Ultra Fast Attack Craft: Difference between revisions

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===Sri Lankan service===

Deliveries of the P450 and P451 were in 1996 as the first UFACs in the SLN.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}}<ref name=”epicos”/> The P490-492, P494, P494 and the ~~P9497~~ in 1997.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}} The P410-P415, the P417 and P419-P424 were delivered in 2000.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}} P430 and P432-439 were delivered in 2005.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}}

Deliveries of the P450 and P451 were in 1996 as the first UFACs in the SLN.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}}<ref name=”epicos”/> The P490-492, P494, P494 and the in 1997.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}} The P410-P415, the P417 and P419-P424 were delivered in 2000.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}} P430 and P432-439 were delivered in 2005.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}}

In 2000, P493 and P496 were sunk.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}} On December 27, 2007, one UFAC Series II (P413) was destroyed and another damaged during an encounter between Sri Lankan Navy and Sea Tiger patrol boats between Delft Island and Mannar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2007/12/inside-story-of-latest-sea.html|title=Inside Story of Latest Sea Confrontation (Update)|publisher=Sri Lanka Guardian|date=2007-12-27|accessdate=2023-04-24}}</ref> In May 2006, P418 was sunk.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}} On March 22, 2008, a UFAC (P438) was taken out via Sea Tiger suicide attack at the waters off Nayaru and the Kokilai lagoon south of Mulaithivu District.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2008/03/one-ufac-destroyed-10-sailors-mia.html|title=One UFAC destroyed, 10 sailors MIA|publisher=Sri Lanka Guardian|date=2008-03-22|accessdate=2023-04-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Lanka naval vessel sinks in sea blast, 10 missing – The Economic Times | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/lanka-naval-vessel-sinks-in-sea-blast-10-missing/articleshow/2889195.cms | access-date=2025-08-15 | website=economictimes.indiatimes.com}}</ref> P434 was taken out in 2009.{{Sfnp|Saunders|2015|p=787}}

Class overview
Maldivian Coast Guard Colombo-class coastal surveillance vessel
Name	Colombo class
Builders	Colombo Dockyard Limited
Operators	See Operators
Subclasses	See Subclasses
Cost	USD$2.95 million (Series III)^[1]
In commission	1996
General characteristics
Type	Ultra fast attack craft
Displacement	52 long tons (53 t) (Series I and II) 56 long tons (57 t) (Series III)
Length	24.3 m (79 ft 9 in) (Series I and II) 24 m (78 ft 9 in) (Series III)
Beam	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Draught	3 m (9 ft 10 in) (Series I and II) 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) (Series III)
Propulsion	2 × MTU 12V 396 TE 94 (1,630 kW; 2,190 hp each) driving with 2 x Kamewa water jets or 2 × DEUTZ TBD 620 V16 main engines (3,410 kW; 4,570 hp each)^[1] and two Arneson ASD-16 articulating surface drives
Speed	45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) (Series I and II) and 53 knots (98 km/h; 61 mph) (Series III)
Range	500–600 nmi (930–1,110 km; 580–690 mi)
Complement	10–12
Armament	1 x Typhoon stabilized system with M242 Bushmaster/Oerlikon 20 mm cannon & additional armaments

The Ultra Fast Attack Craft, commonly known as the UFAC,^[2] Ultra Fast-Attack Craft^[3] or Colombo class,^[4] is a Sri Lankan ultra high-speed class of patrol boats meant for a variety of naval missions from off-shore coastal patrol missions to high-speed, high-maneuver littoral warfare. They are based on the Shaldag boats made by Israel.^[2]

Built by Colombo Dockyard Limited for the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN),^[1] they became the workhorse of the SLN against Sea tiger boats of the LTTE.

Deliveries of the P450 and P451 were in 1996 as the first UFACs in the SLN.^[4] The P490-492, P494, P494 and the P497 in 1997. The P410-P415, the P417 and P419-P424 were delivered in 2000. P430 and P432-439 were delivered in 2005.

In 2000, P493 and P496 were sunk. On December 27, 2007, one UFAC Series II (P413) was destroyed and another damaged during an encounter between Sri Lankan Navy and Sea Tiger patrol boats between Delft Island and Mannar.^[6] In May 2006, P418 was sunk. On March 22, 2008, a UFAC (P438) was taken out via Sea Tiger suicide attack at the waters off Nayaru and the Kokilai lagoon south of Mulaithivu District.^[7]^[8] P434 was taken out in 2009.

One example, the P494, in service from 1997, taken off service briefly for retrofitting from October 2019 to January 2022 to replace engines and drive control systems alongside the deck exterior.^[9]

The first coastal surveillance vessel was made in 1997 and delivered for the MNDF Coast Guard on January 20, 1998 as the Nooradheen T701 (ex-P214), formerly known as the Ghazee.^[11] Another was delivered on December 7, 1998 as the Iskandhar T702 (ex-223). These boats are outfitted with Paxman-Vega diesel engines and Kamewa waterjets.^[12]

The MNDF reported that the Iskandhar was not operational in 2012 while the Nooradheen was not operational since 2016 due to lack of coast guard docking facilities to properly conduct maintenance.^[13]

The boats of the Series I are 24 m (78 ft 9 in) long with a monohull with a vibration-free deck, powered by twin MTU main engines developing 1,630 kW (2,190 hp) each, driving Kamewa water jets.^[14] This enables the boat to reach speeds of 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) and have an endurance of 500 nautical miles (930 km; 580 mi). They have a crew of 10.^[14]

Around 12 were delivered to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN).^[1]

Series II the successor to the earlier type. Main upgrades include the increase of accommodation for a crew of 12 and major improvements the superstructure.^[14]

Like the Series I, around 12 were delivered to the SLN.^[1]

The Series III is the recent addition to the class and has incorporated current combat requirements and experience in the battlefield archived by the SLN. This new type can achieve speeds in excess of 53 knots (98 km/h; 61 mph), the fastest of its class in the region while housing up to 12 persons in a crew.^[14] Series III was designed by the Colombo Dockyard to the Israeli Shaldag Mk II design. First launch of Series III held on 27 July 1996 and it went beyond the abilities of Shaldag Mk II design by exceeding it from the speed, range and payload.^[14]

The propulsion system consists of two MTU 12V 396 TE94 (1,630 kW; 2,190 hp each) diesel engines driving two articulated surface drives, which were initially designed for competitive speedboats. Arneson Surface Drive-16 articulating propulsion systems drives provide the vessel with thrust vectoring control similar to the Super Dvora Mk III and Shaldag Mk II.^[14]

Their thrust-vectoring propulsion system allows Series III to function in shallow waters at draughts of 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) facilitating special operations forces delivery on enemy shores and catastrophe relief missions.

36 Series III UFACs were known to be built for the SLN.^[1]

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Coastal surveillance vessel

[edit]

The two coastal surveillance vessels built for the Maldivian Coast Guard are very similar to the Series III Ultra Fast Attack Craft. They have more range but at a lower speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and no armament.^[15]

All Colombo-class boats have been designed to allow for the installation of Typhoon 25-30 mm stabilized cannon which can be slaved to state-of the art mast-mounted, day and night all weather long range electro-optic systems.^[16] In addition, they carry additional weapon systems such as 20 mm Oerlikon rear autocannons, automatic grenade launchers, 7.62 mm GPMGs and 12.7 mm HMGs. The boats delivered to the Maldives only have one 20 mm machine gun and 2 7.62 mm machine guns.

Series III gun boats comes with Elop MSIS optronic director and Typhoon GFCS as its own weapons control system. Also these crafts use surface search: Furano FR 8250 or Corden Mk 2; I-band as its radar.

As of 2006, the main armament has been upgraded with the addition of M242 Bushmaster 25 mm (25x137mm) chain-fed autocannons.^[17]

Hull No.	Type	Builder	Commissioned
P450	Mark I	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1996
P451	Mark I	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1996
P490	Mark II	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1997
P492	Mark II	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1997
P494	Mark II	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1997
P497	Mark II	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1997
P410	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P411	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P412	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P415	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P417	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P418	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P419	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P424	Mark III	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2000
P430	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P432	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P433	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P434	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P435	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P436	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P437	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P437	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P438	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005
P439	Mark IV	Colombo Dockyard Limited	2005

Hull No.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Commissioned	Status	Reference/s
T701	Nooradheen, formerly Ghazee	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1997	January 20, 1998	Operational
T702	Iskandhar	Colombo Dockyard Limited	1997	January 20, 1998	Operational

Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2015). Jane’s Fighting Ships 2015-2016. ‎IHS Jane’s. ISBN 978-0710631435.

Coastal surveillance vessel

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