The Libyan Navy Nanuchka II Class (Project 1234E) Missile Corvette TARIQ IBN ZIYAD one of the Only 2 Nanuchka Hulls that ever visited Malta entered Grand Harbour on Monday 29th July berthing at Crucifix Wharf (now known as Pinto Wharf).
She was built at the Soviet Union Vympel Shipyard for the Soviet Navy as MRK 9 , with keel laid up on 21st April 1979, launched 10th January 1981 and commissioned on 26th May 1981. In less than a year she was transferred to the Libyan Navy during 1982 making her as the first Nanuchka missile boat out of 4 transferred and renamed as EAN MARA 416.
In January 1985 she entered Valletta for repairs at Malta Drydocks (as we previously reported – https://maltashipphotos.com/malta-drydocks-nanuchka-class-missile-corvettes-for-repairs-1985/ )
A year later on 25th March 1986 she was severely damaged by USN Sixth Fleet in the Operation El Dorado Canyon. She was repaired at Leningrad, USSR and returned to Libya around 5 years later renamed as TARIQ IBN ZIYAD.
She left Valletta on Thursday 1st August, 1991 bound to Sfax, Tunisia.
She was based in Benghazi and during February 2011 she came under the control of the freedom fighters during the Libyan Uprising. She remained in Benghazi after the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime, already being part of the Free Libyan Navy.
Unfortunately she was destroyed during a fight between Libyan government army and radical Islamist forces at Benghazi Port on 3rd November, 2014.
