PNS/M ''Hamza'' (S-139) is a diesel-electric fast-attack submarine equipped with an air–independent propulsion

system A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. A system, surrounded and influenced by its open system (systems theory), environment, is described by its boundaries, str ...

and the third submarine of her ''Agosta 90B''/''Khalid''-class submarine. She was designed and constructed by the KSEW Ltd. under the

technology transfer Technology transfer (TT), also called transfer of technology (TOT), is the process of transferring (disseminating) technology from the person or organization that owns or holds it to another person or organization, in an attempt to transform invent ...

agreement with France in 1994. PNS ''Hamza'' is the first submarine that has been fitted with the French MESMA system, which was an experimental at that stage – Pakistan is the first country to use the MESMA system in deep sea on board a submarine. It is the first submarine built in South Asia to feature an

Air-independent propulsion Air-independent propulsion (AIP), or air-independent power, is any marine propulsion technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (by surfacing or using a snorkel). AIP can augment or replace th ...

Design overview

PNS ''Hamza'' was designed and built by the KSEW Ltd. at the

Karachi Naval Dockyard The Pakistan Navy Dockyard, officially known as the PN Dockyard, is a naval base located off the Karachi coast and adjacent to the commercial premises of the KESW Ltd. and the PNS Qasim. It is also the only submarine construction base for the ...

, with the participation of more than 300 civilian engineers and technicians trained in France's defense industry. In 1999–2004, the French and other European contractors reportedly trained more than 600 Pakistani machinists and metal workers in various construction skills of the submarine to meet the challenges of modern warfare in which submarines play a vital role. The

construction Construction are processes involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with planning, financing, and design that continues until the a ...

of the submarine reportedly involves the employment of the local metal industry in the Navy's submarine construction program as had done previously when was being rebuilt. PNS ''Hamza'' is the most advanced version of the design and is more advanced than her two sister ship, and ''Saad'', as its outer hull is light steel structure, HLES 80, was built at the Pakistan Steel and fabricated at the

Naval Dockyard A naval base, navy base, or military port is a military base, where warships and naval ships are docked when they have no mission at sea or need to restock. Ships may also undergo repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usu ...

in Karachi in element parts and mounted on the inner pressure hull. The pressure hull section was fabricated and outfitted by the Naval Dockyard in collaboration with the Karachi Shipyard. PNS ''Hamza'' was

laid down Laying the keel or laying down is the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction. It is often marked with a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the shipbuilding company and the ultimate owners of the ship. Keel laying is one ...

on 1 March 1997 in

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

, and the steel cutting started by the

Pakistan Steel Mills The Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation, colloquially referred to as ''Pak Steel'', is a Pakistani state-owned company that produces long-rolled steel and heavy metal products in the country. Headquartered in Karachi, Sindh, the PSMC is currently ...

. The construction of the submarine started in 1998 by KSEW Ltd. at the Karachi Naval Dockyard, followed by fabrication of 12 pressure hull sub-sections and culminating into three pressure hull sections. This was followed by mounting of light bulkheads, internal tanks and ballast panels in August 2003.

Service

On 10 August 2006, ''Hamza'' was launched, sponsored by

Sehba Musharraf Pervez Musharraf (11 August 1943 – 5 February 2023) was a Pakistani general and politician who served as the tenth president of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008. Prior to his career in politics, he was a four-star general and appointed as t ...

, the First Lady of

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

, and is named after Ḥamzah ibn ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib– the

companion Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...

and paternal uncle of

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

. Her maximum depth test was approximated at the in the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

with the MESMA system, and is capable of launching the

Exocet SM39 The Exocet () is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Etymology The missile's name was given by M. Guillot, then the technical directo ...

missiles while submerged on a seaborne platform. After completing series of depth tests and sea trials in the Indian Ocean, ''Hamza'' was commissioned by then-

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Shaukat Aziz Shaukat Aziz (born 6 March 1949) is a Pakistani-born British former banker who served as the 15th prime minister of Pakistan from 28 August 2004 to 15 November 2007. When his term as Prime Minister was over, he immediately left Pakistan and se ...

on 23 September 2008, and joined the Navy's Submarine Command on 26 September 2008. Her crew complement is reported as 50 personnel (10 officers, 40 enlisted).

Upgrades

On 6 March 2018, the DCNS, its original builder, lost the bidding competition with the Turkish firm, STM, for its refitting and upgrading of her weapon system, combat control system, missile rooms, and periscope upgrades, and is slated to return to her active service in 2020 after returning from Turkey. Upgrades on the submarine were completed in early 2021 and she was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in April that year.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hashmat (S135) Khalid-class submarines Ships built in Pakistan 2006 ships Submarines of Pakistan

Design overview

Service

Upgrades

See also

References