As in “catamaran. ”This cat, however, is not the diminutive C-14 first reported in Jane’s Defence Weekly (14 November 2001) as being built for Iran. This vessel is much larger, has a wave piercing hull, and probably uses water jets instead of a cavitating propellers. Photos recently appeared on www. cjby.com and www.xfjs. net of the craft being launched at Shanghai in April of 2004, if being lowered into the water still counts as launching. Its hull looks capable of 50 knots. Because of the waterjets and catamarans, it will probably have a shallow draft. It is also shaped to have a reduced radar signature. While it’s hard to estimate displacement, what might normally be a VSmall signature would be reduced to Stealthy. There is an AK-630 variant visible on the bow, with the gunhouse modified to reduce its RCS. The SSM launchers are enclosed, so it is impossible to tell what their type is, or will be. The enclosures look large enough for C802s or C803s. It is also impossible to tell from the photo whether this hull is intended for Chinese service or export. Does anyone understand the significance of the “2208” on the hull? BT Back to The Naval Sitrep # 26 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List & copy Copyright 2004 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com