NNS Ekpe

History
Nigeria
NameEkpe
BuilderLurssen
Laid down17 February 1979
Launched17 December 1979
In service1980-2010s
HomeportWestern Naval Command Lagos, Nigeria
StatusInactive
General characteristics
Class & typeEkpe-class fast attack craft
Displacement373 t (367 long tons)
Length58.1 m (190 ft 7 in)
Beam7.62 m (25 ft 0 in)
Draft2.83 m (9 ft 3 in)
Propulsion4 × MTU diesel engines
Range2,600 nmi (4,800 km; 3,000 mi)
Complement40
Sensors &
processing systems
  • Decca 1226C radar
  • WM-28 radar
Armament
  • 4 x Otomat surface-to-surface missiles
  • 1 x 76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact gun
  • 1 x twin 40 mm/70 Breda-Bofors gun
  • 2 x twin 30 mm/75 Emerlec Ex-30 mounts

NNS Ekpe (P178) is a 58-metre (190 ft 3 in) fast attack craft of the Nigerian Navy and is the lead ship of the her class.[1] Since her commissioning in the 1980s, she has been homeported at NNS Beecroft in Apapa, Lagos.[2] She is tasked with conducting coastal patrols and ensuring security along Nigeria's coastal waters primarily in the Gulf of Guinea.[2] She is named for the Efik/Ibibio word for the leopard, an animal native to Nigeria.[3] The vessel was deemed as "inactive" in 2020.[4]

Construction

She is the first of three German-built Ekpe-class vessels, all of which were laid down on 17 February 1979, at Lürssen Shipyards in Vegesack, West Germany.[1] Ekpe was launched on 17 December 1979, with her service for the Nigerian Navy beginning in August 1980. She was the first missile-equipped fast attack craft (FAC) for the navy and was designed to compliment their existing fleet of French La Combattante III-class fast attack craft which were also to be delivered in the early 1980s.[5] The vessel was refitted in the mid-1990s and her missiles were reportedly removed around this time to control upkeep costs. Further refurbishment occurred when her sister ship, Agu, was cannibalized between 1992 and 1995.[6]

Design

The vessel has a length of 58.1 metres (190 ft 7 in), with a 7.61-metre (25 ft 0 in) beam and a draught of 2.83 metres (9 ft 3 in) while displacing 373 tonnes (367 long tons).[7] Her propulsion is provided by four MTU 16V956 TB92 diesel engines driving four shafts and producing 15,000 kilowatts (20,000 hp). She has a maximum speed of 38 knots (70 km/h; 44 mph) with a cruising speed of roughly 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[7] She has a range of 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi). As completed, she carried four Otomat Mk.1[8] surface-to-surface missiles with one 76 mm (3.0 in)/62-calibre OTO-Melara Compact Gun and one twin 40 mm (1.6 in)/70-calibre Breda-Bofors gun mount.[4] She also was equipped with two twin 30 mm (1.2 in)/75-calibre Emerlec EX-30 mounts. Her sensors include Decca 1226C and WM-28 radars and RDL countermeasures. She is crewed by a complement of 40 personnel.[9]

Service in the Nigerian Navy

Since her commissioning, she has operated under Western Naval Command out of NNS Beecroft, the navy's largest operational base.[10] Her mission includes supporting coastal security, patrolling territorial waters for fisheries violations, and managing the country's EEZ.[11] Her entry to service coincides with Nigeria's rapid military growth during the late 20th century. During a 1997 ECOWAS/ECOMOG deployment to waters off Sierra Leone, which was undergoing an attempted coup, the vessel suffered a severe breakdown and was limited in her efforts to support international forces. During this deployment, she screened for potential close-in threats while allied ships bombarded land positions.[4] While the vessel was listed as "active" in 2010, she was listed as "inactive" in 2020.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Full List of Nigerian Navy Ships (2025) - Nigerian Queries". 7 June 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "List of Nigerian Navy Ships – Nigerian Finder". 17 May 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ^ "What is the Ekpe Society?". Okwu ID. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "NIGERIA". www.hrw.org. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  5. ^ "La Combattante III-class fast attack craft explained". everything.explained.today. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Nigerian Navy History - Phase II: 1971 – 1988". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b "EKPE fast attack craft (missile) (1980-1981) - Nigerian Navy (Nigeria)". myownonpmirror.com. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  8. ^ Webmaster (1 November 2023). "Nigerian Navy's need for missiles". Abiodun Borisade TV. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b Lionel, Ekene (4 November 2019). "How Africa's most powerful warship became a floating wreck". Military Africa. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Western Naval – Nigerian Navy | Official Website /". navy.mil.ng. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Ships – Nigerian Navy | Official Website /". Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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