The T43 (Projet 254) were a class of open-ocean minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy from 1948 to 1957. It was exported to client states; the People's Republic of China and Poland produced additional ships. Some hulls were converted to other uses by various users.[1] Examples remained in service in 2015.[5]
 ORP Dzik, a Polish Navy minesweeper
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | T43 class |
| Builders |
|
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Fugas-class minesweeper |
| Succeeded by | T58-class minesweeper |
| Built | 1948[1] - c. 1995[4] |
| In commission | c. 1950 - present |
| Completed | |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)[1] |
| Draught | |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)[1] |
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)[1] |
| Complement | 65[1] |
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Armament |
|
Design
editEarly ships were 58 metres (190 ft) long with a straight-up bridge structure.[1]
Later ships were 60 metres (200 ft) long with a double-level bridge structure and added 25 mm guns.[1]
Operators
edit
Albania received 3 from the Soviet Union in 1960.[6] One retired in 2011,[7] and the second had retired by 2015.[8]
Algeria received two from the Soviet Union in 1968.[9][1] One was cannibalized for parts by 1989.[9] The last was retired by 2009.[10]
Bangladesh ordered a new ship from China in 1993, based on the Chinese T43 variant, which entered service in 1996. The Tamir-II sonar was replaced by a C-Tech sonar in 1998. It was used mainly as a patrol ship.[4] An order for three more ships was not fulfilled.[11]
Bulgaria received three short-hulled ships from the Soviet Union in 1953. By 1989, one was cannibalized for parts and another was used as a spy ship.[12] All were retired by 2009.[13]
The People's Republic of China received about four short-hulled ships from the Soviet Union in the 1950s.[3] China constructed over 60[3] of a variant called Type 6610[5] or Type 010,[3] most of which were of the long-hull type.[3] Production began in 1956 and continued to at least the early 1990s.[5] Some were converted for other roles, including patrol, surveying, submarine rescue, and civilian research.[3]
Egypt received seven ships from the Soviet Union in the 1970s.[1] By 2015, three were in service with the remainder disposed of.[14]
Indonesia received six ships from the Soviet Union, four in 1962 and two in 1964.[15] None were in service by 1989.[16]
Iraq received two ships from the Soviet Union in 1969.[17][1] None were in service by 2009.[18]
Poland built 12 ships from 1957 to 1962, including four short hulls.[19] Of the short hulls, one was converted into a spy ship,[2] one was retired in 1987, and another was retired in 1988.[20] None were in service by 2009.[21]
The Soviet Union built over 200 hulls, including those converted to other uses included diving ships, tenders, and KGB patrol ships. They were being phased out in 1989 when only 35 remained in service.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Sharpe 1989, p. 606.
- ^ a b c Sharpe 1989, p. 443.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wertheim 2013, pp. 127–128.
- ^ a b Saunders 2015, p. 58.
- ^ a b c Saunders 2015, p. 157.
- ^ Saunders 2009, p. 2.
- ^ Wertheim 2013, p. 133.
- ^ Saunders 2015, pp. 2–3.
- ^ a b Sharpe 1989, p. 6.
- ^ Saunders 2009, p. 7.
- ^ Wertheim 2013, p. 43.
- ^ Sharpe 1989, p. 68.
- ^ Saunders 2009, pp. 93–94.
- ^ Saunders 2015, p. 227.
- ^ Moore 1979, p. 249.
- ^ Sharpe 1989, p. 271.
- ^ Sharpe 1989, p. 285.
- ^ Saunders 2009, pp. 380–381.
- ^ Moore 1979, p. 407.
- ^ Sharpe 1989, p. 440.
- ^ Saunders 2009, pp. 622–623.
Sources
edit- Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979-1980. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-531-03913-7.
- Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710628886.
- Saunders, Stephan, ed. (2015). Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0710631435.
- Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1989). Jane's Fighting Ships 1989-1990. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0886-1.
- Wertheim, Eric (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (16 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1591149545.