Shmel-class patrol boat
_%E2%80%98134%E2%80%99_-_Victory_Park%252C_Moscow_(24922960298).jpg) Project 1204 on display in Victory Park, Moscow | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Shmel class (Project 1204) |
| Operators | |
| Built | 1967 - 1972 |
| In service | 1967 - present day |
| Completed | 118 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Armoured patrol boat / gunboat |
| Displacement | 71 tons full load |
| Length | 27.4 m (89 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 4.32 m (14 ft 2 in) |
| Draught | 0.85 m (2 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 x 1200 hp M-50F diesels, 2 x 25 kW DGA-25-9 diesel generators |
| Speed | 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) |
| Range |
|
| Endurance | 7 days |
| Complement | 14 men |
| Sensors & processing systems | Donets-2 navigation radar |
| Armament |
|
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The "Shmel" class or Project 1204 armoured patrol boats (Russian "Шмель" for "Bumblebee"), is a class of small gunboats developed during the Cold War for the Soviet Navy to patrol rivers and coastal waters. 118 boats of this class were built, and many are still in service with the Russian Navy today.
Design
Between 1967 and 1972, 118 ships were built by three shipyards.
Of these, 56 boats were allocated to the Soviet Navy (10 to the Baltic Fleet, 30 to the Pacific Fleet and 16 to the Black Sea Fleet), while 62 were mobilized by various naval units of the KGB Border Troops.[1]
They were used by the Soviet Union and its successor states. Approximately 50 were decommissioned by 2008. Many are still operated by the Russian Federation today.
Hull and armament
Since the boats were designed for direct fire support, the 27-meter-long hull is lightly armoured and divided into twelve watertight compartments. The bridge is armoured with 10 mm steel on the sides and 15 mm on the bow, and the windows of the wheelhouse can be closed with armoured shutters. Along the sides, the hull is reinforced with an 8 mm thick steel belt from frame 26 to frame 46. The steel deck is 4 mm thick. The gun turret on the bow is armoured all around with 15 mm.
The boats were intended for extended deployment in remote regions and therefore had to offer the crew greater comfort than the wartime gunboats. Thus, the sleeping quarters were separated from the engine room by placing a compartment containing control equipment between them.
The turret of a light PT-76B tank, equipped with a stabilized 76.2 mm L/42 D-56TS cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm SG-43 machine gun, was mounted on the bow. Behind the turret is the armoured bridge superstructure with a control station and searchlights. A rotating 140 mm BM-14 multiple rocket launcher with 17 tubes is mounted amidships, carrying 34 unguided rockets as ammunition. The launcher must be reloaded manually, is not stabilized, and can only fire accurately when the boat is stationary. At the stern is a 2M-3 turret with two 25 mm L/70 auto-cannons. The boats were designed with launching rails, through which up to ten sea mines can be deployed.
Propulsion and range
The propulsion system consists of two M50F diesel engines driving two propellers. This is sufficient for speeds of up to 24 knots. At 10 knots, the range with the 4.8-ton fuel reserve is 320 nautical miles. Fresh water and food supplies are provided for operations of up to seven days.[2]
Sensors
The boats are equipped with a Donets-2 radar for navigation on the mast.
References
- ^ Chernikov, I. I. (2007). Советские артиллерийские катера типа « Шмель » (проект 1204). Энциклопедия мониторов. Защитники речных границ России (in Russian). Saint Petersburg: Sudostroenie. ISBN 978-5-7355-0706-2. OCLC 192033300.
- ^ "Coast guard patrol ships, gun boats Project 1204 Shmel". russianships.info. 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
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