Iranian frigate Alvand

Iranian frigate Alvand, a British-made Vosper Mark V class frigate (also known as Alvand class frigate), was commissioned in 1971 as part of a four-ship order and is the lead ship of the class and flagship of the Iranian Navy.

The ship was originally called Saam, named after the Saam class (which is named after Sām, a mythical hero of ancient Persia, and an important character in the Shahnameh) as it was the lead-ship. But 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.

The ship is rarely seen outside the Persian Gulf nowadays, although it did join the Indian Navy's 'Bridges of Friendship', held in Bombay on February 17, 2001 to celebrate India's 50th anniversary as republic where in 60 Indian vessels and 24 foreign vessels (including Alvand) participated. Alvand appeared to be in good state despite being thirty years old. In 2010 it participated in the 60th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Navy. Alvand entered the Suez Canal on 22 February 2011, with the supply vessel Kharg, on a deployment reported to be a training mission to Latakia, Syria.