Ukraine
commissions two new Gurza-M patrol craft as it rebuilds naval combat capability
Mrityunjoy Mazumdar,
Alameda, California - IHS Jane's Navy International
09 December 2016
Key Points
- Ukraine set to commission first
two of nine planned Gurza-M patrol craft
- Navy is seeking to
re-constitute its force in the wake of the 2014 Crimea crisis
The Ukrainian Navy
commissioned two Project 58155 Gurza-M missile-capable riverine patrol boats on
6 December, following lengthy acceptance trials designed to resolve some
technical challenges.
The commissionings are
part of a wider Ukrainian programme to rebuild its naval force structure after
the loss of nearly two-thirds of its fleet during Russia's annexation of Crimea
in March 2014. The navy is moving forward with the aim of creating what is
termed a 'mosquito fleet' - made up of about 30 small- and medium-sized
combatants - at the centre of a new naval force structure it aims to have in
place by 2020. Ukrainian sources say the current fleet numbers about 40 vessels
in total, the majority of which are auxiliary platforms.
Designed by Ukraine's
State Research and Design Shipbuilding Centre, construction of the two 23 m,
56-tonne patrol boats - Akkerman (U 174) and Berdyansk (U
175) - took place at the Leninska Kuznya shipyard in Kiev. Work began in 2012,
although funding challenges meant that build was not completed until late 2015.
The vessels are armed
with two BM-5M.01 Katran-M gun-missile systems.
Along with these two
craft, four more Gurza-M boats are in build, and another three are on order.
The country is also
building two 24.3 m, 54.5-tonne Project 58181 Centaur-class combat boats that
are fitted with guns, and grenade and rocket launchers, and are capable of
transporting up to 32 troops. These combat boats are currently under
construction at Leninska Kuznya.
The 'mosquito fleet'
concept is viewed as a more cost- and time-effective option for maintaining
presence at sea, according to Captain Andrii Ryzhenko, the navy's deputy chief
of staff, when compared with a more traditional naval force structure.
Original post:
janes.com
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