Munsif Class (Fr Eridan)
Until the acquisition of three Munsif (Fr Eridan) class minehunters, Pakistan Navy’s MCM forces would not have been able to deal with serious mine threats with only two ex-USN coastal minesweepers and eight type 312 drones to form its mine Warfare forces. The acquisition of three new French mine hunters brought a lot of improvement.
The Eridan Class Tripartite mine hunters were purchased from France under a transfer of technology deal. The first, PNS MUNSIF (ex-FNS Sagittaire) was built in France, sold in 1992 and commissioned in the Pakistan Navy in 1995. Previously known as the Sagittaire, it was commissioned on 27 July 1989 in the French Navy, and seeing active service during the Persian Gulf War, before being transfered to the Pakistan Navy on 24 September 1992.
The second PNS MUHAFIZ was also built in France and commissioned in the Pakistan Navy on 18 September 1996. The third PNS MUJAHID was completely built in Pakistan and by PN Dockyard.
Specifications |
|
| Propulsion Power | 1370 kW |
| Speed | 15 knots |
| Aux. Propulsion Power | 2 x 88 kW |
| Aux. Speed | 7 knots |
| Range | 3000 miles (12kts) |
| Length | 47.1 m |
| Beam | 8.9 m |
| Draft | 3.5 m |
| Displacement | 595 tons |
| Complement | 49 |
| Guns | 1 GIAT 20F2 20mm
12.7mm MG |
Ships |
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| No | Previous Name | Builder | Launched | Commissioned | |
| Munsif | M 166 | Sagittaire | Lorient | 9 November 1988 | 1995 |
| Muhafiz | M 163 | Lorient | 8 July 1995 | 18 September 1996 | |
| Mujahid | M 164 | Karachi | 28 January 1997 | December 1997 | |
