Komar-class missile boat

The Soviet Project 183R class, more commonly known as the Komar class, its NATO reporting name, meaning "mosquito", is a class of missile boats, the first of its kind, built in the 1950s and 1960s. Notably, they were the first to sink another ship with anti-ship missiles in 1967.

A Komar-class missile boat launching a Styx missile
Class overview
NameKomar (Project 183R)
Operators
Succeeded byOsa class
SubclassesProject 183 (MTB)
Built1952-1960
Completed112 missile boats
General characteristics
TypeMissile boat
Displacement61.5 tons standard, 66.5 tons full load
Length25.4 m (83 ft 4 in)
Beam6.24 m (20 ft 6 in)
Draught1.24 m (4 ft 1 in)[a]
Propulsion4 shaft M-50F diesels 4,800 hp (3,600 kW)
Speed44 knots (81 km/h; 51 mph)
Range600 nmi (1,100 km; 690 mi) at 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Crew17 (3 officers)
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
  • 2 × 25 mm 2M-3M guns in a twin gun mount (1,000 rounds)
  • 2 × KT-67 missile launchers containing 1 P-15 Termit (SS-N-2 "Styx") anti-ship missile each

Design

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The Project 183 motor torpedo boat (MTB) was designed just after World War II. These boats were armed with two 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes and were used extensively by Soviet coastal forces in the 1950s. The torpedo boat had a wooden semi-planing hull and was fitted with radar. Over 622 MTBs were built. A submarine chaser variant fitted with sonar and depth charges was also built as was a radio-controlled target boat.

In 1956, the P-15 Termit missile became available (NATO reporting name: SS-N-2 "Styx"). The Project 183 proved to be a natural choice for mounting the new missiles, giving the small, fast boats great firepower for their size. The new combination was designated Project 183R (R apparently for raketny - rocket), the first[citation needed] missile boat in service anywhere in the world. The missiles could be fired in sea state 4.

A total of 112 Komars were built between 1956 and 1965 and served in the Soviet Navy, along with several allied navies, until the 1980s, when they were replaced by newer, more capable fast attack craft.

Export ships

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Combat use

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Other sources have the draught being 2 m (6 ft 7 in)[1]

References

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  1. ^ Couhat Jean. Combat Fleets of the world 1982/1983 Their Ships, Aircraft, and Armament Paris: Editions Maritimes et d'Outre-Mer, 1981 ISBN 0-87021-125-0 p. 2

Bibliography

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