Zubr class LCAC
Encyclopedia
The Zubr class (Project 1232.2 class, NATO reporting name Pomornik) is a class
of air-cushioned landing craft
of soviet design. This class of military hovercraft
is currently, as of 2008, the world’s largest hovercraft. There are currently nine ships in active service in the world. The Zubr is used by the Russian, Ukrainian
, and Greek
navies. The transfer of the Kefalonia (L- 180), the first of two Zubr hovercraft purchased by the Greeks, to the Hellenic Navy
marked the first time that a Russia
n-made ship was purchased by the navy of a NATO member.
It is designed to sealift landing assault units (such as marines or tank
s) from equipped/non-equipped vessels to non-equipped shore, as well as transport and plant mine
s.
, the main load-carrying part of the ship's hull. The superstructure built on the pontoon is divided into 3 compartments with two longitudinal bulkhead
s: combat materiel compartment in the midsection fitted with tank ramps, and outboard sections housing main and auxiliary propulsion units, troop compartments, living quarters, and NBC protection systems. To improve working conditions in the battle stations, troop compartments and living quarters, they are fitted with air-conditioning and heating-systems, sound/heat-insulating coatings, and structures made of vibrodamping materials. The ship provides normal conditions for the crew to take meals and rest.
Personnel are protected against effects of weapons of mass destruction
with airtight sealing of combat stations, crew and troop compartments, as well as individual gas masks and protection suits. The ship is also protected from influence mines with the horizontal winding to compensate for the ship's and the transported materiel's magnetic field
s. The central command post and MS-227 device compartments are strengthened with alloy armour.
s (up to 131 tonnes), or ten armoured personnel carriers with 140 troops (up to 115 tonnes), or up to 500 troops (with 360 troops in the cargo compartment). At full displacement the ship is capable of negotiating up to 5-degree gradients on non-equipped shores and 1.6m-high vertical walls. The Zubr remains seaworthy in conditions up to Sea state
4. The vessel has a cruising speed of 30-40 knots.
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of air-cushioned landing craft
Air-cushioned landing craft
An air cushioned landing craft, also called an LCAC is a modern variation on the amphibious landing boat. These craft are based on small- to mid-sized multi-purpose hovercraft, also known as "over the beach" craft...
of soviet design. This class of military hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
is currently, as of 2008, the world’s largest hovercraft. There are currently nine ships in active service in the world. The Zubr is used by the Russian, Ukrainian
Ukrainian Navy
The Ukrainian Naval Forces is the navy of Ukraine and part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was established in 1992. It consists of 5 branches: surface forces, submarine forces, Navy aviation, coast rocket-artillery and marines...
, and Greek
Hellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
navies. The transfer of the Kefalonia (L- 180), the first of two Zubr hovercraft purchased by the Greeks, to the Hellenic Navy
Hellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
marked the first time that a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-made ship was purchased by the navy of a NATO member.
It is designed to sealift landing assault units (such as marines or tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s) from equipped/non-equipped vessels to non-equipped shore, as well as transport and plant mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
s.
Configuration
High strength and floatability of the craft are provided by a rectangular pontoonPontoon (boat)
A pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float. Pontoons may be used on boats, rafts, barges, docks, floatplanes or seaplanes. Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A...
, the main load-carrying part of the ship's hull. The superstructure built on the pontoon is divided into 3 compartments with two longitudinal bulkhead
Bulkhead (partition)
A bulkhead is an upright wall within the hull of a ship or within the fuselage of an airplane. Other kinds of partition elements within a ship are decks and deckheads.-Etymology:...
s: combat materiel compartment in the midsection fitted with tank ramps, and outboard sections housing main and auxiliary propulsion units, troop compartments, living quarters, and NBC protection systems. To improve working conditions in the battle stations, troop compartments and living quarters, they are fitted with air-conditioning and heating-systems, sound/heat-insulating coatings, and structures made of vibrodamping materials. The ship provides normal conditions for the crew to take meals and rest.
Personnel are protected against effects of weapons of mass destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
with airtight sealing of combat stations, crew and troop compartments, as well as individual gas masks and protection suits. The ship is also protected from influence mines with the horizontal winding to compensate for the ship's and the transported materiel's magnetic field
Magnetic field
A magnetic field is a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials. The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude ; as such it is a vector field.Technically, a magnetic field is a pseudo vector;...
s. The central command post and MS-227 device compartments are strengthened with alloy armour.
Capacity
The Zubr landing craft has a cargo area of 400 square metre, and a fuel capacity of 56 tons. It can carry three main battle tankMain battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
s (up to 131 tonnes), or ten armoured personnel carriers with 140 troops (up to 115 tonnes), or up to 500 troops (with 360 troops in the cargo compartment). At full displacement the ship is capable of negotiating up to 5-degree gradients on non-equipped shores and 1.6m-high vertical walls. The Zubr remains seaworthy in conditions up to Sea state
Sea state
In oceanography, a sea state is the general condition of the free surface on a large body of water—with respect to wind waves and swell—at a certain location and moment. A sea state is characterized by statistics, including the wave height, period, and power spectrum. The sea state varies with...
4. The vessel has a cruising speed of 30-40 knots.
Operators
-
- 770 Evgeny Kocheshkov (former MDK-118)
- 782 Mordovia (former MDK-94)
-
- Donetsk (former U 420)
- Artemivsk (former MDK-93, U 424), which operates four ships. Three vessels were commissioned in 2001: the Kefalonia (L180) was purchased used from the Russian Navy and upgraded, the Ithaki (L181) which was completed in Ukraine, and the Zakynthos (L183) which was built in Russia. A fourth vessel, the Kerkyra (L182), was launched in June 2004 at St. Petersburg yard and was commissioned in January 2005.
- HS Kefalonia (L180) - ex Russian Navy 717, commissioned 2001
- HS Ithaki (L181) - hull launched in Ukraine 1992, commissioned 2001
- HS Kerkyra (L182)
- HS Zakynthos (L183). The Chinese PLAN has reportedly placed an order for four craft at a cost of 315 million US dollars. Two will be built by a Ukrainian firm in Feodosia, and a second pair of vessels will be built in China under the supervision of Ukrainian technicians.
External links
- Vessel description (in Russian) on Youtube
- http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/zubr/
- http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/dad_history_en.asp
- http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/dad_ships_en.asp All Zubr class LCAC - Complete Ship List