Israeli Navy Missile Boat 'Princess of the Flotilla' Decommissioned After 44 Years
The Israeli Navy missile boat INS Keshet, known as "Princess of the Flotilla," has been decommissioned after 44 years of service. The ship, which participated in operations during the First Lebanon War and enforced naval blockades, was honored with a farewell parade in Haifa. Its future is uncertain, with options ranging from being sunk to becoming a museum piece.
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- The Israeli Navy missile boat INS Keshet was decommissioned after 44 years of service.
- Nicknamed "Princess of the Flotilla," the ship participated in the First Lebanon War.
- The INS Keshet enforced naval blockades on Beirut and Tripoli.
- It was the oldest combat ship in the Navy but remained highly active.
- The ship's future is being considered, possibly as a museum exhibit or sunk.
After 44 years of service, the Israeli Navy missile boat INS Keshet, nicknamed "Princess of the Flotilla," has completed its operational service. The vessel was decommissioned with a farewell parade in Haifa, where other ships of the Israeli Navy saluted it. Launched in May 1982, shortly before the First Lebanon War, the INS Keshet became operational and participated in attacks on Beirut and northern Lebanon, as well as enforcing a naval blockade on the ports of Beirut and Tripoli.
Navy personnel described the INS Keshet as a unique ship, earning its nickname due to its extensive involvement in numerous, often classified, operations. Despite its age and being the oldest combat ship in the Navy, the INS Keshet remained active in various combat zones over the last three years, accumulating the highest number of operational hours among all Navy vessels.
Following its final operational mission, the INS Keshet returned to its homeport in Haifa last Wednesday. Its future is now under consideration, with possibilities including being sunk to the seabed or becoming a museum exhibit.