Zubr-class LCAC

The Zubr class, Soviet designation Project 1232.2, (NATO reporting name "Pomornik") is a class of Soviet-designed air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC). The name "Zubr" is Russian for the European bison.[4] This class of military hovercraft is, as of 2023 the world's largest hovercraft,[5] with a standard full load displacement of 555 tons.[1][6] The hovercraft was designed to sealift amphibious assault units (such as marines and tanks) from equipped/non-equipped vessels to non-equipped shores, as well as to transport and plant naval mines.

Mordoviya and Evgeniy Kocheshkov
Class overview
BuildersPO More in Feodosiya of Crimea, Khabarovsk shipyard, Almaz, Pribaltisk Yantar
Operators
In commission1986–present
Planned17
Completed15
Cancelled2
Active10
Retired5
Scrapped5
General characteristics
TypeAir-cushioned landing craft
Displacement
  • 340 tons (light)
  • 415 tons (normal)
  • 555 tons (full load)[1]
Length57 m (187 ft)[2]
Beam25.6 m (84 ft)[3]
Draught1.6 m (5.2 ft)[2]
Propulsion
  • 3 x 10,000 horsepower (7,500 kW) propelling M35-1 gas turbine units or M70FRU2&2R
    2 x 10,000 hp supercharging M35-2 gas turbine units or M85RU/FR E80D7 M70FRU\2
    4 x NO10 superchargers
  • Propellers: 3 four-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Speed
  • 63 knots (117 km/h; 72 mph)[1]
  • 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph) sustainable [1]
Range300 nmi (560 km) at 55 knots
Complement31 (4 officers, 27 enlisted)[1]
Sensors and
processing systems		Ekran-1 navigational radar, Lazur radar (Pozitiv radar on MDK-51), R-782 Buran communications system
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Electronic Countermeasures System: Decoys, MS-227 chaff launcher, MP-411 ESM radar system; intercept
Armament
  • 4 × Strela-3 man-portable air defence missile system launchers, plus 32 anti-personnel missiles; or 2 x Strela 2 quad launchers, manual aiming, infrared homing to 6 km (3.7 mi) at Mach 1.5, maximum altitude of 2,500 m (8,200 ft)
  • 2 × 30 mm AK-630 close in weapon systems with 6,000 rounds each, maximum range of 2 km (1.2 mi)
  • 2 × 140 mm Ogon launchers, 22 rockets each with 132 rockets in total; or 2 x 122 mm retractable rocket launchers
  • Mines (one set of removable equipment for laying from 20 to 80 mines, depending on their types)

Ten Zubr-class hovercraft remain in service. There are two vessels in the Russian Navy and four with the Hellenic Navy.[3] In 2009 China placed an order for four vessels from Ukraine as part of a deal worth US$315 million.[7] Two updated versions of the vessels were built by Crimea's Feodosia Shipbuilding Company, followed by two advanced models of the surface warship.[7][8]

The purchase in 2000 of HS Cephalonia (L 180) for the Hellenic Navy marked the first time a Soviet-designed naval craft had been built for a NATO member.[9][10][11][12]

In June 2017 Russia announced the restarting of production of Zubr-class craft.[13] Representatives from the Russian shipbuilding industry soon after responded by stating production could not possibly resume in 2018 and would only be possible by 2019–2021, refuting the government position. Representatives cited the lack of availability of and inability to mass-produce components, notably gas-turbine engines and reduction gears as the main obstacles.[14]

NPO Saturn (ODK GT) and Turboros developed marine gas turbine engines M70FRU (D090), FR RU, M70FRU2 (DP/DM71) along M90FR, M75RU, E70RD8 and Elektrosila, AO Zvezda, Metallist, Samara and others developed redactors and gears.[15][16]

History

Configuration
Mordovia, a Russian Navy Zubr class, during Exercise Zapad-09

High strength and buoyancy is provided by a rectangular pontoon, the main load-carrying part of the ship's hull. The superstructure built on the pontoon is divided into three compartments with two longitudinal bulkheads: combat material compartment in the midsection fitted with tank ramps, and outboard sections housing main and auxiliary propulsion units, troop compartments, living quarters, and NBC protection systems. To improve working conditions in the battle stations, troop compartments and living quarters are fitted with air-conditioning and heating-systems, sound/heat-insulating coatings, and structures made of vibration damping materials. The ship provides normal conditions for the crew to make meals and rest.

Personnel are protected against the effects of weapons of mass destruction by airtight sealing of combat stations, crew and troop compartments, augmented with individual gas masks and protection suits. The ship is also protected from magnetic influence mines with an active system to compensate for the magnetic fields generated by the ship and transported materials. The central command post and MS-227 device compartments are strengthened with alloy armor.

The mainland Chinese have built their own version designated as Type 958.[17]

Capacity

The Zubr-class landing craft has a cargo area of 400 square metres (4,300 sq ft) and a fuel capacity of 56 tons.[2] It can carry three main battle tanks (up to 150 tonnes),[7] or ten armoured vehicles with 230 troops (up to 131 tonnes),[7] or 8 armoured personnel carriers of total mass up to 115 tonnes, or 8 amphibious tanks or up to 500 troops (with 360 troops in the cargo compartment).

At full displacement the ship is capable of negotiating up to 5-degree gradients on non-equipped shores and 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)-high vertical walls. The Zubr class remains seaworthy in conditions up to Sea State 4. The vessel has a cruising speed of 30–40 knots (56–74 km/h; 35–46 mph).

Later models built by Ukroboronprom for the mainland Chinese are reported to travel at a top speed of 63 kt. The range of 300 nautical miles is obtained at 55 kt cruise.[7] China has licensed a version of this model which it calls the Type 958.

Operators

 Russian Navy (ex-Soviet Navy) (2)

  • 770 Evgeniy Kocheshkov (former MDK-50)
  • 782 Mordoviya (former MDK-94)

 Hellenic Navy (2 + 2)[18]

  • HS Cephalonia (L 180, former MDK-118)
  • HS Ithaca (L 181, former U421)
  • HS Corfu (L 182)
  • HS Zakynthos (L 183)

 People's Liberation Army Navy (4: 2 delivered from Ukraine, 2 built in China)[19]

Former operators

 Ukrainian Navy (4)

  • Donetsk (U420, former MDK-100) — decommissioned on 11 June 1999, scrapped
  • Kramatorsk (U422, former MDK-57) — decommissioned on 11 June 1999, scrapped
  • Horlivka (U423, former MDK-93) — decommissioned on 29 November 2000, scrapped
  • Artemivsk (U424, former MDK-123) — sold to Greece on 24 January 2000

See also

References
  1. Wertheim (2007), p. 128.
  2. Jane's Information Group (2002).
  3. "Zubr Class (Pomornik) Air Cushioned Landing Craft, Russia". Naval-Technology.com. 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  4. зубр Russian Wiktionary
  5. Wilkinson, Freddie. "Guinness world record hovercraft". Guinness world record.
  6. "Hellenic Command Amphibious Forces: Ships". Hellenic Navy. 2008. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  7. Rahmat, Ridzwan (6 March 2014). "Ukraine crisis prompts hurried delivery of second Zubr LCAC to China". IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  8. "China To RePay $14 Million Debt To Crimea For Zubr-class Landing Craft". Defenseworld.net. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  9. "Hellenic Command Amphibious Forces: Introduction". Hellenic Navy. 2008. Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  10. Kitov, Vladimir (4 November 2000). "Almaz launches NATO-bound craft". The Russia Journal. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  11. Titova, Irina (29 December 2000). "City Shipyard Hovercraft Is 1st Delivery to NATO State". The St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  12. "Russian ship joining Greek navy". BBC News. AVN Military News Agency. 20 December 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  13. Jones, Bruce (16 June 2017). "Russia to resume construction of Zubr hovercraft". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  14. "Production of Zubr-Class Air-Cushion Ships Resumes Only in 2019-2021, Shipbuilders Say". Mil Today. 18 June 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  15. "Россия полностью заменила украинские комплектующие для военной техники" [Russia has completely replaced Ukrainian components for military equipment]. Armstrade.org (in Russian). 14 September 2018.
  16. "ОДК закрыла потребность флота в двигателях, ранее поставлявшихся Украиной" [UEC closed the fleet's need for engines previously supplied by Ukraine]. Armstrade.org (in Russian). 9 September 2019.
  17. "Chinese built Type 958 LCAC". Sohu (in Simplified Chinese). 12 September 2020.
  18. "Global security".
  19. "More Zubr-class amphibious assault hovercraft for the Chinese Navy".

Bibliography
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