LONDON: The Israeli warship hit on Friday off the Lebanese coast is a multi-purpose, helicopter-carrying corvette of the US-built Saar 5 class, one of the world’s first warships to use stealth technology.

The rapid and highly manoeuvrable vessel with a top speed of 33 knots is used mainly for submarine hunting and surface combat.

Israel has three of the Saar 5 type, the Eilat, Lahav and Hanit, acquired in 1993 and 1994, with a range of armaments including Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 130 kilometres, surface-to-air missiles with a 10 kilometres range, a 76mm gun, a 20 mm six-barrelled gun and six torpedo launchers.

They also have an array of countermeasures systems including air search radar, and a sonar facility.

It is 280 feet long, displaces 1,200 tonnes and has a heliport giving it a capacity to carry two helicopters, one stowed in a hangar below decks.

In addition to the 64-strong crew, there is a 10-man helicopter team.

The ship has a range of 4,000 nautical miles or 7,400 kilometres, giving it up to 20 days at sea.

The Saar 5 class uses stealth technology to reduce its radar and infra-red signatures and its low profile makes it less detectable.—AFP