Kralj-class missile boat

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RTOP-12 Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir 001-1.JPG
Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir (RTOP-12) photographed in Makarska in 2008 during the Croatian Navy Day
Class overview
Builders Kraljevica Shipyard, Kraljevica, Croatia
OperatorsNaval ensign of Croatia.svg  Croatian Navy
Preceded by Končarclass
In commission1992–present
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
Displacement390 tons (full load)
Length177 ft 8 in (54.15 m)
Draft11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • Maximum: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
  • Continuous: 32.8 knots (60.7 km/h; 37.7 mph)
Range1,700 nautical miles (3,100 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement5 officers, 27 enlisted
Armament

The Kralj class (English: King) is a class of two missile boats, one of which was on order for the SFR Yugoslav Navy and one of which, following the break-up of Yugoslavia, was built for the Croatian Navy. As of 2009 both vessels remain in service. It is an upgraded version of the Rade Končar missile boat class and is 8.5 metres (28 ft) longer. Kralj Petar Krešimir IV and its sister ship Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir are the only ships in their class. A potential third ship was under consideration in 1999, but the ship was never commissioned due to budget restraints.

Contents

Kralj means "king" in Croatian - both vessels are named after historic kings of Croatia.

Development and building

The Kralj class was developed by the Brodarski institut (BI) from Zagreb for the Yugoslav Navy as a successor to the Končar-classmissile boats. The project was started during the 1980s but was reported as suspended in 1989 only to be restarted again in 1991. The first ship in the new class was to have a pennant number RTOP-501 and named Sergej Mašera after Sergej Mašera, an officer of the Royal Yugoslav Navy who died preventing the destroyer Zagreb from falling in Italian hands during the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. The new class was also referred to as the Kobra class or Type 400 in some sources. [1] [2]

Compared to the earlier Končar class, the new class was to have a longer hull and an all-diesel propulsion unlike the Končars which were equipped with a CODAG type of propulsion. The new class was also to be the first in Yugoslav service to be equipped with Swedish RBS-15 anti-ship missiles which were acquired in 1988 and 1989. At the start of the Croatian War of Independence, the first ship in the class was nearing completion at the Kraljevica Shipyard. The unfinished ship was captured by Croatian forces and was subsequently commissioned with the Croatian Navy as Kralj Petar Krešimir IV. (RTOP-11). A second, slightly modified ship was laid down by Croatia during the 1990s and commissioned in the early 2000s as Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir (RTOP-12). [3] [4] [5]

Description

There are slight differences between the two ships of the class; Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir, which was completed during the early 2000s, has a longer hull and features a slightly redesigned bridge. Kralj Petar Krešimir IV measures 53.63 m (175 ft 11 in) with a 8.54 m (28 ft 0 in) beam and a 2.94 m (9 ft 8 in) draft.

Ships

Name Pennant number NamesakeBuilder [6] Launched [3] Commissioned [3] Fate [3]
Kralj Petar Krešimir IVRTOP-11 Peter Krešimir IV Kraljevica Shipyard, Kraljevica, Croatia21 March 19927 June 1992in active service with the Croatian Navy
Kralj Dmitar ZvonimirRTOP-12 Demetrius Zvonimir 30 March 2001June 2002in active service with the Croatian Navy

Notes

Books

News reports

Other sources

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Croatian missile boat <i>Kralj Petar Krešimir IV</i> (RTOP-11)

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Croatian missile boat <i>Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir</i> (RTOP-12)

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