Kralj Petar Krešimir IV

"Kralj Petar Krešimir IV" is the first of a 2-strong class of Croatian Kralj (King) class missile boats (fast attack crafts). It is named after the Croatian king Petar Krešimir IV. It was built in the Kraljevica shipyard in 1991 and commissioned in 1992. It is an upgraded version of the "Rade Končar missile boat class" and is 8.5 meters longer. "Kralj Petar Krešimir IV" and his sister ship "Kralj Dmitar Zvonimir" are the only ships in their class. A potential 3rd ship was under consideration in 1999 but due to budget restraints, the ship was never commisioned.

Kralj class missile boats were first introduced into service in 1992 and were originally meant to replace Osa 1 class in Yugoslav Navy. The navy ordered 10 warships in 1990 with the first ship to be delivered in late 1992. The first ship was eventually launched and given to the Croatian Navy.

Croatia also completed the 2nd ship "Dimitar Zvonimir" in 2001. "Dimitar Zvonimir" is slightly larger (less than a meter) than "Peter Kresimir IV", but supports identical weapon systems and sensors as its sister ship. Croatia has no intention of building more ships in the King class, but instead will modernize existing two units with the latest radars/sensors, more powerful engines and possibly new close-in weapon system. An ASW sonar which was initially intended to be fitted on both ships will be installed during the modernization.

The Kralj class ships are currently the largest warships within the Croatian navy. However, plans exist to purchase or domestically build 4 large corvettes or frigates. These will supplement existing missile boats and are scheduled to start entering service by 2012.

The Croatian navy also operates a fifth missile boat "Šibenik", which belongs to a previous "Rade Končar" class and is considered to be a predeccessor of the King class. It was launched in 1978 and after a complete modernization (during which the Soviet-built anti-ship missiles and engines were replaced by Western-built ones) was brough up to its successors' standard. The ship was handed over to the Croatian navy in late 1991 and saw military service during the war.

pecifications

*Loa/B/H: 54.7/8.54/4.45 m Kralj Dimitar Zvonimir
*Displacement: full displacement 387 t
*Complement: five officers, 12 NCO, 16 ratings
*Construction: high tensile steel, AIMg4.5 Mn
*Speed & Seakeeping: continuous 32.8 knots, max 36.0 knots/full o output up to sea state 4 WMO
*Range & Autonomy: 1700 Nm at 18 knots/10 days autonomy
*Damage stability: two compartment flooding
*Machinery: 3 × M504B - 2 or 3 MTU 20V 538 TB 93
*Electrical System: 3 × 110 kVA
*Combat System: 4 × 2 Saab RBS-15 SSM, 1 × Bofors 57 mm L70, 1 × 30/6 Ak 630 Gatling, 2x12.7 M2 Browning machine gun

Combat System could be changed as to the mission requirements.

ee also

*Croatian Navy

External links

* [http://www.morh.hr/osrh/data/hrm_en.html Croatian Navy]
* [http://www.morh.hr/katalog/documents/CAF%20LTDP%202006-2015.pdf Croatian Armed Forces Long Term Development Plan 2006-2015]