OPV-70

Royal Moroccan Navy Bir Anzaran OPV-70 patrol vessel
Class overview
Name	OPV-70
Builders	Raidco Marine Lorient STX France SA
Operators	Royal Moroccan Navy
Built	2008–present
In service	2011–present
Planned	4
Completed	1
Active	1
General characteristics
Class and type	Bir Anzaran class
Type	offshore patrol vessel
Displacement	800 tonnes
Length	70 m
Beam	11,3 m
Draught	3,25 m
Installed power	8.16 MW (5 500 cv)
Propulsion	2 x Wärtsilä 12V26 diesel engines
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h)
Range	4200 Nm (7780 km) @ 12 knots
Endurance	15 days
Boats & landing craft carried	Fast intervention craft on the deck
Complement	64 officers; ratings 4 pax
Sensors and processing systems	Surface search: DECCA Bridgemaster II radar
Armament	1 × Otobreda 76 mm 1 × Bofors 40mm 2 × 14,5 mm MG 2 × 12,7 mm MG
Aviation facilities	helicopter landing pad / no hangar

OPV-70 ^[1] is an Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Royal Moroccan Navy, designed by Raidco Marine and built at STX France SA.

The first vessel received, was named after the Battle of Bir Anzaran, between the Polisario Front and Royal Armed Forces in 1979.

Definition of the Equipment and requirements

The main mission is the surveillance of Moroccan EEZ and control of fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, with secondary roles including detecting illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking and supporting counter terrorism and search and rescue patrols along Moroccan coasts.

Bir Anzaran is the first in a series, which will include three more units: P342, P343 and P344 with an option for two more. ^[2] The Moroccan EM (Etat Major) now discuss the purchase of a more sophisticated and advanced version for the three last ships to be built.

Its hull is made of steel and aluminum structures, for a displacement of 800 tonnes with a maximum speed of 22 knots. ^[3]

It received its weapons at the port of Casablanca: ^[3]

• x1 Otobreda 76 mm
• x1 Bofors 40mm
• 2 x 14,5 mm MG
• 2 x 12,7 mm MG

Ships

Pennant no. [4]	Name	Launched	Commissioned	Status
P-341	Bir Anzaran	25 Aug 2010	23 June 2011	In service
P-342				Under construction.
P-343				Under construction.
P-344				Under construction.

References

1. STX Europe main page
2. Janes Navy International
3. Specifications for Bir Anzaran (OPV 70) class Offshore Patrol Vessel, on seaforces
4. GlobalSecurity – Moroccan Navy equipment