Petya-class frigate
{{Short description|Soviet Navy light frigate class}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| sclass = 2 }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:Vietnamese Navy Petya II Class Frigate (HQ-15).jpg | Ship caption = HQ-15, a Petya-class frigate of the Vietnam People's Navy in 2017 }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Petya class (Project 159) | Builders = | Operators = *{{navy|Soviet Union}} (historical)
| Class before = {{sclass2|Riga|frigate|4}} | Class after = {{sclass2|Mirka|frigate|4}} | Subclasses = {{sclass|Arnala|corvette|1}}s | Cost = | Built range = | In service range = | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 54 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 6 | Total ships laid up = 1 (uncertain) | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = 48 | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Frigate | Ship displacement = *950 tons (standard)
| Ship length = {{convert|81.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|9.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|2.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *2 shaft CODAG
| Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn}} | Ship range = *{{convert|4870|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}
| Ship complement = 90 | Ship sensors = * Radar Don-2
| Ship EW = | Ship armament = * 4 AK-726 guns (2x2)
| Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
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`" (Сторожевой Корабль - Sentry 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 {{sclass2|Mirka|frigate|2}}s. 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 AK-726 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 {{convert|406|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} anti-submarine torpedoes. Some of the ships designed for export replaced the 406 mm torpedo tubes with anti-shipping {{convert|533|mm|in|abbr=on|0}} 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, with other ships continuing service with export customers. As of 2023, Vietnam and Azerbaijan still operate the type, with Vietnam operating five ships and Azerbaijan operating a single ship.
=Export sales=
- {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} Azerbaijani Navy - 1 ship{{cite web |url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Fighting-Ships/Petya-II-Project-159A-class-Azerbaijan.html |title=Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS |publisher=Articles.janes.com |access-date=2013-09-03 |archive-date=2012-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402185038/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Fighting-Ships/Petya-II-Project-159A-class-Azerbaijan.html |url-status=dead }}
- {{flagicon|Egypt}} Egyptian Navy - 4 ships acquired between 1965 and 1971, 1 sunk in combat in 1973, all decommissioned.
- {{flagicon|Ethiopia}} Ethiopian Navy - 2 ships{{cite web |url=http://russianships.info/eng/warships/project_159.htm |title=Guard Ships - Project 159 |access-date=2015-04-20 |archive-date=2017-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810211918/http://russianships.info/eng/warships/project_159.htm |url-status=dead }} - sold for scrap in Djibouti following the independence of Eritrea
- {{flagicon|India}} Indian Navy - 11 ships designated {{sclass|Arnala|corvette|1}}s (all decommissioned). Classified as corvette due to smaller size and role of the ships. 1 ship ( INS Andaman ) lost at sea.
- {{flagicon|Syria}} Syrian Arab Navy - 2 ships were in service, in derelict condition at Tartus port.{{Cite web|last=Oryx|title=Photo Report: The Syrian Arab Navy|url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2016/08/photo-report-syrian-arab-navy.html|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Oryx Blog}}{{unreliable?|date=September 2019}} Probably retired in 2017 or 2018. 1 decommissioned Syrian frigate sunk by Russian air force (Probably by SU-34 with KH-35 air-launched missile) as a training target on 15 April 2018 off the coast of Syria.{{Cite web|last=Marjanović|first=Marko|date=2018-04-26|title=Russian Navy Hit and Sank a Decommissioned Frigate in Syria Live Fire Drills (VIDEO)|url=https://anti-empire.com/russian-navy-hit-and-sank-a-decommissioned-frigate-in-syria-live-fire-drills-video/|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Anti-Empire|language=en-US}} As of January 2022, the second frigate is no longer visible in Tartus, but may still be held as a hulk.
- {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukrainian Navy - 1 ship. The pro-Ukrainian crew of a frigate SKR-112 made an independent transition from the Black Sea Fleet controlled by Moscow on July 21, 1992. The ship was in the Ukraine's service until it was decommissioned in 1993.
- {{flagicon|Vietnam}} Vietnam People's Navy - 5 ships (still in service), being modernized with rebuilt stealthy superstructure and new combat suites.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995 {{ISBN|0-85177-605-1}}
External links
{{Commons category|SKR-1 class frigate}}
- [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/159.htm page from FAS]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071107111737/http://www.atrinaflot.narod.ru/2_mainclassships/06_skr_159/0_159.htm Page in Russian]
- {{in lang|en}} [http://russianships.info/eng/warships/project_159.htm Russian Petya Class Frigates - Complete Ship List]
{{Petya-class frigate}}
{{Soviet and Russian ships after 1945}}