Petya-class frigate

Petya-class frigate
Class overview
Name:	Petya class (Project 159)
Operators:	Soviet Navy Ethiopian Navy Indian Navy Egyptian Navy Vietnam People's Navy
Preceded by:	Riga class
Succeeded by:	Mirka class
Subclasses:	Arnala-class corvettes
Completed:	54
Active:	8
Retired:	46
General characteristics
Type:	Frigate
Displacement:	950 tons (standard) 1,150 tons (full load)
Length:	81.8 m (268 ft 4 in)
Beam:	9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
Draught:	2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	2 shaft CODAG 2 gas turbines - 30,000 hp (22,000 kW) 1 diesel - 6,000 hp (4,500 kW)
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:	4,870 nautical miles (9,020 km; 5,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) 450 nautical miles (830 km; 520 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement:	90
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar Don-2 Slim Net Hawk Screech Sonar - Herkules hull mounted & dipping sonar
Armament:	4 76 mm (3 in) guns (2x2) 4 RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers (2 in some ships) 5 406 mm (16 in) anti-submarine torpedo tubes (10 tubes in some ships) export version had 1x3 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes

The Petya class was the NATO reporting name for a class of light frigates designed in the 1950s and built for the Soviet Navy in the 1960s. The Soviet designation was Storozhevoi Korabl (escort ship) Project 159.

Design

They were the first gas turbine powered ships in the Soviet navy. The role of these ships was anti-submarine warfare in shallow waters and they were similar to the Mirka-class frigates. The specification (TTZ in Russian) was issued in 1955 and design approved in 1956. A three shaft machinery layout was chosen with the central shaft powered by diesel engines for economical cruising and the two wing shafts powered by gas turbines for speed. Gun armament was two twin 76 mm (3 in) gun turrets in "A" and "Y" positions which were controlled by a single radar director. Anti-submarine armament consisted of four RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers and a launcher for 406 mm (16 in) anti-submarine torpedoes. Some of the ships designed for export replaced the 406 mm torpedo tubes with anti-shipping 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes. A comprehensive sonar suite including VDS was fitted.

Ships

A total of 54 ships were built in two shipyards: the Kaliningrad Yantar shipyard built 22 ships including exports and Khabarovsk yard built 32 ships including exports. All Soviet ships were decommissioned in 1989-1992 but some are still in service with export customers.

Export Sales

• Azerbaijani Navy - 1 ship
• Egyptian Navy - 4 ships acquired between 1965 and 1971, 1 sunk in combat in 1973, 1 still in service
• Ethiopian Navy - 4 ships - sold for scrap in Djibouti following the independence of Eritrea
• Indian Navy - 11 ships designated Arnala-class corvettes (all decommissioned). Classified as corvette due to smaller size and role of the ships.
• Syrian Navy - 2 ships (still in service)
• Vietnam People's Navy - 5 ships (still in service)

See also

• List of ships of the Soviet Navy
• List of ships of Russia by project number

References

• Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995 ISBN 0-85177-605-1

External links

• page from FAS
• Page in Russian
• (English) Russian Petya Class Frigates - Complete Ship List