Polnocny-class landing ship

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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.

Libyan example of Polnochny class
Polnocny-C
Class overview
NamePolnochny
BuildersStocznia Północna shipyard at Gdańsk, (Poland), Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej at Gdynia, Poland
Operators
Succeeded by
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 commission1967
Completed108
Active9
General characteristics
TypeLanding ship, tank
Displacement834 tons full load (Polnocny-B)
Length73 m (239 ft 6 in)
Beam9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Propulsion2 Soviet Kolomna 40-D two stroke diesels, 2 shafts, 4,400 bhp
Speed18 knots (33 km/h)
Range1,000 nmi (2,000 km) at 18 kn (33 km/h)
Capacity12 BMP-2

4 Main battle tanks

250 tons
Troops250
Complement41
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)

Characteristics

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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

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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

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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

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A Polish Polnocny-class vessel unloading armoured personnel carriers.
  •   Syria − 3 Polnocny-B as of 2023[3]
  •   Vietnam − 1 Polnocny-A and 2 Polnocny-B as of 2023[4]

Potiental operators

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Former operators

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ IISS 2023, p. 316.
  2. ^ IISS 2023, p. 173.
  3. ^ IISS 2023, p. 355.
  4. ^ IISS 2023, p. 300.
  5. ^ IISS 1989, p. 121.
  6. ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 8.
  7. ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 83.
  8. ^ IISS 1989, p. 190.
  9. ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 198.
  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.
  14. ^ IISS 1989, p. 102.
  15. ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 446.
  16. ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 563.
  17. ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 621.
  18. ^ IISS 1989, p. 113.
  19. ^ IISS 1989, p. 36.
  20. ^ IISS 2023, pp. 202−203.
  21. ^ IISS 1989, p. 118.
  22. ^ Saunders RN 2004, p. 910.

Bibliography

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