Polnocny-class landing ship

	Polnocny-C
Class overview
Name	Polnochny
Builders	Stocznia Północna shipyard at Gdańsk, (Poland), Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej at Gdynia, Poland
Operators	Algerian National Navy; Azerbaijani Navy; Syrian Navy; Vietnam People's Navy;
Succeeded by	Ropucha class; Lublin-class minelayer-landing ship;
Subclasses	Polnocny-A (Type 770);; Polnocny-B (Type 771);; Polnocny-C (Type 773);; Modified Polnocny-C (Type 776);; Polnocny-D (Type 773U);; NS-722;; Kumbhir-class tank landing ship;
In commission	1967
Completed	108
Active	9
General characteristics
Type	Landing ship, tank
Displacement	834 tons full load (Polnocny-B)
Length	73 m (239 ft 6 in)
Beam	9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	2 Soviet Kolomna 40-D two stroke diesels, 2 shafts, 4,400 bhp
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h)
Range	1,000 nmi (2,000 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)
Capacity	12 BMP-2 4 Main battle tanks 250 tons
Troops	250
Complement	41
Armament	Strela 2(SA-N-5) surface-to-air missile system (4 launchers); 30 mm AK-230 air defence gun (2 or 4 twin mounts); 140 mm Ogon 18-barreled rocket launcher(2);

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]

Syria − 3 Polnocny-B as of 2023^[3]
Vietnam − 1 Polnocny-A and 2 Polnocny-B as of 2023^[4]

Potiental operators

Ukraine - 1 Polnocny-C, the Yuri Olefirenko Unclear if still in service or not.

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]

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.

External links

[FOOTNOTEIISS2023316-1] IISS 2023, p. 316.

[FOOTNOTEIISS2023173-2] IISS 2023, p. 173.

[FOOTNOTEIISS2023355-3] IISS 2023, p. 355.

[FOOTNOTEIISS2023300-4] IISS 2023, p. 300.

[FOOTNOTEIISS1989121-5] IISS 1989, p. 121.

[FOOTNOTESaunders_RN20048-6] Saunders RN 2004, p. 8.

[FOOTNOTESaunders_RN200483-7] Saunders RN 2004, p. 83.

[FOOTNOTEIISS1989190-8] IISS 1989, p. 190.

[FOOTNOTESaunders_RN2004198-9] Saunders RN 2004, p. 198.

[FOOTNOTEIISS1989128-10] IISS 1989, pp. 128.

[11] "INS CHEETAH, GULDAR AND KUMBHIR DECOMMISSIONED AFTER 40 YEARS OF GLORIOUS SERVICE". 13 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.

[12] Moore 1974, p. 171

[13] "Medium landing ships - Project 770". russianships.info. Retrieved 18 August 2021.

[FOOTNOTEIISS1989102-14] IISS 1989, p. 102.

[FOOTNOTESaunders_RN2004446-15] Saunders RN 2004, p. 446.

[FOOTNOTESaunders_RN2004563-16] Saunders RN 2004, p. 563.

[FOOTNOTESaunders_RN2004621-17] Saunders RN 2004, p. 621.

[FOOTNOTEIISS1989113-18] IISS 1989, p. 113.

[FOOTNOTEIISS198936-19] IISS 1989, p. 36.

[FOOTNOTEIISS2023202−203-20] IISS 2023, pp. 202−203.

[FOOTNOTEIISS1989118-21] IISS 1989, p. 118.

[FOOTNOTESaunders_RN2004910-22] Saunders RN 2004, p. 910.

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v t e Soviet and Russian ship classes after 1945
Aircraft carriers	Moskva Project 1160^{P X} OREL^{P X} Kiev Kuznetsov Ulyanovsk^X Project 23000^P Project LMA^P
Battlecruisers	Stalingrad^X Kirov
Cruisers	Sverdlov Kynda Kresta I Kresta II Kara Slava Project 22350MK^P Project 21956MK^P Project 23560 Skval
Destroyers	Skory Neustrashimy Kotlin Kildin Krupny Kanin Kashin Sovremenny Udaloy Project 22350M Project 21956^P
Frigates	Kola Riga Petya Mirka Koni Burevestnik Gepard Neustrashimy Novik^{P X} Admiral Grigorovich Admiral Gorshkov Rusich-1
Corvettes	Poti Pauk Parchim Nanuchka Tarantul Bora Grisha Mukha Buyan Steregushchiy Gremyashchiy Karakurt Derzky Briz^P Rusich-1500^P
P / M / T boats	Kronshtadt P 6 Pr 123K Komar Osa Shershen Stenka Turya Pr 1204 Shmel Zhuk Mukha Matka Muravey^BG Sarancha Svetlyak^BG Rubin^BG Project 22160 Project 23550 Pr 03160 Raptor Briz^P Okean^BG Rusich-2400^P Pr 133RA Antares-RA Pr 21980 Grachonok Pr 12260 Yastreb Pr 14310 Mirazh Pr 12150 Mangusta Pr 02800 DShL
Minesweepers	T43 T58 Yurka Natya Gorya Sasha Vanya Zhenya Sonya Yevgenya Alexandrit Lida
Amphibious ships	Nosorog Tapir Ropucha Polnocny Dyugon Ondatra Serna Merkuryy Delfin LHD HC LAC ^{P X} Project 10200 Khalzan ^{P X} Project 11780^{P X} Ivan Gren ° Andreev ° Kajman Priboy ^P Lavina ^{P X} Project 23900
Spy ships	Moma Marshal Krylov Primor'ye Balzam Vishnya Yury Ivanov
Air-cushioned landing craft	Gus Lebed Tsaplya Aist Zubr Czilim^BG
Icebreaking patrol vessels	Ivan Susanin^BG Purga^BG Project 23550
Other vessels	SSV-33 Don Ugra Smolnyy Dunay Lun
X Cancelled BG Border Guard service P Project P X Project, Cancelled

v t e Ukrainian ship classes
Aircraft carriers	Kuznetsov^S Ulyanovsk^S,X
Cruiser^S	Slava^S
Frigate^S	Burevestnik^S
Corvette	Grisha^S Volodymyr Velykyi^P
A / M / T boats	Zhuk^S Muravey^BG,S Mukha^S Gurza Gurza-M Orlan^BG Koral^BG
Amphibious ships Fast assault craft	Ropucha Polnocny Ondatra^S Centaur^P
Air-cushioned landing craft	Zubr^S
Other	Gofri^S
BG Sea Guard service P Project S built in the Soviet Union X cancelled

Characteristics

Variants

Operational service

Current operators

Potiental operators

Former operators

See also

References

Bibliography

External links