The Petya Class was the NATO reporting name

NATO reporting name

NATO reporting names are classified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...

 for a class of light frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

s built for the Soviet Navy

Soviet Navy

The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...

 in the 1960s. The Soviet Designation was Storozhevoi Korabl (escort ship) Project 159.

Design

They were the first gas turbine powered ships in the Soviet navy. The role of these ships was anti-submarine warfare in shallow waters and they were similar to the Mirka class frigate

Mirka class frigate

The Mirka Class was the NATO reporting name for a class of light frigates built for the Soviet Navy in the mid to late 1960s. The Soviet Designation was Storozhevoi Korabl Project 35 and Project 35-M .-Design:...

s. The specification (TTZ in Russian) was issued in 1955 and design approved in 1956. A three shaft machinery layout was chosen with the central shaft powered by diesel engines for economical cruising and the two wing shafts powered by gas turbines for speed. Gun armament was two twin 76mm gun turrets in A and Y positions which were controlled by a single radar director. anti-submarine armament consisted of RBU-6000

RBU-6000

The RBU-6000 Smerch-2 is a 213 mm caliber Soviet anti-submarine rocket launcher. It is similar in principle to the Royal Navy Hedgehog system used during the Second World War...

 anti-submarine rocket launchers and a launcher for 400 mm anti-submarine torpedoes. Some of the ships designed for export replaced the 400mm torpedo tubes with anti-shipping 533mm torpedo tubes. A comprehensive sonar suite including VDS was fitted.

Ships

A total of 54 ships were built in two shipyards: the Kaliningrad Yantar shipyard built 22 ships including exports and Khabarovsk yard built 32 ships including exports. All Soviet ships were decommissioned in 1989-1992 but some are still in service with export customers.

Export Sales

• Ethiopian Navy
  Ethiopian Navy
  The Ethiopian Navy was a branch of the Ethiopian National Defense Force that existed from 1955 until 1991. It was disestablished after the independence of Eritrea, which left Ethiopia landlocked.-Founding of the navy:...
  
   - 4 ships - sold for scrap in Djibouti following the independence of Eritrea
• Indian Navy
  Indian Navy
  The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
  
   - 11 ships designated Arnala class frigate (all decommissioned)
• Syrian Navy
  Syrian Navy
  The Syrian Navy is the smallest of the Syrian Armed Forces. It is under the Syrian Army's Latakia regional command with the fleet based in the ports of Baniyas, Latakia, Minat al Bayda, and Tartus.- History :...
  
   - 2 ships (still in service)
• Vietnam People's Navy
  Vietnam People's Navy
  The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva...
  
  - 6 ships (still in service)