Russian combat boats. Dangerous “chicks” and “dinosaurs”: the best combat boats of the Russian Navy
The series of naval armored boats of the "MBK" type (project 161) consisted of 20 units ("BK-501" - "BK-520"), built at plant No. 194 and commissioned in 1943-1944. During the war, 3 boats were lost, the rest were written off in 1953-1958. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – 151 tons; full displacement – 158 tons; length – 36.2 m: width – 5.5 m; draft – 1.3 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 2.4 thousand hp; maximum speed – 13 knots; cruising range - 450 miles; fuel reserve - 9 tons of gasoline; crew - 17 people. Reservation: side – 25-50 mm; deck – 15-30 mm; cutting – 8 mm; towers - 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 – 76 mm guns; 2x1 – 45 mm guns; 1x1 – 37 mm anti-aircraft gun; 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun.
The armored boats “Spear” and “Pika” were built at the Putilov plant in 1908-1910. The boats were decommissioned in 1954. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 23.5 tons, full displacement - 25 tons; length – 22.5 m: width –3.1 m; draft – 0.7 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 200 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; cruising range - 300 miles; crew – 12 people. Reservation: wheelhouse, side and deck - 8 mm. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 2x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.
From a series of “D” type boats built in the USA in 1916-1917. By the beginning of the war, 4 units remained in service. The boats were lost in 1941. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 6.5 tons; length – 9.2 m.: width – 2.4 m.; draft – 0.7 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 100 hp; maximum speed – 11 knots; cruising range - 500 miles; fuel reserve – 700 kg; crew – 7 people. Reservation: side – 5 mm, deckhouse – 6 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 12.7 mm and 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.
The boats “Alarm” and “Partizan” were built at the Kolomensky plant and put into operation in 1932. In 1941, the boats were modernized. Decommissioned in the 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – 45 tons, full displacement – 55.6 tons; length – 32 m.: width – 3.4 m.; draft – 0.9 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 22 knots; fuel reserve - 3.3 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 600 miles; crew - 13 people. Reservation: side and deckhouse - 5 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 76 mm gun; 2x1-7.62 mm machine guns.
The series of large armored boats of the Project 1124 type consisted of 97 units and was commissioned in 1936-1945. The boats were built at factories No. 264, No. 340 and No. 363. During the war, 12 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 37 - 44 tons, full displacement - 41 - 52 tons; length – 25.3 m: width – 4 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.5 thousand hp; maximum speed – 21 knots; fuel reserve - 4.2 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 280 miles; crew - 17 people. Reservations: side - 7 mm, deck - 4 mm, deckhouse - 8 mm, turrets - 30 - 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 - 76 mm gun; 1x2 - 12.7 mm and 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.
The series of small armored boats of the Project 1125 type consisted of 151 units and was commissioned in 1936-1945. The boats were built at plant No. 340. During the war, 39 boats were lost, the rest were written off in the 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 37 - 44 tons, full displacement - 41 - 52 tons; length – 25.3 m: width – 4 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.5 thousand hp; maximum speed – 21 knots; fuel reserve - 4.2 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 280 miles; crew - 17 people. Reservations: side - 7 mm, deck - 4 mm, deckhouse - 8 mm, turrets - 30 - 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 - 76 mm guns; 1x2 - 12.7 mm and 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.
Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – 26 tons, full displacement – 30 tons; length – 22.7 m: width – 3.5 m; draft – 0.6 m; power plant - gasoline engine, power - 750 - 1,200 hp; maximum speed – 20 knots; fuel reserve - 1.3 tons of gasoline; cruising range - 250 miles; crew - 13 people. Reservations: side – 4 mm, deck – 7 mm, turret – 45 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 76 mm gun; 2x2 - 12.7 mm and 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun; 4 min.
The series of small armored boats of the S-40 project consisted of 7 units (“BKA-21”, “BKA-23”, “BKA-26”, “BKA-31”, “BKA-33”, “BKA-34”, "BKA-81") and was built at the Zelenodolsk shipyard named after Gorky No. 340. The boats were intended for the NKVD troops to guard the state border on the Amu Darya. They entered service in 1942. The boat was developed on the basis of the Project 1125U boat. During the war, 3 boats were lost, the rest were written off in the 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – 32 tons, full displacement – 36.5 tons; length – 24.7 m: width – 3.9 m; draft – 0.6 m; power plant - 2 diesel tank engines, power - 800 hp; maximum speed – 19 knots; fuel reserve - 2.3 tons of diesel fuel; cruising range - 280 miles; crew - 13 people. Reservations: side – 4 mm, deck – 7 mm, turret – 45 mm. Armament: 1x1 - 76 mm gun; 3x1-7.62 mm machine gun.
The series of naval armored boats of the MKL type (project No. 186) built before the end of the war amounted to 8 units. The boats were built at Leningrad Plant No. 194 and put into operation in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 156 tons, full displacement - 165.5 tons; length – 36.2 m: width – 5.2 m; draft – 1.5 m; power plant – 2 diesel engines, power – 1 thousand hp; maximum speed – 14 knots; cruising range - 600 miles; crew - 42 people. Reservations: side – 30 mm, deck – 8 – 20 mm, turret – 45 mm. Armament: 2x1 - 85 mm guns; 1x1 – 37 mm anti-aircraft gun; 2x2 - 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 82 mm mortar.
From a series of boats of the "Sh-4" type, built at plant No. 194 in 1929-1932. By the beginning of the war, 26 units remained in service. During the war, 7 boats were lost, the rest were decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 10 tons; length – 16.8 m: width – 3.3 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.2 thousand hp; maximum speed – 45 knots; fuel reserve – 1 ton of gasoline; cruising range - 300 miles; crew – 5 people. Armament: 1x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 2 mines.
The series of boats of the G-5 type (project 213) consisted of 329 units and was a modernized version of the Sh-4 type. The boats were built at factories No. 194, No. 532 and No. 639 in 1934 - 1944. nine series and differed in skin thickness, engines, speed and weapons. During the war, 84 boats were lost and 10 were written off. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – 15 tons, full displacement – 18 tons; length – 9 m.: width – 3.3 m.; draft – 1.2 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 1.7 - 2.3 thousand hp; maximum speed – 50 – 55 knots; cruising range - 200 miles; crew – 6 people. Armament: 1x2 – 7.62 mm or 1-2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes or 1x4 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 2-8 min.
A series of boats of Project 123-bis (Komsomolets) was built on the basis of the Project 123 boat, developed and built by Leningrad Plant No. 194 and commissioned in 1940 under the designation TK-351. The boat differed from the serial ones by its torpedo tubes, lack of armor, lighter weight and higher speed. The series consisted of 30 boats built in 1944-1945 (“TK-7”, “TK-100”, “TK-110” - “TK-112”, “TK-120”, “TK-122”, “ TK-123", "TK-130", "TK-131" - "TK-134", "TK-140", "TK-142", "TK-143", "TK-146", "TK- 148", "TK-472" - "TK-481", "TK-607", "TK-608"). All of them were built at Tyumen plant No. 639. The boats had duralumin hulls with 5 waterproof compartments, tube torpedo tubes and 7-mm armor for the wheelhouse and machine gun mounts. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – 19.5 tons; full displacement – 20.5 tons; length – 18.7 m: width – 3.4 m; draft – 1.2 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 2.4 thousand hp; maximum speed – 48 knots; cruising range - 240 miles; crew – 7 people. Armament: 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 457 mm torpedo tubes; release gear; 6 depth charges.
Large torpedo boats of the D-3 type (Project 19) were produced in two series. The first was built at Leningrad Plant No. 5 in 1940-1942. (26 units built). The second was built at plant No. 640 in 1943-1945. (47 units). During the war, 25 boats were lost, and 2 were written off. The boats had a wooden two-layer hull and torpedo tubes. The series differed from each other in weight, engines and weapons. Performance characteristics of series 1 boats: standard displacement – 30.8 tons, full displacement – 32.1 tons; length – 21 m.: width – 3.9 m.; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 2.3 thousand hp; maximum speed – 32 knots; cruising range - 320 miles; crew – 9 people. Armament: 2x1 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; release gear; 8 depth charges. Performance characteristics of series 2 boats: standard displacement – 32 tons, full displacement – 37 tons; length – 21 m.: width – 3.9 m.; draft – 0.9 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 3.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 45 knots; cruising range - 500 miles; crew - 11 people. Armament: 1x1 – 20 mm anti-aircraft gun; 2x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes or 2x4 – 82 mm rocket launcher; release gear; 8 depth charges.
The boat was built at Leningrad Plant No. 194 and put into operation in 1941. It was a variant of the D-3 type boat with a steel hull. The boat was decommissioned in 1950. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 21 tons, full displacement - 34 tons; length – 20.8 m: width – 3.9 m; draft – 1.5 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 3.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 30 knots; cruising range - 380 miles; crew – 8 people. Armament: 2x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes.
A series of boats of the "Yunga" type was developed on the basis of the "OD-200" type hunter, consisted of 5 units ("TK-450" - "TK-454") and was built at plant No. 341 in 1944-1945. The boats were decommissioned in the late 50s. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 47 tons; length – 23.4 m.: width – 4.4 m.; draft – 1.7 m; power plant - 3 gasoline engines, power - 3.6 thousand hp; maximum speed – 31 knots; cruising range - 490 miles; crew - 11 people. Armament: 3x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun; 2x1 – 533 mm torpedo tubes.
The series of boats of the "ZK" type consisted of 15 units ("K-193" - "K-196", "K-206" - "K-208", "K-220", "K-325" - "K- 331"), built in the Leningrad workshop of the OGPU Marine Border Guard (plant No. 5) and commissioned in 1941. During the war, 5 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 19 tons; length – 19.8 m: width – 3.3 m; draft – 1.2 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 600 hp; maximum speed – 16 knots; cruising range - 350 miles; crew - 12 people. Armament: 1x1 - 45 mm gun or 1x1 - 12.7 mm machine gun; 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.
A series of boats with a wooden hull of the KM-2 type were built as border guard, patrol and service boats. In 1935-1942. 91 boats were built at the Marine Border Guard Shipyard. During the war, 67 units were converted into patrol boats, and 24 into minesweepers. During the war, 27 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 7 tons; length – 13.8 m: width – 3.1 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 63 hp; maximum speed – 9 knots; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.
The KM-4 type boat series was a modernized version of the KM-2 and was equipped with two engines. In 1938-1944. 222 boats were built for the Navy. During the war, 45 boats were converted into patrol boats, and 165 into minesweepers. During the war, 13 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 12 tons; length – 19.3 m: width – 3.4 m; draft – 0.8 m; power plant - 2 gasoline engines, power - 126 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; cruising range - 220 miles; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.
A series of boats with a steel hull of type “A” was built at plant No. 341 in 1940-1943. in two versions - mortar boats and minesweepers. The series consisted of 22 boats. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 8 tons; length – 15.6 m.: width – 3 m.; draft – 0.6 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 63 hp; maximum speed – 8 knots; crew – 6 people. Armament: 1x24 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 1x1 - 12.7 mm and 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.
Boats with a steel hull of the "Rybinets" type were built at plant No. 341 in 1930-1932. as work and crew boats. During the war, 37 boats were converted into patrol boats, and 44 into minesweeper boats. During the war, 27 boats were lost. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement – 26 tons, full displacement – 30.1 tons; length – 20.8 m: width – 3.3 m; draft – 1.1 m; power plant – diesel engine, power – 136 hp; maximum speed – 9.3 knots; cruising range - 800 miles; crew - 12 people. Armament: 1-2x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.
The series of boats of the "MKM" type consisted of 6 units ("K-192", "K-210", "K-234", "K-273", "K-274", "K-335") built in 1939 -1940 The boat "K-234" was lost in 1943. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 18.3 tons; length – 16.2 m.: width – 3.6 m.; draft – 1.2 m; power plant – gasoline engine, power – 850 hp; maximum speed – 21 knots; cruising range - 370 miles; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x1 – 7.62 mm machine gun.
Boats with a steel hull of the Yaroslavets type were built at plant No. 345 in 1942-1945. in two versions: mortar boats (35 units) and minesweepers (33 units). Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 23.4 tons; length – 18.7 m: width – 3.6 m; draft – 1 m; power plant - diesel or gasoline engine, power - 65 - 93 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x24 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 2x1 - 12.7 mm or 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun.
Boats with a wooden hull of the Yaroslavets type were built at plant No. 345 in 1942-1945. in two versions: mortar boats (8 units) and minesweepers (8 units). Performance characteristics of the boat: standard displacement - 19 tons, full displacement - 22.6 tons; length – 19.8 m: width – 3.4 m; draft – 1 m; power plant - diesel or gasoline engine, power - 93 - 100 hp; maximum speed – 10 knots; crew – 10 people. Armament: 1x24 – 82 mm rocket launcher; 2x1 - 12.7 mm or 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun.
19 crew and service boats, built at plant No. 5 in the late 30s in 1942-1944. was rebuilt into minesweepers under the designation "D-2" and "D-4". Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 20.3 tons; length – 16.9 m: width – 3.6 m; draft – 1 m; power plant – diesel engine, power – 75 hp; maximum speed – 7.5 knots; cruising range - 1.8 thousand miles; crew - 11 people. Armament: 1x1 - 12.7 mm and 1x1 - 7.62 mm machine guns.
The series of boats of the "BKM-2" type consisted of 5 units and was built on the basis of towing boats in 1943-1944 at plant No. 341. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement – 58 tons; length – 23 m.: width – 3.5 m.; draft – 1.2 m; power plant – 2 diesel engines, power – 500 hp; maximum speed – 12 knots; crew - 16 people. Armament: 1x16 - 132 mm rocket launcher or 1x1 - 37 mm anti-aircraft gun; 1x2 – 12.7 mm machine gun.
The series of patrol boats of the "PK" type consisted of 7 units ("K-105", "K-108", "K-164", "K-165", "K-197", "K-239", "K -240") built in 1927-1928. Performance characteristics of the boat: total displacement - 16 - 29 tons; length - 17 - 22.6 m: width -3.4 - 3.8 m; draft - 0.8 - 1.5 m; power plant - diesel engine, power - 300 - 720 hp; maximum speed – 12 – 13 knots; cruising range -200 - 470 miles; crew – 7 – 13 people. Armament: 1x1 – 45 mm gun; 1 - 2x1 - 7.62 mm machine gun.
The strikes on terrorist targets in Syria from the Caspian Sea with Caliber missiles that amazed the whole world were carried out from small missile ships of the Russian Navy. The capabilities of new weapons, which do not require large carriers such as cruisers, are causing military specialists more and more interest in the “mosquito fleet” - small sea ships and vessels for various purposes. The weekly Zvezda studied which combat boats are entering service with the Russian Navy today.
Merry suicide bombers
I stopped mocking Brezhnev when I saw newsreels from the 1970s. On board a pleasure boat going from Gelendzhik to Novorossiysk, an elderly man - then the ruler of half the world - sat and cried. He took the same route on a small boat to Malaya Zemlya in 1943. Colonels do not attack, but stars on uniform are not a decree for death. In Tsemes Bay, a landing craft ran into a floating mine at night. Political officer Brezhnev was thrown overboard by an explosion, and he, shell-shocked, was miraculously noticed and picked up from the water by the sailors of the boat...
In the navy they were called naval cavalrymen or cheerful suicide bombers. On the torpedo G-5 and D-3, on the “midges” (small hunters MO-4), they made attacks on German ships, insane with desperate courage, landed troops, and fought with mines. Cruisers and battleships were mostly protected from enemy air raids and submarine attacks, and carried the main combat load during the Great Patriotic War - and endured it! - namely the Soviet “mosquito fleet”: torpedo and armored boats, patrol boats and smoke screens, minesweepers and air defense boats.
Dangerous "chick"
Listing the tasks of the Russian military department in 2017 to increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu listed among the priorities the introduction of eight surface ships and nine combat boats into the Navy’s operational ranks. Now our military is moving from words to deeds very quickly, and the raising of the Russian naval flag on two of the newest anti-sabotage boats of Project 21980 “Grachonok” took place in the Northern Fleet already in January 2017.
The ceremony in Gadzhiev, the main base of the submarine forces of the Northern Fleet, was led by Rear Admiral Vladimir Grishechkin, who, according to the good maritime tradition, wished the crews seven feet under the keel and noted the high efficiency of the new equipment for ensuring the protection and defense of the fleet's bases and military facilities, in including from possible terrorist threats.
The boats built at the Vympel shipyard in Rybinsk are capable of performing combat missions in force five storms. Crew - 8 sailors, speed - over 20 knots. The nimble "Rook" is well armed. He can “peck” the enemy painfully with bursts of a 14.5 mm machine gun. The boat is protected from attacks by saboteurs from under the water with an automatic 10-barreled grenade launcher of 55 mm caliber, which “jammes” combat swimmers at a depth of up to 40 m and within a radius of up to 16 m from its sides. In combat, the grenade launcher works in conjunction with an Anapa-type hydroacoustic station, which ensures automatic and constant guidance of the weapon to the firing point.
Protection against air attacks is provided by four Igla man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS). The boat is equipped with modern radio-electronic and radio equipment, including the Kalmar sonar system and the MR-231 Pal navigation radar.
As of December 2016, the Russian Navy had 12 such boats. This year the “rook flock” has already begun to be replenished with new “chicks”.
In 2016, the Kalashnikov concern began serial deliveries of transport landing and assault boats for the marine corps and special forces of the Russian Navy. The shipbuilding division of the famous arms company developed and immediately produced a single combat group of boats. It includes the latest transport and landing boat BK-16 and assault boat BK-10. “They successfully passed tests and were put into service,” said the concern’s general director, Alexey Krivoruchko. “In terms of their technical characteristics and equipment, our boats are not inferior to their foreign counterparts, but at the same time they significantly benefit in price.”
At the “Innovation Day of the Ministry of Defense”, the deputy general director of the Rybinsk Shipyards, part of the Kalashnikov concern, Sergei Antonov, spoke to the weekly Zvezda about the combat capabilities of these boats:
These high-speed vessels are designed to perform combat missions in the coastal zone. The BK-10 crew of two people will deliver 10 paratroopers to the landing site. The draft of the 8-ton boat is only 66 centimeters. In fact, he is able to “jump” onto the shore, while pouring fire on the enemy from two machine guns (Kalashnikov, naturally) of 7.62 mm caliber.
The BK-16 transport and landing boat is armed with an even more impressive arsenal - four 7.62 mm machine guns, a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 40 mm grenade launcher. But that’s not all: the boat can carry on board up to four sea mines or Kornet guided missile launchers. With a displacement of 20 tons, the BK-16 is capable of transporting up to 24 paratroopers. The boat's crew is also only two people.
The technical ability to develop the same speed of 40 knots and a guaranteed cruising range of up to 400 miles allow the boats to work in a coordinated manner to accomplish a single combat mission,” said Sergei Antonov. - Operating as part of a group, the boats will provide high-speed delivery of the landing assault group to the shore and fire support for its actions.
Ultra-modern "dinosaurs"
According to reports in the open press, the logistics center of the Russian Navy in Syrian Tartus is now protected from a threat from the sea by a pair of “dinosaurs”. They are incredibly fast and very dangerous for any opponent. Fast patrol boats of the Raptor project, on behalf of the Russian Navy, were designed and built by specialists from the Leningrad Shipyard Pella OJSC. These highly maneuverable “predators” are intended for patrolling water areas, landing troops, and performing search and rescue operations. The high-speed (48 knots - almost 90 kilometers per hour!) "Raptors" have excellent seaworthiness: they are able to move at high speed at any heading angles, even in sea conditions of up to five points. If necessary, each such boat can transport 20 marines with weapons and equipment.
"Raptor" is armed with a universal remote-controlled combat module "Uprava-KORD" of 14.5 mm caliber. The target detection range is 3000 m, the effective firing range is 2000 m. A unique gyroscope is built into the remote combat module system, which stabilizes aiming when rough seas begin to increase. Additional weapons for close combat with enemy watercraft are two 6P41 Pecheneg machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber mounted on swivel mounts.
One word - “predator”! By the end of 2018, the Pella shipbuilders should deliver more than a dozen Project 03160 patrol boats to the Russian Navy.
"Mosquito fleet" against "inhuman" drones
The larger the ship, the more vulnerable it is to the enemy, despite all the most modern technical protective bells and whistles. Some Russian and Western military analysts predict that the last cruisers will become history by 2040, just as multi-gun sailing brigs and armored dreadnoughts have gone before.
New weapons provide new opportunities, and, for example, Americans today are more afraid of the Chinese “mosquito fleet” than of the surface and underwater ships of the Celestial Empire. US admirals believe that these small fry are capable of blocking the routes from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean - along the coast and between the islands - even for their most powerful aircraft carrier groups. And in conditions when, along with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), naval combat drones are also being actively developed, the role of small ships and vessels should increase even more. By the way, if aerial UAVs are now on everyone’s lips, there is not much talk about maritime drones in all industrialized countries. What is it for?
As is well known, tanks do not crush bedbugs. It is also unlikely that gliders and other unmanned drones will be chased by destroyers and frigates. But “mosquitoes” can do it. Perhaps, soon the main task of the naval cavalry will be the fight against the “inhuman” sea “reptiles”.
Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense/Kalashnikov Concern
This section provides information about surface warships of both domestic and foreign production.
You can find the history of creation, description and technical characteristics of various types of warships of Russia and other countries. We will also talk about development trends in global military shipbuilding.
People began to fight at sea in ancient times. The first large-scale naval battles took place in the era of Antiquity. The ships of that time were wooden, sailing and rowing, the main tactics were ramming, arson or boarding an enemy ship. Sailors used similar techniques for centuries until firearms were introduced into warships.
After the advent of warships armed with artillery weapons, the tactics of naval battles changed significantly. This caused a revolution in naval affairs. Battleships with powerful artillery weapons and cruisers appeared, capable of operating on enemy communications in isolation from the main forces of the fleet. The first Russian warships armed with artillery appeared around the 17th century.
The next revolution that changed the rules of warfare at sea was the advent of steam-powered ships. Warships began to be made of metal, they received powerful armor protection and large-caliber artillery pieces. Until about the middle of the last century, there was an increase in the armor protection of ships and an increase in their artillery power.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the first submarines appeared, and combat aircraft took to the skies. In the future, this put an end to the dominance of heavy armored ships at sea. Already during the First World War, submarines became effective weapons that were used against both warships and civilian transport ships. The power of the submarine fleet has increased even more for the next global conflict.
By the middle of the last century, aircraft carriers began to play an increasingly important role in naval battles; carrier-based aircraft became their main striking force. A similar situation is observed today: the most powerful warships in the world are aircraft carriers or aircraft-carrying cruisers. Currently, aircraft carriers are the most powerful warships of the United States, the country with the most powerful navy on the planet.
The tactics of warfare at sea were significantly influenced by the improvement of missile weapons. Modern anti-ship missiles are capable of destroying a large warship thousands of kilometers away. The development of anti-ship missiles was one of the priority areas for the development of naval weapons in the Soviet Union. The USSR built several series of missile cruisers, the main weapons of which were anti-ship missiles. Submarines are currently equipped with this type of weapon.
Another interesting direction in the development of naval forces was the emergence of military boats. They carried torpedoes and did not have powerful armor protection, but had high speed and maneuverability. A little later, missile boats equipped with anti-ship missiles began to appear in service with the main maritime powers.
In addition, combat boats can be used for other purposes. American military boats were actively used during the Vietnam War.
On our website you can learn about the best military boats in Russia, as well as about similar ships that are in service with other countries of the world.
The Leningrad shipyard "Pella", located in the city of Otradny, Leningrad region, began testing two Project 03160 "Raptor" patrol boats built for the Russian Navy.
Since 2013, the Pella plant has already built 11 of these boats. 2 of them are included in the Baltic Fleet, 5 - in the Black Sea Fleet, solving reconnaissance missions as part of special-purpose maritime points. Two Black Sea Raptors were transferred to Syrian Tartus in 2016. Another boat was built as a liaison boat, but is used to transport VIP naval commanders. According to the bmpd blog, it is constantly moored at the berth complex of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation on the Frunzenskaya embankment of the Moscow River.
The construction of boats of various projects and purposes for the Russian Navy is perhaps the most dynamic segment of domestic shipbuilding. All of them form the so-called “mosquito fleet”, which operates with high efficiency in the coastal zone, solving a full range of defense and combat tasks at a distance of 100 to 700 miles from the base.
Speedboat "Raptor"
"Raptor", developed at the Pella plant design bureau, is perhaps the smallest boat. Its displacement is 23 tons, and its length is 17 meters. Designed to patrol its area of responsibility. But he can also go on “business trips” on board or in the docking chamber of large landing ships. Which, as mentioned above, is what the “Raptors” assigned to the Black Sea Fleet did.
These are by far the fastest boats in the Russian Navy, their speed is 48 knots. (True, two faster ones are assigned to the Caspian flotilla, but their service life is almost exhausted). That is, the Raptor is capable of delivering 20 special forces troops over a distance of 100 miles in almost 2 hours. At economic speed the boat can travel 300 miles. The enormous speed is provided by two engines with a total power of 2300 hp, powered by a water-jet propulsion system.
Crew - 2 people. The body is armored. The boat is armed with three machine guns. On the sides there are “regular” 7.62 mm machine guns. A more serious weapon is the Vladimirov heavy machine gun. It is equipped with an optical-electronic module capable of detecting targets against a background of interference at a distance of 3 km. The fire control system calculates the target's trajectory and makes corrections for disturbing factors. Aimed firing range - 2 km.
Under a contract with the Ministry of Defense, the Pella plant will build 6 more Raptors. Thus, their number will reach 17.
Project 21980 anti-sabotage boat "Rook" was developed in 2008 by the Nizhny Novgorod design bureau "Vympel". Due to the great need of the fleet for boats of this project, they are being built at three factories at once - at the Zelenodolsk shipyard, at the Vladivostok "Vostochnaya Verf" and at the Rybinsk "Vympel". Designed to combat sabotage and terrorist forces and means in the waters of naval bases.
Launching of the Grachonok boat, the first in a series of four anti-sabotage boats ordered by the Russian Ministry of Defense, at the Vympel shipyard
This is a more substantial ship than the Raptor, which has a displacement of 139 tons and a length of 31 meters. Maximum speed - 23 knots, cruising range - 200 miles. Crew - 8 people.
The boat is equipped with advanced means of monitoring the surface and underwater situation, as well as equipment that allows work to be carried out at a depth of up to 300 meters. These include: radar, hydroacoustic station, optical-electronic complex, remote-controlled underwater vehicle, ship diving complex with a pressure chamber.
Armaments include a 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and a hand grenade launcher. To protect against underwater attacks by saboteurs, an automatic 10-barreled grenade launcher of 55 mm caliber is used. It is capable of hitting saboteurs at a depth of up to 40 meters and at a distance of up to 16 meters. When firing on surfaces, the range reaches 500 meters. Protection from air attack is provided by 4 Igla MANPADS.
There are 12 boats in service. 4 more are under construction.
The main striking power of the “mosquito fleet” is provided by missile boats of several designs, which differ from each other in the anti-ship missile systems they use. These are large missile boats of projects 12411, 12411 T, 12417. All these are modifications of the basic project 1241 “Molniya”, developed in 1979 at the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau as a response to similar Western developments.
A total of 50 boats were built for the Navy and another 30 for export. Currently, 26 boats are in service, the last of which entered the fleet already in the 2000s in a fairly modernized form. Moreover, the Navy command ordered 2 more boats, which are to be built next year at the Vympel shipyard in Rybinsk.
The main weapon of the latest modifications of the boat is four P-270 Moskit supersonic cruise missiles, which were put into service in 1984. Despite the fact that the boat has a small displacement (about 500 tons), one missile is capable of destroying a ship with a displacement of 20 thousand tons. It is quite modern, as evidenced, for example, by the missile’s flight at an altitude of 7 meters, electronic warfare equipment, and a range that, depending on the flight path, is from 120 km to 250 km. And a very respectable maximum speed of 2.8 M. The rocket has the ability to maneuver.
Artillery weapons include the AK-176 76 mm caliber mount, which allows automatic firing using a ship's radar, and the 6-barreled AK-630 30 mm caliber automatic artillery mount. Protection from air attack is provided by the stationary Strela-3 air defense system.
As for the radio equipment of the boat, its capabilities are not inferior to similar weapons of small missile ships.
As already mentioned, the total displacement, depending on the modification, ranges from 460 tons to 550 tons. Length - 56 meters. Width - 10 meters. Crew - 40 people, including five officers. With a substantial weight and dimensions, the boat has a maximum speed of 42 knots, at which it covers a distance of 400 miles. An economical speed of 12 knots provides a range of 2,400 miles.
The class of landing boats, of which there are 35 units in the Russian Navy, is represented by five projects. The most “ancient” of them is Project 1176 "Shark" was put into production in the early 70s. The rest date back to the Russian period of our history.
The absolute world record holder is project 11770 "Chamois". These hovercrafts, with a displacement of 99 tons and a length of 26 meters, are capable of transporting 92 fully equipped paratroopers or equipment weighing 45 tons. At the same time, it has a speed of 30 knots and a range of 600 miles. Since 1993, 16 boats have been built.
Brand new landing boats of project 21820 "Dugong" were developed in 2005 at the Central Design Bureau for hydrofoils named after. R.E. Alekseeva. The speed of this hovercraft is significantly higher - 35 knots. With a total displacement of 280 tons, it is capable of transporting up to 140 tons of cargo. These could be 2 main battle tanks, 4 armored personnel carriers, a hundred paratroopers in various combinations. The boat can land troops on an unprepared shore, so to speak, on a “wild” shore. It is assumed that each fleet should have 4-5 such boats. So far, 5 have been built. Each of them was given the names of officers who distinguished themselves during the Patriotic War of 1812 - “Ataman Platov”, “Denis Davydov”, “Ivan Kartsov”, “Lieutenant Rimsky-Korsakov”, “Midshipman Lermontov”. Currently, 9 more boats are being built.
Landing boat "Michman Lermontov" project 21820 "Dugong"
Project 02250 landing boats, developed by the Euroyachting company, owned by the Rybinsk shipyard, began construction in 2014. Two units are ready. It is small, with a displacement of 20 tons, but a high-speed boat, reaching a speed of 40 knots. Transports 19 paratroopers over a distance of 400 miles. The boat is armed with machine guns, as well as an unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance purposes. The boat also provides for the deployment of four mines. The designers provided four more modifications of the boat: a command boat, a medical boat with an intensive care unit, a firefighter, and a diving boat.
The “old-new” line represents a very interesting line from a combat standpoint. hovercraft landing craft project 12061 "Murena-M", developed at the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau. Its construction should begin very soon. This is a modification of the Moray, which, starting in the 80s, was built in 11 copies. “Moray eel” was a development of the 70s boat of Project 1206 “Squid”, which reaches a speed of 55 knots. Two such boats still serve in the Caspian flotilla.
Moray also has a record speed of 55 knots. However, it has significantly increased firepower. The Kalmar is equipped with only two 12.7 mm machine guns. "Moray" is capable of providing effective fire support to landing troops. It is armed with two 30-mm automatic artillery mounts and two grenade launchers of the same caliber. There are also 8 Igla MANPADS on board.
Landing hovercraft "Jeyran" and "Kalmar"
The Murena-M boat has a total displacement of 150 tons. Length - 31 meters, width - 14.6 meters. Range - 200 miles. Crew - 12 people. Capable of transporting one tank, or 2 armored personnel carriers, or 140 marines. Can overcome obstacles 0.8 meters high.
The construction of five Murena-M boats is planned.
4 more boats, which belong to an endangered type of weapons, continue to be in service. This artillery boats of projects 1204 "Shmel". It has a turret from a PT-76B amphibious tank with a 76-mm cannon. In the 60s - 79s, 118 such boats were built. We have 4 of them left. Since the boats were built in Nikolaev, they are now used in large numbers in Ukraine.
The fast combat boat "KHI Todak" of the Indonesian fleet against the background of the landing ship "Green Bay" of the American fleet. Indonesia continues to expand the capabilities of its naval forces, including through the construction of high-speed combat boats
Fast attack boats (AFCs) or missile boats (ships) provide a cost-effective solution, precisely meeting both the needs of coastal defense and the needs of lower-intensity maritime patrols. The article analyzes the state of the LBC fleets of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
The need for BBK-class warships is particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region and this article provides an overview of the development, modernization and procurement programs for such vessels being implemented in this part of the globe. Let's start with Bangladesh. This country's fleet has significantly increased the combat capabilities of its fleet in recent years, replacing the outdated SY-1 anti-ship missiles with C-704A anti-ship missiles produced by the Chinese Aviation Industry Corporation (CAIC) on four Hegu class BBKs. By the end of this year, eight locally built 11.7-meter-long BBKs will be in service with the Bangladeshi Navy, whose mission will be to maintain sovereignty and strengthen the law of the sea. State-owned shipyard Dockyard and Engineering Works (DEW) Narayangani's X12 design is building an all-composite vessel under a technology transfer agreement with Indonesian company PT Lundin. The X12 boat, 12 meters long, is a development of the famous combat boat Combat Boat 90 built by the Swedish shipyard Dockstavarvet. DEW did not respond to a request for cost information for the project, which also includes ten full-deck versions for the Bangladesh Coast Guard, but Indonesian media reports the contract value is $6 million. The boat will be armed with three machine guns, and the speed of 35 knots (65 km/h) will be achieved by two Volvo Penta diesel engines connected to two water cannons.
The Bangladeshi boat X12 is a development of the Swedish combat boat CB 90
Myanmar (Burma)
To the southeast of Bangladesh, the growth and modernization of the navy of the country called Myanmar (formerly Burma) over the past decade has been impressive. Its navy's responsibilities include protecting fisheries, combating piracy and drug smuggling. It is also important to make claims, backed by its powerful fleet, to potentially hydrocarbon-rich areas in the Bay of Bengal. Myanmar previously relied mainly on China for the purchase of maritime vessels, but is now intensively developing its own warship industry. Since 2004, about 20 locally built missile and gun BBKs have been introduced into the fleet, while a new class of fast torpedo boats, reportedly optimized for anti-submarine warfare, is also entering service. Although the Myanmar people, in an effort to strengthen their LBC fleet, do not shy away from purchasing abroad, in particular from Israel. At the end of 2015, six Super Dvora Mk.3 boats were ordered from the Ramta division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The procurement of these vessels is a strong example of Myanmar's determination to protect its coastal resources at a time when applications for exploration rights in the exclusive economic zone are growing. IAI does not deny or confirm the existence of the Myanmar contract, but the head of the foreign trade department, David Bogner, at IAI Ramta, provided some information on the Super Dvora Mk.3 vessel. “This is an extremely agile platform capable of reaching speeds in excess of 48 knots (89 km/h). The boat excels in pursuing and intercepting violators when performing tasks to protect the sea and the coastline; it can land on an unequipped shore and can even be pulled onto it if necessary.” Bogner highlighted the number of options available to operators of this boat. “A typical weapon would be the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Typhoon stabilized artillery mount plus smaller caliber weapons, but we can also meet individual customer requirements. We respond to user preferences for surveillance radars and fire control radars. We offer a choice of MTU or Caterpillar engines. The propulsion option with partially submerged propellers reduces hydrodynamic drag and thereby increases the efficiency of the boat when performing tasks in shallow water.”
China
As a supplier of various types of vessels, the People's Republic of China has been in service for many years with a fairly large fleet of small-sized LBCs of various types. Although the Chinese have thoroughly modernized their LBC fleet over the past decade and now rely primarily on the 43-meter-long, 224-ton Houbei-class catamaran-class missile boat, which is designed to project the threat of a mass missile attack on US fleet carrier strike groups operating in the surrounding to China waters. This is a ship. developing a speed of 36 knots (67 km/h), it is driven by two diesel engines connected to four water jets. The boat is armed with eight C-803 anti-ship missiles from CAIC, as well as a six-barreled automatic shipborne artillery mount AK-630. This class of boat is a relatively stable missile platform that can operate up to 400 nautical miles (741 km) offshore. More than 80 of these vessels are in service, the estimated cost of which, according to the Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua, is up to $50 million per vessel. There have also been several unconfirmed reports in regional media that Pakistan plans to build this type of vessel under license.
The Myanmar Navy's Tatmadaw Ya is the newest iteration of the efficient, agile and proven Super Dvora, which will quickly provide impetus to further develop the country's naval power.
Houbei class catamaran missile boats are in large numbers in service with the Chinese Navy. These vessels pose a potential threat to US Navy aircraft carrier strike groups operating in waters adjacent to China.
India
China's long-time rival India operates more than 20 LSCs of various types, with the 330-ton Car Nicobar-class vessels reaching a speed of 36 knots currently bearing primary responsibility for security and search and rescue operations in India's exclusive economic zone. These ships have taken part in a number of operations against pirates in recent years. The vessel's main armament is a 30mm Medak CRN91 cannon, supported by a pair of machine guns and 9K38 Igla surface-to-air missile launchers manufactured by the Russian company KBM. The vessel is also equipped with a Furono navigation radar and a LimitedLink-II tactical communications system from Bharat Electronics. The last of the 14 ships in the class is currently being built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilding and Engineering (GRSE) shipyard in Kolkata. GRSE does not provide information on costs or other aspects of the project.
Indian BBK class "Car Nicobar"
Indonesia
Construction of the Indonesian LBC fleet is well under way as Jakarta seeks to enhance its navy's capabilities in coastal waters. According to the Deputy Defense Minister, the plan is to gradually complement the existing larger LSCs, such as the Todak class, with at least 40 locally built KCR-40 and KCR-60 class ships. These new classes of ships, under construction since 2012, are armed with C-705 anti-ship missiles from the Indonesian-Chinese consortium CAIC/PT Pindad; The KCR-40 class carries two missiles, while the longer KCR-60 class boats are armed with four missiles. The artillery armament of the KCR-40 class boats consists of a 30 mm CMS NG-18 cannon and two 20 mm Denel Vektor cannons, while the KCR-60 class ships are equipped with a 57 mm BAE Systems Bofors cannon. The shipyards participating in the program are PT PAL, PT Palindo and PT Citia; The estimated cost of the 40-meter-long vessel is $10.2 million. According to the production director of the PT PAL shipyard, the prospects of these vessels abroad are also being studied. As for sensors, these boats are equipped with TR-47C and SR-47AG surveillance radars from China North Industries; Three twelve-cylinder MAN diesel engines allow a speed of about 30 knots (55.5 km/h). Despite the fact that the prototype boat was destroyed by fire last year, Jakarta said it would continue its program to build four X3K Klewang-class missile trimarans with water jet propulsion, 63 meters long, in Indonesia. However, in February 2016, PT Lundin announced that only one copy would be built.
Indonesian X3K Klewang class missile trimaran
Pakistan
Pakistan operates several LBCs of different years of construction. China is currently the main supplier of maritime vessels for this country, which in 2012 supplied, for example, the new Azmat BBK with a displacement of 570 tons and a length of 63 meters. This ship was built by the Chinese shipyard China Shipbuilding and Offshore Corporation (CSOC). Since then, another example has been built in Pakistan by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering (KSEW) in collaboration with CSOC. The ship was commissioned, and in April 2015, the first steel plate for the third vessel was cut at the KSEW shipyard. It is planned to build a fourth vessel. Basically, this LBC, capable of reaching a speed of 30 knots (56 km/h), is intended for operations in coastal waters. The weapon system includes eight C-802 CAIC anti-ship missiles, a 23-mm cannon and a six-barreled automatic shipborne artillery mount AK-630. KSEW claims a cost of $50 million per vessel.
New Pakistani missile boat "Azmat"
The Philippine Navy has six MPAC vessels that can perform combat and amphibious missions. Three more vessels are to be built by Lung Teh and Propmech
Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy has a very mixed fleet of armed LBCs, with both locally built vessels and second-hand ships purchased from other countries. The fleet's newest acquisitions include six MPAC (Multi-Purpose Assault Craft) type vessels. These boats, which reach a speed of 40 knots (74 km/h), are designed primarily for work off the coast and on rivers; they can perform the tasks of a speedboat and landing craft; 16 paratroopers can be accommodated on board, landing through the bow ramp. MPAC type boats are armed with three machine guns. Three boats built by the Taiwanese shipyard Lung Teh are 15 meters long, the other three, built by the Philippine shipyard Propmech, are 17 meters long.
Manila is currently starting a program to build three more ships, for which $5.7 million has been allocated. At the end of February 2016, the Department of National Defense announced that work on the new vessels would be divided between Lung Teh and Propmech. The future boat, optimized for LBC missions, will have on board a surface-to-surface missile launcher; perhaps these will be Spike missiles from Rafael. They will also reportedly be armed with a General Dynamics/US Ordnance 12.7mm M2HB Browning remote-controlled machine gun mount and two US Ordnance 7.62mm M60 machine guns.
Singapore
The newest addition to the Singapore Navy's coastal defense combat vessels is the Independence class. The first boat was launched by the local shipyard ST Marine in June 2015. The warship was jointly developed by Kockums (currently Saab) and ST Marine and has a speed of 27 knots (50 km/h). Compared to the Fearless-class patrol boats it will eventually replace, this ship is larger and has more powerful weapons. The armament complex includes a 76-mm OTO Melara/Finmeccanica cannon mounted in the bow and a twelve-tube installation for the vertical launch of MBDA Mica surface-to-air missiles. Hitrole remote-controlled machine guns from OTO Melara/Finmeccanica are installed on the sides, and a 25-mm Rafael Typhoon automatic cannon is mounted on the stern. There is also a helipad at the stern for support helicopters, and a rigid-hull inflatable boat can be launched and loaded from the aft dock. Features of this warship include an integrated combat control center and a sensor suite including a Thales NS-100 maritime surveillance radar. ST Marine does not disclose the cost of the Independence class ships.
The cash frigate “Formidable” and the corvette of the “Valour” class of the Singapore Navy guard the open sea spaces. The new Independence class ships with a helipad will significantly increase the level of Singapore's coastal defense
The South Korean Yun Youngha class BBK has more powerful weapons compared to its predecessors. A smaller version is planned
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan Navy operates several types of LBCs, including Israeli Dvora 1, Dvora 2 and Dvora 3 boats, Shaldag class vessels and locally built Series III boats. The Series III class combat boat has a speed of 53 knots (98.1 km/h), has on board a Rafael Typhoon gun mount with a 20-mm Orbital ATK Bushmaster cannon and a Furuno FR 8250 surveillance radar used for navigation. The power plant consists of two Deutz V16 diesel engines and two Arneson ASD16 partially submersible rotary propellers.
Taiwan
A major supplier of LSCs, Taiwan has in recent years bolstered its coastal defense fleet with twelve Ching Chiang-class vessels and thirty Kuang Hua-class LSCs, all of which carry anti-ship missiles. But Taiwan does not stop and continues to strengthen its naval power. At the end of 2014, testing began on the first of the catamaran-type combat vessels of the new class “Tuo Jiang”. The 60.4-meter-long vessel with a displacement of 560 tons is being built by shipbuilding company Lung Teh. The president of the company announced that 11 such vessels will be built. “The coastal defense missile and gun platform, thanks to two diesel engines connected to two water cannons, can reach a maximum speed of 45 knots (83 km/h) and maintain a long-term cruising speed of 25 knots (46 km/h).” He confirmed that the company intends to export vessels of this type. "We're going to sell them all over the world." The official cost of the program is $843.4 million. These new BBKs are very well armed for their size. The missile system includes eight Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles and eight Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles. Also on board is a 76 mm OTO Melara/ Finmeccanica artillery mount, a Raytheon Phalanx short-range air defense system, as well as 12.7 mm machine guns and two Mk.32 triple torpedo tubes. The advanced hull shape of the Ching Chiang class vessels will reduce fuel consumption, improve seaworthiness and maneuverability, while the deck superstructures have a special coating that reduces visibility and the risk of being hit by a missile. These ships are mainly designed for combat operations in the coastal zone. However, they can perform tasks even in sea state 7 (wave heights up to 9 meters). Their cruising range is 2,000 nautical miles (3,706 km), allowing them to engage Chinese ships far from the coast of Taiwan. Consequently, the weapons and characteristics of these newest Taiwanese ships could pose problems for Chinese military strategists.
Taiwanese Ching Chiang class missile boats
South Korea
The South Korean fleet is seriously modernizing its coastal defense capabilities (since its northern neighbor does not allow one to sleep peacefully), gradually introducing into operation the Yoon Youngha class LBC. On board are installed SSM-700K Haesseong anti-ship missile launchers from LIG Nex1, plus a 76-mm Hyundai Wia cannon. Hanjin Heavy Industries and STX shipyards plan to build a total of 18 Yoon Youngha class vessels with a displacement of 570 tons and a length of 46 meters, although most of them are already in the fleet. The STX Radar SYS-100K and LIG Nex1 SPS-530K surveillance radars are installed on board these vessels. Their propulsion system, consisting of an MTU 12V 595 TE90 diesel engine, General Electric LM500 gas turbine engines and water jets, allows them to reach speeds of over 40 knots (74 km/h). The Hanjin company announced the cost of one vessel at $38 million.
Vietnam
Like South Korea, Vietnam is also concerned about Chinese intrigues regarding the ownership of various islands and sea shelves. Currently, the Vietnamese fleet is based on Russian Project 1241 Molniya missile boats. The power plant - a two-shaft diesel-gas turbine - allows the vessel, 56 meters long and with a displacement of 480 tons, to reach a speed of 42 knots (78 km/h). The main armament includes 16 Rainbow P-15 Termit or X-35U anti-ship missiles manufactured by the Tactical Missiles Corporation, a 76-mm artillery mount and two AK-630 six-barreled automatic naval gun mounts. The Vietnamese fleet operates four Molniya-class boats. According to local media reports, construction of two more such boats is underway in Vietnam, and in the future four more boats will be built at a Vietnamese shipyard under license.
Vietnamese Project 1241 Molniya missile boat
Conclusion
Regional territorial disputes and maritime criminal activity are forcing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain fleets capable of effectively conducting high- and low-intensity combat operations, as well as protecting coastal waters. Therefore, it would be surprising if new types of LBCs, equipped to perform a variety of missions, did not continue to enter service with regional navies in significant numbers.
Materials used:
www.naval-technology.com
www.globalsecurity.org
www.ships-net.co.jp
www.navypedia.org
www.shipspotting.com
www.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org