# Most powerful warships in Africa

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2017/03/top-10-most-powerful-warships-in-africa/
- Published: 2017-03-10T13:31:00+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

If you are wondering about the military strength of African countries, here is 
an article to help you decide. Military Africa has compiled a comprehensive list
of the TOP 10 MOST POWERFUL WARSHIPS IN AFRICA. The criteria and parameters used
by us to rank these vessels include:

## Ranking criteria

 1. Firepower
 2. Year of commissioning
 3. Role (e.g guided missile, multipurpose e.t.c)

_Note, this list doesn’t include Aircraft carriers, Helicopter carriers, Submarine,
Landing ships, Auxiliary ships or just plain big ships. Unless those ships carries
enough firepower to meet the standard of a war-fighting vessel._

## The contenders

###  **No 1) The FREMM Multipurpose Frigate**.

This is a class of Multipurpose frigates built by DCNS/Armaris.

  |  [⌊Egyptian FREMM frigate⌉](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0qfOevVyLrE/WQiQ8CcG6eI/AAAAAAAAAAs/f24dFZ8Vz3YKx1nGapeY2wnhwp7hzr_PACLcB/s1600/FREMM_Tahya_Misr_New_Suez_canal_Egypt.jpg) |  
 |  Egyptian FREMM frigate |

  |

**Type**

  |

Frigate

  |  
 |

**African Users**

  |

Egyptian Navy (Tahya Misr)

Royal Morroccan Navy (Mohammed VI)

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

6700 tonnes

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

27-29 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

6000-6700 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |

OTO Melera 76mm SR gun

  |  
 |

**Land-attack missiles**

  |

16-cell SYLVER A70 VLS for launching SCALP Naval land-attack cruise missile.

  |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |

16 cells SYLVER A43 or A50 for Aster 15

  |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |

MM-40 Exocet block 3 missiles

  |  
 |

** Anti-submarine**

  |

2 X 2 WASS B-515/3 launchers for MU 90 torpedoes.

  |

### **NO 2) MEKO  200**

This is a frigate designed by Blohm and Voss shipyard of Germany, its a part of 
the MEKO class family of ships. This is a new class of stealth (Low observable) 
ships.

  |  [⌊MEKO 200⌉](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PUw_catc9Fw/Wa77rPkxf0I/AAAAAAAAAgU/icfFs1PYW5IbWG6XAqq4IqPlLad8kzxrACLcBGAs/s1600/MEKO-1.jpg) |  
 |  **MEKO  200** |

  |

**Type**

  |

Frigate

  |  
 |

**African Users**

  |

Algerian National Navy

South African Navy

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

3,400 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

32 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

6,000 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |

127 mm MK-45 Mod 2 Naval Artillery Gun

  |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |

32 Umkhonto SAM

  |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |

16x RBS-15 SSMs for Algeria’s A200 Meko

8x Exocet SSM for South African Navy A200 Valour

  |  
 |

** Anti-submarine**

  |

2X triple 324 mm MK-32 Mod 5 tubes

  |

### **NO 3) Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate**

  |  ⌊Image result for oliver perry class ship⌉ |  
 |  Oliver Perry class Frigate |

This is a class of guided missile frigates named after the American Commodore Oliver
Hazard Perry and built by Bath Iron Works. They were formerly the workhorse of the
United States Navy.

  |

**Type**

  |

Guided missile frigate

  |  
 |

**African Users**

  |

Egyptian Navy (4 units)

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

4,100 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

29 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

4,500 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |

OTO Melera 76mm gun

  |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |

 MK 13 launching SM-1MR Missiles

  |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |

 Harpoon anti-ship missile

  |  
 |

** Anti-submarine**

  |

 Mark 46/Mark 50 torpedoes

  |

### **No 4) Knox Class Frigate**

  |   |  
 |  Knox Class Frigate |

This warship was originally built by Todd Shipyard, Settle and San Pedro for the
U.S Navy. It initial role is an ocean Destroyer Escort for protecting merchant’s
vessels and screening large battle groups from enemy attacks.

  |

**Type**

  |

Guided missile frigate

  |  
 |

**African Users**

  |

Egyptian Navy

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

4,260 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

27 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

4000 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |   MK-42 5-inch gun |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |

 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow

  |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |

Harpoon Missile

  |  
 |

** Anti-submarine**

  |

 Mark 46 torpedoes

  |

### **No 5) MEKO 360 class frigate**

** **A single vessel of the **MEKO 360H1** variant was produced for the Nigerian
Navy known as the _Aradu_, it is one of the largest vessels of that navy. Although
this particular class of ship is designated a frigate by the manufacturers, Jane’s
Fighting Ships and the Argentinian Navy classifies it as a destroyer. However, this
ship is inoperable and has been left in bad condition for years now.

  |  ⌊MEKO 360 class frigate⌉ |  
 |  A MEKO 360 class frigate |

  |

**Type**

  |   Multi-role Frigate |  
 |

**African Users**

  |

Nigerian Navy

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

3,360 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

30.5 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

6,500 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |   OTO Melara Otobreda 127/54 Compact, 8 x Bofors 40 mm gun |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |    24 x Aspide SAM in octuple launcher |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |   8 x Otomat Mk 1 SSM |  
 |

** Anti-submarine**

  |   6 x torpedo tubes, 1 depth charge rack |

### **⏎  No 6) C28A Class Corvette

This is a new breed of stealth corvette built by CSSC in Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard
in China. With a displacement of about 3000 tons when fully ladened, this can be
classified as **HEAVY CORVETTES** or unofficially as a **LIGHT FRIGATES**.

![Most powerful warships in Africa](https://www.military.africa/wp-content/uploads/
2017/03/C28A-El-Fateh921-300x165.jpg)

  |

**Type**

  |   Heavy Corvette |  
 |

**African Users**

  |

Algerian Navy

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

2880-3000 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

30 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

3000-3550 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |   NG-16-1 (76 mm) gun |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |   HQ-7 Short-range SAM |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |   2 X 4 C-802 Missile |  
 |

** Anti-submarine**

  |   2 X 3 324mm Torpedo |

### **⏎  No 7)⏎ Gowind-class corvette

The **Gowind** design is a family of steel monohull corvettes developed since 2006
by DCNS to conduct missions in a littoral zone such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
The Gowind family includes vessels with lengths from 85m to 102m and displacement
from 1,000t to 2,500t.

The Gowind design can deploy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles(
USVs) and Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs). An aft deck has been provided allowing
for a 10-ton class helicopter or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations.

The Egptian Navy has production right for this class of vessel and will begin serial
production soon.

  |   |  
 |  GOWIND Class corvette |

  |

**Type**

  |  Corvette |  
 |

**African Users**

  |  Egyptian Navy

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

2,500 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

25 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

3,700 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |

1 × OTO Melara 76 mm main gun

  |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |   

 * 16 × VLS for MICA VL

  |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |  8 × Exocet anti-ship missile |  
 |

**Anti-submarine**

  |   2 × triple torpedo launcher  |

### **No 8) ****Sigma-class corvette**

The **Sigma-class corvette** is a Dutch-built family of modular naval vessels of
corvette to frigate size with a blue water capability.

  |   |  
 |  Sigma-class corvette |

  |

**Type**

  |   Corvette |  
 |

**African Users**

  |

**Royal Morrocan Navy**

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

1,692 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

28-32 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

3600 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |   1 x Oto Melara 76 mm gun |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |   2 x quad MBDA Mistral TETRAL, forward & aft |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |   4 x MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II |  
 |

Anti-submarine **

  |   2 x triple B515 launchers for EuroTorp 3A 244S Mode II/MU 90 |

### ⏎  **No 9) P18N  (Type 056)**** Corvette**

** **The P18N is an export version of the original Type 056 corvette of the PLAN
navy. It entered service in 2013. The Nigerian version has an enlarged hull for 
more classified equipment. Not much is known about the P18N due to the secretive
nature of the Nigerian Government. All details listed here is based on the data 
provided for the original version (Type 056).

  |  [⌊P18N (TYPE 0560 CORVETTE)⌉](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hjJjy8Ocjq8/Wa7864bjQoI/AAAAAAAAAgg/mUCFOeXA8kskokfY_qBOygIUw8JqcQ8ZgCLcBGAs/s1600/download.jpg) |  
 |  P18N (TYPE 0560 CORVETTE) |

  |

**Type**

  |  Corvette |  
 |

**African Users**

  |  Nigerian Navy

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

1,800 tons

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

25 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

3,500 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |

AK176 76mm gun

  |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |   1 X 8 FL-3000N SAM 

  |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |  2 X 2-cell YJ-83 anti-ship missile |  
 |

**Anti-submarine**

  |

2X triple 324 mm torpedoes

  |

### **⏎  No 10)  _Descubierta_-class corvette

The **_Descubierta_-class corvettes** were a series of corvettes built for the Spanish
Navy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These ships were also sold to the Egyptian
Navy and the Moroccan Navy. The ships were designed in cooperation with the German
company Blohm & Voss, based on the _João Coutinho_-class corvettes which were designed
in the late 1960s for the Portuguese Navy, by the Portuguese naval engineer Rogério
de Oliveira.

  |   |  
 |  **_Descubierta_-class corvettes** |

  |

**Type**

  |  Corvette |  
 |

**African Users**

  |  Egyptian Navy
 Royal Moroccan Navy

  |  
 |

**Displacement**

  |

1,233-1,482 tons 

  |  
 |

**Speed**

  |

25 knots

  |  
 |

**Range**

  |

4,000 NM

  |  
 |

**Weapons Carried**

  |

  |  
 |

**Main Gun**

  |

76mm gun

 2 – 40 mm guns (2 × 1)

  |  
 |

**Anti-Air**

  |  1 – octuple Sea Sparrow SAM

1 – two barreled Bofors 

  |  
 |

**Anti-Ship**

  |   8 – Harpoon anti-ship missile |  
 |

** Anti-submarine**

  |   6 X 12.75in Torpedoes, about 8X anti-submarine mortars |

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