The Polnocny (or Polnochny)-class ships are amphibious warfare vessels. They were designed in Poland, in cooperation with the Soviet Navy and were built in Poland between 1967 and 2002. They now serve in several different navies, and some have been converted to civilian use. The name comes from the Stocznia Północna shipyard (Northern Shipyard) at Gdańsk, where they were built. 107 were built by 1986 (last 16 by Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej (Naval Shipyard) at Gdynia, Poland). In 2002, one ship of a modernised design NS-722 was built in Gdynia for Yemen.
Characteristics
The Polnocny-class ships are classified as medium landing ships in the Russian Navy, and are loosely equivalent to Western tank landing ships. They are equipped with a bow ramp that allows beach landings. The Polnocny-C version can carry 12 BMP-2 armored personnel carriers, or 4 Main Battle Tanks, or 250 infantrymen with their weapons like 82 mm Mortars and ATGMs, or 250 tons of rations & stores. Unlike their Western counterparts, these ships can provide substantial fire support for landed troops with their onboard multiple rocket launchers. Other armament consists of anti-aircraft guns and short-range surface-to-air missiles.
Variants
The Polnocny class comprises several sub-types that vary in size and capacity:
- Polnocny-A (Project 770) (46 built):
- Displacement: 800 tons full load
- Length: 73 m
- Speed: 19 knots (35 km/h)
- Polnocny-B (Project 771) (36 built):
- Displacement: 834 tons full load
- Length: 73 m
- Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
- Polnocny-C (Project 773) (24 built)
- Displacement: 1150 tons full load
- Length: 81.3 m
- Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
- Modified Polnocny-C (Project 776) Amphibious Assault Command Ship (1 built - ORP Grunwald)
- Displacement: 1253 tons full load
- Length: 81.3 m
- Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
- Polnocny-D (Project 773U) (4 built)
- Displacement: 1233 tons full load
- Length: 81.3 m
- Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h)
- Aircraft facility: One helicopter platform
- NS-722 class (1 built in 2002)
- Displacement: 1,410 tons full load
- Length: 88.7 m
- Speed: 17 knots (31 km/h)
- Aircraft facility: One helicopter platform
Operational service
Built in large quantities, the Polnocny-class ships were once the mainstay of the Soviet amphibious forces, and gave the Soviet naval infantry an effective force projection capability. They were gradually phased out in favour of hovercraft, and few remain active in a number of navies.
Current operators
Algeria − 1 Polnocny-B armed with a twin AK-230 gun as of 2023[1]
Azerbaijan − 1 Polnocny-A and 1 Polnocny-B as of 2023[2]
Former operators
Angola[5] − Non-operational by 2004[6]
Bulgaria[7]
Cuba[8]
Egypt − 3 Polnocny-A[9]
Ethiopia[10]
India − Operated 2 Polnocny-A ships and 8 Polnocny-D (latter operated as Kumbhir-class) from 1966 to 2024[11]
Indonesia[12][13]
Iraq[14]
Libya − 3 Polnocny-D[15]
Poland − 1 Polnocny-C was converted into an amphibious command vessel[16]
Russia − Operated 1 Polnocny-B as a logistic support ship as late as 2004[17]
Somalia[18]
Soviet Union[19] − Passed on to successor states
Ukraine - 1 Polnocny-C, the Yuri Olefirenko, no longer in service as of 2023[20]
South Yemen[21] − Passed on to the unified Yemeni state
Yemen − 3 Polnocny-B in poor state by 2004[22]
See also
References
- ^ IISS 2023, p. 316.
- ^ IISS 2023, p. 173.
- ^ IISS 2023, p. 355.
- ^ IISS 2023, p. 300.
- ^ IISS 1989, p. 121.
- ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 8.
- ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 83.
- ^ IISS 1989, p. 190.
- ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 198.
- ^ IISS 1989, pp. 128.
- ^ "INS CHEETAH, GULDAR AND KUMBHIR DECOMMISSIONED AFTER 40 YEARS OF GLORIOUS SERVICE". 13 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ Moore 1974, p. 171
- ^ "Medium landing ships - Project 770". russianships.info. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ IISS 1989, p. 102.
- ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 446.
- ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 563.
- ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 621.
- ^ IISS 1989, p. 113.
- ^ IISS 1989, p. 36.
- ^ IISS 2023, pp. 202−203.
- ^ IISS 1989, p. 118.
- ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 910.
Bibliography
- Moore, Capt. John (1974). Jane's Fighting Ships 1974-75. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0354005067.
- Watts, A.J.(2006); Jane's warship recognition guide; Collins; ISBN 0-06-084992-4
- Jarosław Ciślak; Polska Marynarka Wojenna 1995 (Polish Navy 1995); Lampart, Warsaw 1995; ISBN 978-83-86776-08-5
- Saunders RN, Commodore Stephen, ed. (1 July 2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005. Janes Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2623-3.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (1 January 1989). The Military Balance 1989-1990. Brassey's. ISBN 978-0-08-037569-4.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. pp. 201−204. ISBN 978-1032508955.