ships were originally named after characters from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. After the Islamic Revolution, they were renamed after mountains in Iran. They saw action during the "Tanker War" phase of the Iran–Iraq War and proved effective against Iraqi forces. After one was sunk and another damaged during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988 they saw little further use, as the Iranian Navy proved no match for the U.S. Navy. An Alvand-class frigate in port at Konarak, Iran was reported to have been struck from the air during the 2026 Iran war.
== Upgrades == The Sea Killer missiles were replaced by Chinese made C-802s in the 1990s. The Sea Cats were replaced by the addition of a 20 mm (0.79 in) AA gun. Two triple 12.75-inch (324 mm) torpedo tubes, two 81 mm (3 in) mortars and two 0.50 caliber machine guns were also fitted.
== Successors == The Moudge-class frigate is a modified Iranian-built version of the Alvand class, with three either in service or under construction.
Ships in class
== See also == Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Current Iranian Navy vessels
References
== Sources == https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224923/http://www.iinavy.org/faramarz.htm http://www.mafhoum.com/press8/237P2.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20041222105239/http://www.ii.uj.edu.pl/~artur/enc/F2.htm
External links
Photos of Alvand-class frigates in Operation Praying Mantis