Israeli Gal Class Submarine (700119)
1:700 OKB Grigorov
The Gal Class submarine (or Type 540) is a modified version of the German HDW Type 206 Submarine. These boats which feature a districting bow dome were built to Israeli specifications by the then Vickers Shipyard in Barrow-In-Furness, in the UK. These were the first submarines built for the Israeli Navy to their own specifications, Politics dictating their being built in the UK rather than Germany. They were only 45m in length displacing 420 tonnes. At one point these Submarines were equipped with a retractable Blowpipe SAM system controlled from with the boat. 3 Vessels were built and all have now been decommissioned and replaced by the Dolphin Class.
The kit
The model arrives in the standard small sturdy cardboard box with a picture of one of the class underway. The model is 60mm long and there is a small PE Fret with the stand, and aneven smaller one with the propeller on it.
Conclusion
This is another great little model of a less well know submarine. Recommended if you want something a bit different for your 1/700 submarine collection.
Many thanks to OKB Grigorov for supplying the review sample.