Iranian Navy Alvand class frigate IRIS Alborz enters Red Sea.

According to information published by Tasnim on January 1, 2024, the Iranian Navy's Alvand-class frigate Alborz has traversed the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, entering the Red Sea.
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Iranian Alvand class frigate IRIS Alborz. (Picture source: Al Vefagh)

This naval movement occurs amid heightened regional tensions, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Yemeni group Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi movement, has recently issued a statement declaring its intent to restrict passage through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait to Israeli and certain foreign vessels.

In response to these developments and the targeting of various ships in the area, the United States made efforts to deploy additional naval forces and proposed forming an international coalition aimed at safeguarding maritime interests in the region.

About the frigate

Originally launched in 1969 and supplied by Great Britain to Iran's Imperial Navy during the Shah's era, the Alborz has been a significant naval asset for Iran for over five decades.

The vessel gained international attention in April 2015, when it, along with the supply vessel Bushehr, formed the Iranian Navy's 34th Fleet, purportedly delivering arms shipments to the Houthis in Yemen.

Alborz, measuring 94.5 meters in length with a beam of 11.07 meters, is propelled by two Paxman Ventura cruising diesels and two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM2 boost gas turbines, allowing a maximum speed of 39 knots.

Its range is 5,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. The frigate's armaments include Noor anti-ship missiles, a 4.5-inch Mark 8 gun, the 30 mm Kamand CIWS, a dual 35mm Oerlikon GDF, single 20 mm AAA guns, 81 mm mortars, 0.50 cal machine guns, and triple 12.75-inch torpedo tubes. The ship typically hosts a complement of 125 to 146 personnel.