The Natya class, Soviet designation Project 266M Akvamarin, were a group of
minesweeper
A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping.
History
The earliest known usage of ...
s built for the
Soviet Navy and export customers during the 1970s and 1980s. The ships were used for ocean minesweeping.
Design
The design evolved from the with new demining equipment including more advanced sonar and closed circuit TV. A stern ramp made recovering sweeps easier. The hull was built of low magnetic steel. The engines were mounted on sound dampening beams and shrouded propellers were used to reduce noise. An electrical field compensator was also installed. A single ship designated Natya 2 by
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
was built with an aluminium hull for reduced magnetic signature.
Project 02668
* Displacement: 852 tons.
* Armament: 1 × 30mm
AK-306 CIWS
A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of la ...
, 2 × 14.5 mm
MTPU-1 machine guns, BKT high-speed pin sweep, TEM-4 electromagnetic sweep, AT-3 acoustic sweep, SZ-1 or SZ-2 depth charges, "Livadia" mine detector-finder.
* Crew: 60.
Project 02668 was designed by Design Bureau "Almaz" and is a prototype, which demonstrates the latest technology - the logical continuation of a series of Project 266ME. The minesweeper is equipped with the most modern means of anti-mine protection. It was the first Russian mine-sweeping ship to have an integrated navigation bridge and main command center, as well as the "Diez-E" automated control system of anti-mine action activities.
The St. Andrew's flag-raising ceremony was held on 17 January 2009, and the ship was accepted into the Russian
Black Sea Fleet
Chernomorskiy flot
, image = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet
, dates = May 13, ...
.
Operators
45 ships were built for the
Soviet Navy from 1970 to 1982.
*7 ships believed to remain in service.
**
Black Sea Fleet
Chernomorskiy flot
, image = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Great emblem of the Black Sea fleet
, dates = May 13, ...
- 5 ships
**
Pacific Fleet - 2 ships
*2 captured by Russia.
**
U310 ''Chernihiv'' (ex-''Zenitchik'' - captured)
**U311 ''Cherkasy'' (captured)
[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-minesweeper-idUSBREA2P17H20140326]
*12 ships built for the Indian Navy in two batches between 1978 and 1988. Ship design was modified to Indian specifications. Known as the
Pondicherry-class minesweeper
The ''Pondicherry'' class are a class of minesweepers built for the Indian Navy by the Soviet Union. They are modified versions of the . The vessels were acquired in two batches. The first were purchased from 1977 to 1980 and the second from 198 ...
in Indian service. Five ships have been decommissioned leaving seven in active service. To be replaced by
Future Indian minehunter class
GSL Mine Counter-Measure Vessels are series of twelve naval ship that were jointly proposed to be built by Goa Shipyard Limited and a yet to be decided TOT partner for the Indian Navy.
Background
In May 2004, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD ...
.
*8 ships transferred 1981-86. 2 still in active
Libyan People's Army
*2 ships captured in February 2011.
*One ship in 1986.
*One ship.
See also
*
List of ships of the Soviet Navy
*
List of ships of Russia by project number
The list of ships of Russia by project number includes all Russian ships by assigned project numbers. Ship descriptions are Russian assigned classifications when known. (The Russian term "проект" can be translated either as the cognate "pr ...
References
* Also published as
*
*
{{Soviet and Russian ships after 1945
Mine warfare vessel classes
Minesweepers of the Russian Navy
Minesweepers of the Ukrainian Navy
Minesweepers of Ukraine
Minesweepers of the Libyan Navy
Minesweepers of the Syrian Navy
Minesweepers of the Yemen Navy