Path which INS Hanit, INS Herev, INS Sufa, INS Hez and INS Gash been smuggled into Israel during Christmas of 1969 (December 24-31).

Saar 3 missile boats were the third generation of the Saar class fast attack missile boats. As with the Saar 1 and Saar 2, Saar 3 boats were built in Cherbourg shipyard, France. Saar 3 boats had the same layout as Saar 1 and Saar 2 boats, their main difference was cancellation of the sonar room because these boats almost and didn't have any anti submarines capabilities.

In 1969 Israeli commandos attacked Beirut International airport and destroyed several Arabian passenger jets in response to terrorist attacks on EL-AL planes.

Due to this event the French goverment decided to embargo weapons sales to Israel. Only the INS Saar had set sail from Cherbourg harbor before this embargo, while the other five Saar 3 boats remained in Cherbourg harbor: They were INS Hanit, INS Herev, INS Sufa, INS Hez and INS Gash.

During the War of Attrition (1968-1971) the Israeli Navy needed these boats and the Israeli goverment decided to "smuggle" these five boats. The name Noa was given to this operation. Israel "Sold"  these boats to a Norwegian company and named them: Starboat 1- Starboat 5. around Christmas of  1969 (December 24-31). These five Saar 3 boats were smuggled out under the French noses, in celebrations of the Christmas. These boats were refueled a few times by ships of Zim on the long voyage to Haifa.

Saar 3 missile boats were the third generation of the Saar class fast attack missile boats. Saar 3 boats had the same layout as Saar 1 and Saar 2 boats, their main difference was cancellation of the sonar room because these boats almost and didn't have any anti submarines capabilities.

• Calibre:: 76 mm
• Barrel  length : 62 cm
• Max. range : 18,400 m (HE round at 45°)
• Effective range: 8,000 m (HE round)
• Mass of the system: 7500 kg (without ammunition)
• Magazine (carousel): 80 (ready to fire on gun mount)
• Mass of one round: 12.34 kg (complete round)
• Elevation:  Minimum -15° Maximum +85°
• Rate of fire: 85 rds/min (Compact)  120 rds/min (Super Rapid)

Saar 3 missile boats have proved them self as very effective vessels, with their 76mm bow gun and six Gabriel Sea to sea missiles. These boats participated in the famous battles of the Yom Kippur War (1973). During this battle they destroyed Egyptian and Syrian vessels, hit shore targets and damaged oil facilities.

During the late 70's, the midships Gabriel missile launcher which carried 3 Gabriel missiles was replaced by two or four Harpoon sea-to-sea missiles.

Saar 3 boats participated in Litani operation (1978 ), Lebanon War (1982), and many other operations. These boats protected Israeli sea borders from late 60's when they arrived and entered service, till 90's when most of them were decommissioned.

In 24.10.1981 at night, Saar 3 INS Gash boat beached on the Saudi Arabia. The main reason for this event was the negligence of the optical director operator who apparently was sleeping at his station. He failed to notice that the boat had changed direction due to an electrical shutdown which disrupted the gyro compass and that the boat was headed towards the shore..

The boat was badly damaged. With a lot of luck, Israeli recovery team from Eilat shipyard managed to tow her to Eilat for repairs after a few days work.  

After a long time Saar 3 INS Gash went back into service. And the optical director operator was court martialled and jailed along  with other crew members.

In 80's two Saar 3 boats sold to Chilean navy:

INS Hanit  became  LM Iguigue           # 32
INS Hez     became  LM Covadonga    #33

• Length 45 meters
• Beam 7 meters 
• Displacement full load 250 tons
• Speed 40+ knots
• Propulsion 4 MTU engines  - Germany
• One 76mm Oto Melara - Italy
• 6 IAI  Gabriel Missiles (sea to sea) - Israel
• 0.5" and MAG 7.62mm MGs
• Crew  35
• Anti-missile decoy launchers system - Israel
• Electronic Warfare Systems - Israel

Late 70's

• One 76mm Oto Melara - Italy
• 3 IAI  Gabriel Missiles (sea to sea) - Israel
• 2 or 4 Harpoom missiles - USA
• 0.5" and MAG 7.62mm MGs
• Crew  35
• Anti-missile decoy launchers system - Israel
• Electronic Warfare Systems - Israel