Al Munassir (L1) Informations

Al Munassir was an amphibious warfare vessel operated by the Royal Navy of Oman. The vessel was launched in 1978 and sunk as an artificial reef in 2003.

Al Munassir was ordered in 1977 from Brooke Marine by the government of Oman and laid down on 4 July that year. The vessel was designed to transport up to 550 tonnes (540 long tons; 610 short tons) of cargo or 8 main battle tanks along with 188 fully equipped troops which disembark from bow doors and a ramp. Fire support was to be provided by a single OTO Melara 76 mm gun mounted on forward, while a helipad aft could accommodate a helicopter up to the size of a Westland Sea King.

Launched on 25 July 1978 and commissioned on 3 April 1979, Al Munassir served as an amphibious operation and logistics vessel for the Omani fleet. The vessel was placed in reserve in the mid 1990s and subsequently retired to become a harbour training ship at the end of the twentieth century.

Al Munassir was sunk as an artificial reef on 22 April 2003. The wreck is off the coast of Muscat at 23°31′02″N 58°45′28″E / 23.51722°N 58.75778°E / 23.51722; 58.75778Coordinates: 23°31′02″N 58°45′28″E / 23.51722°N 58.75778°E / 23.51722; 58.75778 at a depth between 10 and 30 metres (33 and 98 ft).

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