IRIS ''Tabarzin'' ( fa, تبرزین, lit=Battleaxe) is a serving in the Southern Fleet of the

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy , ''Daryādelān''"Seahearts" , patron = , motto = fa, راه ما، راه حسین است, ''Rāh-e ma, rāh-e hoseyn ast''"''Our Path, Is Hussain's Path''" , colors = , ...

History

Hijack

''Tabarzin'' was hijacked on her maiden voyage from

Cherbourg Cherbourg (; , , ), nrf, Chèrbourg, ) is a former commune and subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French department of Manche. It was merged into the commune of Cherbourg-Octeville on 28 Feb ...

to Iran, when on 13 August 1981, approximately 15 commandos under guise of tourists aboard the rented tugboat ''Salazon'' raided the ship on territorial waters of

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. The group

Azadegan Organization The Azadegan Organization ( fa, آزادگان, lit=the pirituallyfree ones) was an monarchism in Iran, Iranian monarchist organisation which sought to restore the Pahlavi dynasty following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The group, founded by Ge ...

claimed responsibility for the takeover, stating that they have seized the ship "without a shot" and will use it as a "fighting unit" against the Iranian government. Following the event, the Iranian foreign ministry started diplomatic efforts to return the ship and released a statement, accusing the United States government of being responsible for the attack: On 18 August 1981, she harbored at port of

Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

for a refuel and garnering food and water, after they "forced harbor authorities", according to The Christian Science Monitor report. The next day, the hijackers handed over ''Tabarzin'' to the French in

Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...

, in exchange for permission to stay in France for a group's leader and 25 of his followers.

Refit

On 1 December 2013, ''Tabarzin'' was put into service again after an overhaul that took 30 months. Iranian media reported that in February 2019, she took part in the naval wargame Velayat 97, firing two Qader and Qadir cruise missiles at the targets.

References

1978 ships Ships built in France Iran–Iraq War naval ships of Iran Missile boats of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Ships built at Shahid Tamjidi shipyard Ships of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Ships built in Iran Missile boats of Iran {{Iran-mil-ship-stub

History

Hijack

Refit

See also

References