The Russian shipbuilding industry continues to produce ships, although at a very slow rate. In July of 2002, the first vessel of the Project 1166.1 Gepard class was commissioned as Tatarstan, and now serves as the flagship of the Caspian Sea Flotilla. This was the first major combatant to be laid down and commissioned into the Russian Fleet after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Tatarstan follows one of several alternative designs, all part of the Gepard series. Variants include a version with a helicopter hangar, and another optimized for search and rescue work. Originally, three hulls were planned, and two started. Yastreb (later reamed Tatarstan) was laid down in September 1992, and Burestevik was started in 1993. It would have been built as a “Gepard 2,” with a helicopter hangar. A third unit, Albatros, was started in 1994. Although Tatarstan was essentially complete by 1995, work on all three units lagged until 1999. With the three ships 93%, 67%, and 40% complete, funds were found for the completion of Tatarstan. The money may have come from the Republic of Tatarstan itself, where the ship is now serving. The other two have not been canceled, but they are not being worked on, either. On 21 December 2001, the keel of the new frigate Steregushchiy was laid at Severnaya shipyard. Steregushchiy (“guarding”) is a more powerful (and expensive) unit, with a larger gun, 100mm instead of 76mm, a Kinzhal [SA-N-9] system instead of the older Osa-2M, and the new 3M54 Klub instead of the Kh-35. Although it was originally planned for series production of 20-25 units, that has been cut back to four. The two ships have been called both frigates and corvettes. Both are a little large for corvettes, but Tatarstan’s coastal role makes the FFL designation appropriate. The larger Steregushchiy is better typed as a frigate. Laid down at Yantar shipyard in 1997, between Tatarstan and Steregushchiy, another new design, Novik, is still uncompleted, and much more of a mystery. She was officially canceled in 1998, but money continued to be allotted for construction - not much, just enough to keep the lights on at the shipyard. Then in 2001, construction was canceled again, but work continued, possibly with local funding. In 2002, money was allocated in the budget once again. Recently, Russian officials insisted she had not been canceled, and would be completed eventually. Novik’s weapons suite is almost entirely conjectural. It’s hard to tell with the hull 20% complete what weapons she will carry, and with construction proceeding so slowly, they could change her suite, depending on many factors. As described by A.S. Pavlov and others, her planned weapons include vertical launchers for the Poliment SAM and Onyx SSM on each side of the hangar, the Medvedka ASW missile, an AK-190 100mm and the AK-630M1, a new twin 30mm rotary variant of the AK-630, with the two guns mounted in an over-and-under configuration. She also carries a helicopter. Poliment is a new SAM, a naval version of the S-400, based on the 9M96 active-radar homing missile. Any of these configurations could have been completed by 2001 or 2002 at the latest, using standard shipbuilding rates. If enough funding could be found, she could be complete in two years. At her present rate, she may be obsolete by the time she is launched. The only positive part of the situation is that the yard remains open, waiting and hoping for better times. Russian Frigate Building Dates Name Keel Laid Launched In Service Soobrazitelny 20 May 03 - - Steregushchiy 21 Jan 01 - 2005 Novik 26 Jan 97 - ??? Albatros 1994 - ??? Burestevik 1993 - ??? Tatarstan 15 Sep 92 Jul 93 Aug 02 Project 1244.1 Novik FF Displacement: 3000 std In class: 0+1 Acoustic Counterm: 2nd Gen Twd In Service: ???? Electronic Counterm: 3rd Gen D ESM: 3rd Gen Propulsion: ??? Crew: 165 Size Class: Small Signature: Small/Noisy Weapons: ROF F&A(3)6 Oniks VL w/3 msls (8) D F(1)1 A-190 100mm/59// 1 MR-123 Vympel [Bass Tilt] C F(2R)1 AK-630M1 30mm/54 w/15 bursts //1 MR-123 Vympel [Bass Tilt] C F&A(8)4 Poliment w/8 msls (?) D PB&SB(4)2 Medvedka w/4 msls (1) E Aft Pad(1)1 Ka-27PL B Sensors: MR-760 Fregat-MA [Top Plate], MR-352 Positiv [Cross Dome] J MGK-335M hull and VDS M Remarks: Keel laid 26 July 1997. Typed as SKR (Multipurpose patrol ship). Fitted with fin stabilizers. Canceled on 28 Jan 97, but the budget has continued to provide some small funding for construction. Only 20% complete in 2000. Authorized for sale, but no takers. Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 25 49 74 8898 Surf Speed: 31 23 16 8 0 Sinks Project 20380 Steregushchiy FF Displacement: 1850 std In class: 0+2+? Acoustic Counterm: ??? In Service: 2005 Electronic Counterm: 3rd Gen D ESM: 3rd Gen Propulsion: CODOG Crew: 109 Size Class: Small Signature: VSmall/Noisy Weapons: ROF F(1)1 A-190 100mm//1 5P-10 C F (2R&8)1 Kortik [CADS-N-1] w/8 Grison & 15 bursts//1 Hot Flash (8) C, D PB&SB(4)2 3M24 Uran w/4 msls (8) D P/S(4)2 Fasta-4M w/4 Igla-M [Gremlin] (1) D PB/SB(2)2 TR-203 533mm TT w/2 Vodopad-NK & torpedoes F P&PQ/S&SQ(R)2 AK-630M 30mm/54 w/15 bursts C Sensors: MR-352M Positiv-M1 [Cross Dome], Garpun B [Plank Shave B] J 2 MR-212 Vaygach-U [Palm Frond], FR-2130S nav J Zarya LF hull, Minotavr VDS M Remarks: Stergushchiy, Soobrazitelny. Multipurpose coastal patrol vessel. First of class planned to join Caspian Sea Flotilla in 2005, three more at one-year intervals. Second unit lad down 20 May 03. First two will have 3M24 Uran, later units may have F&A(16)1 3M54E Klub. Originally 25 planned, but order cut to four as costs increased. TT carry a mix of Vodopad-NK ASW missiles, Type 53- 65N and SET-65 torpedoes. Fitted with fin stabilizers. Helo pad aft, no hangar. AK-630 are tied in to Kinzhal fire control system, treat as Autonomous. Can refuel and rearm Ka-27PL. GRP superstructure, special damage modifier of -15%. Project 2028.2 export variant with a helicopter hangar added offered to Iran. Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 13 27 40 4853 Surf Speed: 26 20 13 7 0 Sinks Project 1166.1 Tatarstan FFL Displacement: 1500 std In class: 1+? Acoustic Counterm: None In Service: 2002 Electronic Counterm: 3rd Gen D ESM: 3rd Gen Propulsion: CODOG Crew: 109 Size Class: Small Signature: Small/Noisy Weapons: ROF F(1)1 AK-176 76mm/59 //1 MR-123 Vympel [Bass Tilt] C F/A(R)2 AK-630M 30mm/54 w/15 bursts //1 MR-123 Vympel [Bass Tilt] C PB&SB(4)2 3M24 Uran [SS-N-25] w/4 Switchblade//1 Monolit (8) D A(2)1 Osa-2M [SA-N-4b] w/20 Gecko //1 MPZ-301 Baza [Pop Group] D F(12)1 Smerch/RPK-8 [RBU 6000] w/6 salvoes//1 MG-311 Vychegda E PB/SB(2)2 533mm TT w/2 SET-65 F Sensors: Monolit [Band Stand], MR-212 Vaygach-U [Palm Frond] J MR-352 Positiv-M1 [Sross Dome] J MGK-335EM Platina hull & VDS Remarks: Second and third units Burevestevik , Albatros laid down 1995 with modified design. Single MR-123 Vympel director can control AK-176 and AK-630 at a single target. Fitted with stabilizers. Special damage modifier of -15% for aluminum superstructure. • Yastreb renamed Tatarstan during construction. Jul 2002: Tatarstan commissioned. Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 11 22 33 4044 Surf Speed: 28 21 14 7 0 Sinks Project 1166.2 Gepard 2 FFL Displacement: 1500 std In class: -- Acoustic Counterm:2nd Gen Twd In Service: -- Electronic Counterm: 3rd Gen D ESM: 3rd Gen Propulsion: CODOG Crew: 109 Size Class: Small Signature: Small/Noisy Weapons: ROF F(1)1 AK-176 76mm/59 //1 MR-123 Vympel [Bass Tilt] C F/A(R)2 AK-630M 30mm/54 w/15 bursts //1 MR-123 Vympel [Bass Tilt] C PB&SB(4)2 3M24 Uran [SS-N-25] w/4 Switchblade//Monolit (8) D F(12)1 Smerch/RPK-8 [RBU 6000] w/6 salvoes//1 MG-311 Vychegda E PB/SB(2)2 533mm TT w/2 SET-65 F Aft Pad(1)1 Ka-27PL Helix B Sensors: Monolit [Band Stand], MR-212 Vaygach-U [Palm Frond] J MR-352 Positiv-M1 [Sross Dome] J MGK-335EM Platina hull M Remarks: Variant of Gepard design. Single MR-123 Vympel director can control AK-176 and AK-630 at a single target. Fitted with stabiliz-ers. Special damage modifier of -15% for aluminum superstructure. Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 11 22 33 4044 Surf Speed: 28 21 14 7 0 Sinks Project 1166.3 Gepard 3 FFL Displacement: 2100 fl In class: -- Acoustic Counterm: None In Service: -- Electronic Counterm: 3rd Gen D ESM: 3rd Gen Propulsion: CODOG Crew: 109 Size Class: Small Signature: Small/Noisy Weapons: ROF F(1)1 AK-176 76mm/59 //1 MR-123 Vympel [Bass Tilt] C F (2R&8)1 Kortik [CADS-N-1] w/8 Grison & 15 bursts//1 Hot Flash (8) C, D PB&SB(4)2 3M24 Uran [SS-N-25] w/4 Switchblade//1 Monolit (8) D F(12)1 Smerch/RPK-8 [RBU 6000] w/6 salvoes//1 MG-311 Vychegda E PB/SB(2)2 533mm TT w/2 SET-65 F Aft Pad(1)1 Ka-27PL Helix B Sensors: Monolit [Band Stand], MR-212 Vaygach-U [Palm Frond] J MGK-335EM Platina hull & VDS M Remarks: Variant of Gepard design. Fitted with stabilizers. Special damage modifier of -15% for aluminum superstructure. Damage and Speed Breakdown: Dam Pts: 0 13 26 38 4651 Surf Speed: 28 21 14 7 0 Sinks BT Back to The Naval Sitrep # 24 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com