Project 1252 'Izumrud' (Изумруд - 'Emerald') (NATO reporting name: Zhenya class) were a group of three minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1960s. The ships were a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP)-hulled version of the preceding wooden-hulled Vanya class. They were intended to be a prototype of an advanced design, instead the Soviet Navy returned to wooden-hulled minesweeper construction with the following Sonya class. Of the three minesweepers, one was lost in an explosion in 1989 and the fate of the other two is unknown.
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhenya class (Project 1252) |
| Builders | Izhora |
| Operators |  Soviet Navy |
| Preceded by | Vanya class |
| Succeeded by | Sonya class |
| In commission | 1966–1990s |
| Completed | 3 |
| Lost | 1 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 42.4 m (139 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 7.9 m (25 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Range | 2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 40 |
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Armament |
|
Description and design
editThe minesweepers of Project 1252 'Izumrud' (NATO reporting name: Zhenya class) were a GRP-hulled trial version based on the preceding wooden-hulled Vanya class. They had a standard displacement of 220 tonnes (220 long tons) and 300 tonnes (300 long tons) fully loaded.[1][a] They measured 42.4 metres (139 ft 1 in) long with a beam of 7.9 metres (25 ft 11 in) and a draught of 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in). The vessels were powered by two diesel engines each turning a propeller shaft creating 1,800 kW (2,400 bhp). The Zhenya class had a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and 1,400 nmi (2,600 km; 1,600 mi) at 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph).[1][2]
The vessels were armed with twin-mounted 30-millimetre (1.2 in)/65 calibre guns.[2] They also carried six naval mines. The Zhenya class was equipped with "Spin Through" and "Don I" surface search radar and "Two Square Head" identification friend or foe.[1][3] They had a complement of 40.[1][2]
Construction and career
editThe design was accepted for construction in 1961 and three vessels were built by Izhora rated by the Soviet Navy as bazovy tralshchik (base minesweeper).[1][2][3] The first vessel to complete in 1966, Komsomelets Turkmenii, was to be the prototype for an advanced coastal minesweeper design.[1][2] Komsomolets Buryatii followed in 1968 and BT-177 in 1969.[1] The design was not successful and the Soviet Navy chose to return to a wooden-hulled design in the Sonya class.[3] Komsomelets Turkmenii was lost in an explosion on 19 August 1989. Komsomolets Buryatii was renamed BT-215 on 18 March 1992.[1] The final fate of the remaining ships is unknown.
See also
editNotes
editCitations
editReferences
edit- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Polmar, Norman (1984). Guide to the Soviet Navy (3rd ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-239-7.
- Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1991). Jane's Fighting Ships 1991–92 (94 ed.). Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0960-4.
External links
edit- (in English) All Zhenya Class Minesweepers - Complete Ship List