Corvettes were small, escort boats that were used during World War II for anti-submarine and ASW operations. These vessels were made by several countries, including France, Italy and Britain. The majority of corvettes had displacements below 1,000 tons. They were used primarily as escort vessels for convoys. Corvettes were also made by many countries for use in armed conflict. The Italians built 69 corvettes, while the Germans built eight Spica classes.
Russian Navy has 21 Tarantul, Grisha-class corvettes. Their main armament is the P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship missiles. NATO classified these corvettes in the category of frigates. These corvettes are mainly operated in Russia by the Russian Navy. However they can be used by the Russian Coast Guard.
Corvettes are an extremely popular small warship. They are used for humanitarian and military missions, especially in the Asia-coastal regions. They are equipped with both small and large calibre guns. They can hold up to twelve tons, which is comparable in size to many small to medium-sized planes. They are also capable in anti-aircraft, anti-submarine operations. A variety of mission modules can be fitted to Corvettes to allow them to take on tasks previously performed by other types of ships. They can be transformed into a Mine Warfare, or MWC vessel that is capable of placing mines.
The Israeli Navy operates three Sa'ar 5-class corvettes. These ships are equipped with a Barak 8 SAM. They also carry a number indigenous weapons, as well as an InfraRed Signaling Suppression System. These ships are fast and agile. These ships can also be used in shallow coastal waters. Their main gun is an 76mm naval gun. They can also carry Hsiung Feng III missiles, which are anti-ship missiles. They have a range around 45 knots.
Other areas have also seen the use of corvettes. There are many corvettes in the Royal Canadian Navy. They are named after small Canadian cities. Royal Thai Navy also has corvettes. They are also named in honor of smaller Asian cities. The Portuguese Navy also operates several corvettes.
Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are a modern class of ships that can perform many tasks that were previously performed by specialist classes. They look a lot similar to OPVs but include an aviation detachment. While they are more expensive, their ability carry out costly and difficult missions makes these a great option for many nations. They can also be made cheaply and have a flexible hull design that allows customers to select the equipment. They have a large hull which allows them to perform tasks that are normally assigned to smaller ships. They can also perform tasks previously assigned to smaller-sized, less-equipped ships.