ISRAELI NAVY SAAR CLASS GUNBOATS OF THE TYPE INVOLVED IN THE DRAMATIC DASH FROM CHERBOURG LAST YEAR HAVE BEEN REFITTED WITH NEW WEAPONS. THE ARMAMENTS ON THE BOATS INCLUDE ELECTRONICALLY GUIDED SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILES AND A 40 MM GUN.

THE ISRAELIS DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF THE RE-EQUIPPED GUNBOATS AS COASTAL DEFENCE AND SUPPORT FOR OTHER BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES. THE 230 TON BOATS ARE HIGHLY MANEOUVERABLE AND CARRY SOPHISTICATED AIR AND SURFACE SURVEILLANCE RADAR.

IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THE GUNBOATS SHOWN WITH THE NEW ARNAMENTS WERE THE ONES WHICH LEFT CHERBOURG ON CHRISTMAS DAY LAST YEAR AND SAILED THROUGH THE MEDITERRANEAN TO ARRIVE AT HAIFA ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. THE INCIDENT ANGERED THE ARAB WORLD AND EMBARRASSED THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT WHO HAD HELD FIVE GUNBOATS AFTER AN ARMS EMBARGO IMPOSED AFTER THE SIX-DAY WAR IN 1967.

SYNOPSIS: ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 1969 FIVE GUNBOAT SLIPPED INTO HAIFA HARBOUR IN ISRAEL AFTER A DASH ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM CHERBOURG HARBOUR. THE INCIDENT ANGERED THE ARAB WORLD AND EMBARRASSED THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

THE "SAAR" CLASS GUNBOATS WERE INTENDED FOR USE IN THE ISRAELI NAVY AFTER BEING REFITTED WITH NEW WEAPONS.

ON SUNDAY (3 MAY) REFITTED SAAR GUNBOATS WERE SHOWN TO THE PRESS -- ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT KNOWN WHETHER THEY ARE THE SAME BOATS THAT SAILED FROM CHERBOURG.....

AMONG THE ARMAMENTS FITTED TO THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY TON BOATS ARE ELECTRONICALLY GUIDED SURFACE TO SURFACE MISSILES.

THE NAVY DESCRIBES THE ROLE OF THE RE-EQUIPPED BOATS AS COASTAL DEFENCE AND SUPPORT FOR OTHER BRANCHES OF ISRAELI ARMED FORCES.

THE MISSILE LAUNCHERS WERE DEMONSTRATED......
THE GUNBOATS ARE HIGHLY MANEOUVERABLE AND CARRY SOPHISTICATE AIR AND SURFACE SURVEILLANCE RADAR.

ALSO ON BOARD EACH BOAT IS A FORTY MILLIMETRE GUN FOR USE IN AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ROLE AND AGAINST OTHER SURFACE CRAFT.