Mandau-class fast attack craft explained

The Mandau-class, Indonesian designation KCR-PSK, is a class of four missile-armed fast attack craft that currently operated by the Indonesian Navy. They were built by the Korea Tacoma Marine Industries from South Korea between 1977 and 1980.[1]

Design

In 1975, Indonesia placed an order with the South Korean shipbuilder, Korea Tacoma International, for 4 PSK Mark 5 missile armed fast attack craft. The design was based on Korea Tacoma's PSSM patrol boat built for the Republic of Korea Navy, which in turn was based on the built for the US Navy.

The ships are 53.58m (175.79feet) long, with a beam of 8m (26feet) and a draught of 1.63m (05.35feet). Displacement is 250LT standard and 290LT full load. The ships's machinery is arranged in a 2-shaft, Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) layout, with a single General Electric-Fiat LM2500 gas turbine rated at 25000shp powering the ship at high speeds, with two MTU 12V331 TC81 diesel engines rated at 1120bhp each, power the ship at lower speeds. Maximum speed is 41kn using the gas turbine, and 17kn using the diesels. Range is 2500nmi at 17kn.

The ships are fitted with a single Bofors 57 mm SAK-57 Mk I gun forward, with a Bofors 40 mm L/70 gun aft, with two Rheinmetall 20 mm cannon providing close-in defence. Four mm 38 Exocet anti-ship missiles can be carried. The ships have a crew of 7 officers and 36 other ranks.

A Racal Decca 1226 I-band surface search radar is fitted, while fire control is by a Signaal WM 28 fire control radar and a Selenia NA-18 optronic director.

Operational history

On September 11, 2018, KRI Rencong caught fire and sank while on patrol near Sorong in West Papua. The incident occurred at around 7 a.m. when a fire broke out in the ship's engine room after the gas turbine unexpectedly shut down. The fire soon spread to other compartments, including the ammunition room, prompting the ship's commander to issue an order to abandon ship. The patrol boat has been instrumental in Indonesia's efforts to root out illegal fishing since 2015. The ship used to intercept mainly Philippine and Taiwanese fishing boats entering and fishing illegally in Indonesian waters. It formed part of the Indonesian Navy's Third Fleet Command in Sorong and used to patrol the Banda Sea in the Maluku Islands and the Celebes Sea east of Sulawesi Island.[2]

Ships

NameHull numberBuilderCommissionedStatus
Mandau621Korea Tacoma Marine Industries20 July 1979Active
Rencong622Korea Tacoma Marine Industries20 July 1979Sank following a fire incident in September 2018.[3]
Badik623Korea Tacoma Marine IndustriesFebruary 1980Active
Keris624Korea Tacoma Marine IndustriesFebruary 1980Active

See also

List of active Indonesian Navy ships

Equipment of the Indonesian Navy

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mandau Class - Generasi KCR TNI AL Warisan Orde Baru. 25 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Wardi . Robertus . Indonesian Navy Loses Second Ship in Less Than a Year . . 12 September 2018 . 16 September 2020.
  3. Web site: Indonesian fast missile boat KRI Rencong-622 catches fire in Papua waters . . 11 September 2018 . 20 September 2020.