According to news published by the Russian Press Agency TASS on August 7, 2020, Russian shipyard Zelenodolsk laid down the hulls of the Project 21980 Grachonok-class eleventh and twelfth serial-produced anti-saboteur boats.
According to news published by the Russian Press Agency TASS on August 7, 2020, Russian shipyard Zelenodolsk laid down the hulls of the Project 21980 Grachonok-class eleventh and twelfth serial-produced anti-saboteur boats.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link
Russian Project 21980 Grachonok class Counter-Sabotage ship. (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)
The Grachonok class, Russian designation Project 21980 Grachonok, is a class of anti-saboteur and large guard boats being built for the Russian Navy. The construction of the Project 21980 Grachonok-class started in 2008 and the first vessels were delivered to the Russian Navy in 2009. The Russian Navy has commissioned a total of 19 Project 21980 class counter-sabotage vessels as of November and three new ships will join the Russian Navy in the next few years.
The Grachonok class is designed to protect naval bases, ports, and aquatic areas of the Russian Federation. It can be also used to counter terrorist and sabotage operations in the sea.
In October 2017, four additional ships were ordered by the National Guard of Russia. These ships are intended for the protection of the Crimean Bridge.
The Grachonok class Project 21980 is powered by two MTU or MWM Deutz TBD620V12, Wartsila (other European or local ZE Zvezda, Kolomna) diesel engines. She can reach a maximum speed of 23 kt with a cruising range of 200 mi. She can operate on the sea for five days.
Project 21980 has a length of 31 m and a width of 7.4 m respectively and the draught is 1.85 m. With a displacement of 138 t, the vessel can carry up to eight crew members.
The Project 21980 is armed with one MTPU 14.5mm marine machine-gun, one DP-64 anti-sabotage grenade launchers, one DP-65 remotely-controlled rocket grenade launcher system, and one Igla-1 Man-portable air-defense system launcher with four missiles.
