It is reported that on April 6, 2023, the lead corvette El Moutassadi (tail number "940") of the new Chinese-built F15A project, in a series of six units, arrived in Algeria and was officially commissioned into the Algerian Navy. The ceremony of commissioning the corvette was attended by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Algerian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Said Chanegriha.
Arrival in Algeria of the head corvette El Moutassadi (tail number "940") of the F15A project, built in China for the Algerian Navy, 06.04.2023 (c) frame of the Algerian television report (via Telegram channel "Militarist" )The contract for the construction of corvettes of the new export corvette F15A was signed by Algeria with the Chinese side in early 2020.
Although the total size of the order is traditionally indicated at six ships, however, according to a number of reports, the firm order initially extended to two ships, and the remaining four are in the option.
Structurally, the export project of the F15A corvette is considered a variant of the Project 056 corvettes previously built in a large series for the PLA Navy. The construction of the F15A project corvettes for Algeria is being carried out in Shanghai at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard of the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) shipyard Company, part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation China Shipbuilding State Corporation (CSSC).
The lead corvette El Moutassadi (tail number "940") was launched in Shanghai on August 24, 2021 and entered factory sea trials on August 27, 2022. On February 23, 2023, the corvette went on an independent transition from Shanghai to Algeria, where it arrived on April 6, visiting a number of ports of Asian countries along the way. The second corvette under construction is believed to be delivered to Algeria by the end of 2023.
The corvette of the F15A project has a total displacement of about 1,500 tons and a length of 90 meters. The power plant is a two-shaft diesel, providing a full speed of up to 25 knots. The cruising range is 3,500 miles at an economic speed of 16 knots. The crew is 78 people.
The corvette is armed with four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, one 10-charge HHQ-10 (L-3000N) short-range SAM launcher, one 76-mm H/PJ-26 universal artillery mount, two 30-mm remotely controlled H/PJ-15 artillery mounts, two 324-mm three-tube torpedo tubes and two rocket launchers. The ship has a landing pad for a helicopter.
Earlier, the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard of the CSSC Corporation, under a 2012 contract, carried out the construction for the Algerian Navy of three larger corvettes of the export project C28A (Adhafer type) with a total displacement of 2,880 tons and a hull length of 120 meters, commissioned in 2015-2016.
The lead corvette El Moutassadi built in China for the Algerian Navy (tail number "940") of the F15A project leaves Shanghai for transfer to Algeria, 02/23/2023 (c) justin_zhuyan / www.shipspotting.com
