IRINS Damavand sets out for Astarakhan and Baku

Departure of IRINS Damavand (77) Moudge class frigate

According to Tasnim News Agency:

Iran’s homegrown destroyer Damavand, accompanied by two missile-launching frigates, left the country’s northern waters on Sunday for an overseas mission to Russia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Iranian fleet departed from the country’s Caspian port city of Bandar Anzali on Sunday morning. Its itinerary includes a port call at Astrakhan, a city in southern European Russia.

The Iranian naval fleet, which also includes Peykan and Joshan frigates, is scheduled to dock at Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, on its way back home. A total of 200 Navy servicemen are aboard the fleet in this mission, which is planned to last 14 days.

The purpose of the mission is to have an exchange of experiences, boost preparedness, and respond to a recent visit to Iran of a Russian naval fleet as part of routine naval interactions, Iran’s Navy said.

COMMENTARY: This is the first excursion of IRINS with foreign Port of Calls. The two ships joining in the foreign tour are:

- IRINS Paykan (P224) Sina class patrol missile boat
- IRINS Joshan (P225) Sina class patrol missile boat

Paykan and Joshan previously visited Astarakhan, Russia in 2013. Damavand officially joined IRIN on 09MAR15.

Bow section of IRINS Damavand with view of IRIN Naval Jack

Koran departure ceremony for IRIN petty officers first class

Koran departure ceremony for IRIN (possibly CAPT Bagheri). In the background is RDML2 Rezaei-Hadad, Commander of 4th Naval Region - Bandar Anzali.

Detail of Fajr-27 (OTO Melara) 76 mm naval gun

Detail of emblem for IRINS Damavand frigate, located on ship's funnel

Detail of ship's placard for IRINS Damavand frigate

Midship section of IRINS Damavand frigate, including view of phased-array radar and AShCM launchers

Detail of midship section of IRINS Damavand frigate

Helicopter deck of IRINS Damavand frigate, with view of Haraz tugboat

Anzali tugboat assisting IRINS Damavand frigate

Anzali and unidentified tugboat from Nowshahr assisting IRINS Damavand frigate

Photos: M. Mohammadi at Islamic Republic News Agency

IRINS Damavand enters service with 4th Naval Region fleet

On 09MAR15 the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) held a ceremony at Bandar Anzali, formally inducting the IRINS Damavand frigate into service with the 4th Naval Region fleet on the Caspian Sea.

IRINS Damavand (77) Moudge class guided missile frigate (FFGH)

Assembled officers, sailors, military band and color guard, marking the induction ceremony of IRINS Damavand into service with IRIN 4th Naval Region fleet

Look-down view of IRINS Damavand at the port city of Bandar Anzali

Iran considers its frigates as destroyers, going so far as to use the hull classification symbols of "DDG" as seen on the gangway banner at far left. In addition, there appears to be contradictory classification among Iranian military leaders as well as Iran media as to the class of this warship, with some references identifying the ship as Moudge class and others as Jamaran II class.

View of IRINS Damvand's bow-mounted Fajr-27 (OTO Melara type) 76 mm naval defense gun

Engineers, specialists and workers of Shahid Tamjidi Industries, responsible for the construction of IRINS Damavand guided missile frigate.

Military leadership on hand at the induction ceremony of IRINS Damavand (front row, left to right):
- IRIN RDML Gholam Reza Khadem Biqam, IRIN lieutenant commander
- IRGC BG Hossein Dehghan, IRI defense minister
- IRIN RADM Ali Shamkhani, SNSC secretary
- IRIN RDML Habibollah Sayyari, IRIN commander

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Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency