Afanasy Nikitin (icebreaker)
| {{Infobox ship begin
|infobox caption= |display title= }} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Soviet Union → Ukraine |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Soviet Union}} → {{shipboxflag|Ukraine}} |Ship name=
|Ship namesake=Afanasy Nikitin |Ship owner=* Black Sea Shipping Company (1962–1994)
|Ship operator= |Ship registry=
|Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Admiralty Shipyard (Leningrad, USSR) |Ship yard number=764 |Ship laid down=1 November 1961 |Ship launched=31 May 1962 |Ship completed=1 November 1962 |Ship decommissioned=28 May 1995 |Ship in service=1962–1995 |Ship homeport= |Ship identification={{IMO number|6500791}}{{csr|register=E|id=6500791|shipname=Afanasy Nikitin|accessdate=14 May 2023}} |Ship fate=Broken up |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Ship class=Dobrynya Nikitich-class icebreaker |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement={{convert|2935|t|LT|abbr=on}} |Ship length={{cvt|67.7|m|ft|0}} |Ship beam={{cvt|18|m|ft|0}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{cvt|5.35|m|ft|1}} |Ship depth={{cvt|8.3|m|ft|1}}{{cite web|url=https://iceberg.org.ru/portfolio/project-97A/|title=Дизель-электрические ледоколы, проект 97А|website=CDB Iceberg|accessdate=14 May 2023}} |Ship ice class= |Ship power=3 × 13D100 (3 × 1,800 hp) |Ship propulsion=Diesel-electric; three shafts (2 × 2,400 hp + 1,600 hp) |Ship speed={{convert|15|kn}} |Ship range={{convert|5700|nmi}} at {{convert|13|kn}} |Ship endurance=17 days |Ship complement=42 |Ship notes= }} |
Afanasy Nikitin ({{langx|ru|Афанасий Никитин}}) was a Soviet and later Ukrainian icebreaker in service from 1962 until 1995. It was one of twelve Project 97A icebreakers built by Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad in 1961–1971.
Description
{{Main|Dobrynya Nikitich-class icebreaker}}
File:Icebreaker “Ivan Kruzenstern” near Kanonerskiy island in Saint Petersburg.jpg
In the mid-1950s, the Soviet Union began developing a new diesel-electric icebreaker design based on the 1942-built steam-powered icebreaker Eisbär to meet the needs of both civilian and naval operators. Built in various configurations until the early 1980s, the Project 97 icebreakers and their derivatives became the largest and longest-running class of icebreakers and icebreaking vessels built in the world. Of the 32 ships built in total, the unarmed civilian variant Project 97A was the most numerous with twelve icebreakers built in 1961–1971.
Project 97A icebreakers were {{convert|67.7|m|ft|0}} long overall and had a beam of {{convert|18|m|ft|0}}. Fully laden, the vessels drew {{convert|5.35|m|ft|1}} of water and had a displacement of {{convert|2935|t|LT}}. Their three {{convert|1800|hp|kW|adj=on}} 10-cylinder 13D100 two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engines were coupled to generators that powered electric propulsion motors driving two propellers in the stern and a third one in the bow. Project 97A icebreakers were capable of breaking {{convert|70|to|75|cm|in}} thick snow-covered ice at very slow but continuous speed.
History
The second of twelve Project 97A icebreakers was laid down at Admiralty Shipyard in Leningrad on 1 November 1961, launched on 31 May 1962, and delivered to the Black Sea Shipping Company on 1 November 1962. Initially named simply Ledokol-2 ({{langx|ru|Ледокол-6}}), Russian for "icebreaker", it was renamed Afanasy Nikitin in 1966 after the 15th century Russian traveler and merchant. The icebreaker was stationed in Odesa and operated in the Black Sea.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Afanasy Nikitin passed over to the successor state, Ukraine. The ownership of the vessel was transferred to Blascospetsflot in 1994.
Afanasy Nikitin was taken out of service in May 1995 and sold for scrapping in India shortly afterwards.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Project 97 icebreakers}}
Category:Icebreakers of the Soviet Union