Lebed-class LCAC

The Kalmar class (Project 1206, NATO reporting name Lebed) are a class of medium-sized assault hovercraft designed for the Soviet Navy. The few remaining craft are operated by the Russian Navy.

Lebed class vessel on the deck of a transport ship, 1985
Lebed class vessel on the deck of a transport ship, 1985
Class overview
NameLebed class LCAC
BuildersPmSW Almaz , More
Operators
Succeeded byTsaplya-class LCAC
Built1972–1985
In commission1972-present
Completed20
General characteristics [1]
TypeAir-cushioned landing craft
Displacement
  • 108 long tons (110 t) standard
  • 114 long tons (116 t) full load
Length24.6 m (80 ft 9 in)
Beam10.8 m (35 ft 5 in)
Draught1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Propulsion2 × 10,000 hp (7,457 kW) AL-20K , MT-70 gas turbines
Speed55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph)
Range100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 50 kn (93 km/h; 58 mph)
Endurance1 day
Capacity
Complement6 (2 officers)
Sensors and
processing systems
Kivach-2 navigation radar
Armament1 × twin 12.7 mm "Utes-M" NSV machine gun

Designed by the design bureau wing of Almaz shipbuilding company early in the 1970s, production started in 1972 and continued until 1985 in plants at Leningrad and Theodosia.

Configuration

The Lebed class is the Russian Navy equivalent to the U.S. Navy LCAC, though the U.S. version entered service seven years later. The Lebed class entered service in 1975, and by the early 1990s 20 had been produced. The ship has a bow ramp with a gun on the starboard side and the bridge to port. The Lebed class can be carried by the Ivan Rogov-class landing ship. The type began to be withdrawn following the fall of the Soviet Union, and by 2004 only three remained. Number 533 is in the Northern Fleet, while 639 and 640 took part in the Caspian Sea exercises of 2002.[2]

Capacity

Each hovercraft can carry up to 40 tons of cargo.

Registry

  • 533
  • 639
  • 640

Lebed-class hovercraft were featured in the 1986 Tom Clancy novel Red Storm Rising. In the novel, four Lebeds were used to carry military personnel and equipment from the disguised barge carrier MV Yulius Fuchik to Iceland in a surprise invasion.

See also

See also

References

  1. "Air-cushion landing craft - Project 1206". russian-ships.info. 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  2. "Lebed Class Amphibious Assault Hovercraft Kaspiysk". wikimapia.org. 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  • Saunders, Stephen (RN) Jane's Fighting Ships 2003-2004, ISBN 0-7106-2546-4


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