IRIS Alvand (71)

IRIS Alvand during Zolfaghar 1400 exercise in 2021
History
Iran
Name	Saam
Namesake	Sām
Operator	Imperial Iranian Navy Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Ordered	1960
Builder	Vosper Thornycroft, Woolston[1]
Yard number	1080[1]
Laid down	3 March 1968[1]
Launched	25 July 1968;[1] 56 years ago.
Sponsored by	Shahnaz Pahlavi
Commissioned	May 1971[1]
Renamed	Alvand, 1985[1]
Namesake	Alvand mountain range
Homeport	Bandar-Abbas
Identification	Pennant number: 71 Code letters: EQAA
Status	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type	Alvand-class frigate
Displacement	1,100 tons (1,540 tons full load)
Length	94.5 m (310 ft 0 in)
Beam	11.07 m (36 ft 4 in)
Draught	3.25 m (10.7 ft)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 Paxman Ventura cruising diesels, 2,800 kW (3,800 bhp) 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus TM2 boost gas turbines, 34,000 kW (46,000 shp)
Speed	39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph) max
Range	5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	125-146
Armament	8 × C-802 anti-ship missiles 1 × 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 gun 1 × twin 35 mm AAA, 3 x single 20 mm AAA 2 × 81 mm mortars 2 × 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns 1 × Limbo ASW mortar 2 × triple 12.75 in torpedo tubes

Iranian frigate Alvand (Persian: الوند) is a frigate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the lead ship of her class. She was launched in 1968.

The ship was originally called Saam, lead ship of the Saam class (which is named after Sām, a mythical hero of ancient Persia, and an important character in the Shahnameh). After the Islamic Revolution the class was renamed to Alvand class, after the Alvand mountain-chain and so this ship, being the lead ship was renamed Alvand.