Soviet frigate Pytlivyy

Pytlivyy was one of eleven Project 1135M ships launched between 1975 and 1981.{{sfn|Pavlov|1997|page=132}} Project 1135, the Burevestnik ({{langx|ru|link=no|Буревестник}}, "Petrel") class, was envisaged by the Soviet Navy as a less expensive complement to the Project 1134A Berkut A (NATO reporting name 'Kresta II') and Project 1134B Berkut B (NATO reporting name 'Kara') classes of anti-submarine ships.{{sfn|Balakin|2001|page=5}} Project 1135M was an improvement developed in 1972 with slightly increased displacement and heavier guns compared with the basic 1135.{{sfn|Balakin|2001|page=18}} The design, by N. P. Sobolov, combined a powerful missile armament with good seakeeping for a blue water role.{{sfn|Pavlov|1997|page=132}} The ships were designated Guard Ship ({{lang|ru|Сторожевой Корабль}}, SKR) to reflect their substantial greater anti-ship capability than the earlier members of the class and the Soviet strategy of creating protected areas for friendly submarines close to the coast.{{sfn|Balakin|2001|page=23}}{{sfn|Friedman|1985|page=346}} NATO forces called the vessels 'Krivak II'-class frigates.{{sfn|Baker|2002|page=637}}

Displacing {{convert|2935|t|lk=on}} standard and {{convert|3305|t|abbr=on}} full load, Pytlivyy was {{convert|123|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long overall, with a beam of {{convert|14.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|4.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. Power was provided by two {{convert|22000|shp|lk=on|adj=on}} M7K power sets, each consisting of a combination of a {{convert|17000|shp|abbr=on|adj=on}} DK59 and a {{convert|5000|shp|abbr=on|adj=on}} M62 gas turbine arranged in a COGAG installation and driving one fixed-pitch propeller. Design speed was {{convert|32|kn|0|lk=in}} and range {{convert|3900|nmi|0|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn|0|abbr=on}}. The ship's complement was 194, including 23 officers.{{sfn|Apalkov|2005|page=79}}

Pytlivyy was designed for anti-submarine warfare around four URPK-5 Rastrub missiles (NATO reporting name SS-N-14 'Silex'), backed up by a pair of quadruple launchers for {{convert|533|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedoes and a pair of RBU-6000 {{convert|213|mm|in|0|abbr=on|adj=off}} Smerch-2 anti-submarine rocket launchers.{{sfn|Baker|2002|pages=637–638}} Both the URPK-5 and the torpedoes also had anti-ship capabilities. Defence against aircraft was provided by forty 4K33 OSA-M (SA-N-4 'Gecko') surface to air missiles which were launched from two sets of twin-arm ZIF-122 launchers. Two {{convert|100|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} AK-100 guns were mounted aft in a superfiring arrangement.{{sfn|Apalkov|2005|page=80}}

The ship had a well-equipped sensor suite, including a single MR-310A Angara-A air/surface search radar, Don navigation radar, the MP-401S Start-S Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system and the Spectrum-F laser warning system. Fire control for the guns was provided by a MR-143 Lev-214 radar. An extensive sonar complex was fitted, including the bow-mounted MG-332T Titan-2T and the towed-array MG-325 Vega that had a range of up to {{convert|15|km}}.{{sfn|Apalkov|2005|page=81}}{{sfn|Balakin|2001|page=16}} The vessel was also equipped with the PK-16 decoy-dispenser system which used chaff as a form of missile defense.{{sfn|Balakin|2001|page=17}}

Laid down by on 27 June 1979 with the yard number 169 at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Pytlivyy was launched on 16 April 1981.{{sfn|Apalkov|2005|page=83}} The ship was the eleventh and last of the class built at the yard and took 1.3 million hours to build, a saving of 39% compared to the first of the class.{{sfn|Balakin|2001|page=8}} The vessel, named for a Russian word that can be translated as inquisitive, was commissioned on 30 November and joined the Black Sea Fleet.{{sfn|Baker|2002|page=637}}{{sfn|Thompson|2010|page=428}}

File:Krivak II class frigate, aerial port view.jpg

Soon after shakedown, Pytlivy was sent on missions to foreign ports to promote friendly relationships between the Soviet Union and other nations. On 30 May 1988, the ship arrived at the port of Algiers, Algeria, for a friendly visit, staying until 3 June.{{cite journal|title=Visit of Soviet Ships|journal=Krasnya Zvezda|date=28 May 1988|page=3}} On 2 December the following year, the vessel hosted a meeting between the Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev and the US President George H. W. Bush in Valletta, Malta.{{sfn|Apalkov|2005|page=83}} The ship visited Piraeus, Greece, on 23 January 1990, during which a band composed of sailors from Pytlivy and other Soviet musicians played a concert on the shorefront and the crew took part in sporting events with Greek sailors.{{cite journal|last=Pasyakin|first=V.|title=Port Call in Pireaus|journal=Krasnya Zvezda|date=23 January 1990|page=3}}

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26 December 1991, Pytlivyy was transferred to the Russian Navy.{{sfn|Sharpe|1996|page=544}} The ship remained part of the Black Sea Fleet. On 7 September 1993, the vessel returned to the Yantar shipyard to be repaired. The process took little over three years before the ship was recommissioned and reentered service.{{sfn|Apalkov|2005|page=83}} On 31 March 1999, Pytlivy joined a Russian flotilla led by the cruisers {{ship|Soviet cruiser|Admiral Golovko||2}} and {{ship|Russian cruiser|Kerch||2}} in a voyage through the Bosphorus into the Adriatic Sea. The voyage was preceded by significant diplomatic activity with Turkey to ensure the smooth passage of the warships from the Black Sea.{{cite journal|title=Naval News|journal=Marine News|volume=53|number=6|date=May 1999|page=270}} This was a radical change in Russian naval capability. Previously, they had to rely on members of the Baltic Fleet serving in the Mediterranean Sea due to restrictions imposed by Turkey transiting the strait under the Montreux Convention.{{sfn|Polmar|1991|page=13}}

By 2001, Pytlivyy was one of the few Project 1135M ships still in service.{{sfn|Balakin|2001|page=28}} Over the following years, the vessel was involved in several joint operations with other navies. On 22 May 2003, the vessel took part in the first INDRA exercise with the Indian Navy.{{cite news|title=Indo-Russian Naval Exercises after 15 Years|journal=The Tribune, Chandigari|date=5 May 2003}} 11 July 2005 found the vessel in Naples, Italy, taking part in a two-day visit that included welcoming Italian Navy sailors onboard.{{cite news|title=Russian warships hold joint military exercise with Italy|journal=Sputnik|date=12 July 2005}} On 15 September the following year, the vessel joined the NATO Operation Active Endeavour, undertaking anti-terrorist patrols in the Mediterranean Sea. The inclusion of a Russian vessel in a NATO operation was innovative, controversial, and brief, lasting one week.{{sfn|Adomeit|2007|page=17}} The operation involved the sharing of communication codes, operating procedures and other secret information that would normally be restricted to allies only, and would have been unheard of during the Cold War. It led to other similar collaborations between Russia and NATO over the following years.{{sfn|Pouliot|2010|page=175}}

Subsequently taking part in the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war, Pytlivyy remained as part of the Russian presence in the Mediterranean.{{sfn|Jones|2020|page=77}} The fleet, which included the battlecruiser {{ship|Russian battlecruiser|Pyotr Velikiy||2}}, was ostensibly to protect Russian shipping from terrorism and piracy, and operated from a forward base in Tartus, Syria.{{sfn|Tilenni|2016|page=8}} The vessel remains in service as of 2021, operating between the Black and the Mediterranean Seas.{{cite web|title=Frigate Admiral Grigorovich and patrol vessel Pytliviy complete tasks in Mediterranean Sea|website=Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation|url=https://syria.mil.ru/en/index/syria/peacemaking_briefs/brief.htm?id=12178357@egNews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126021746/https://syria.mil.ru/en/index/syria/peacemaking_briefs/brief.htm?id=12178357%40egNews|archive-date=26 November 2021}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite report | last=Adomeit | first=Hannes | title=Inside or Outside? Russia's Policies Towards NATO | volume=FG 5 2007 | location=Berlin | publisher=German Institute for International and Security Affairs | date=January 2007 | url=https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/arbeitspapiere/NATO_Oslo_ks.pdf}}
• {{cite book | last=Apalkov | first=Yuri Valentinovich | title=Противолодочные корабли Часть 1. Противолодочные крейсера, большие противолодочные и сторожевые корабли | trans-title=Anti-submarine ships Part 1. Anti-submarine cruisers, large anti-submarine ships and patrol ships | location=St Petersburg | publisher=Galeya | year=2005 | isbn=978-5-81720-094-2 | language=RU}}
• {{cite book | last=Baker | first=A. D. | title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 2002–2003 | location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press | year=2002 |isbn=978-1-55750-242-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ow-AQAAIAAJ}}
• {{cite book | last=Balakin | first=S. | title=Бдительный: Сторожевой корабль проект 1135 | trans-title=Bditelnyy: Patrol Ship Project 1135 | series=Marine Collection | volume=6 | year=2001 | language=RU}}
• {{cite book | last=Friedman | first=Norman | editor-last1=Chumbley | editor-first1=Stephen | chapter=Soviet Union 1947–1991: Russian Federation and Successor States 1991– | title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 | location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press | year=1985 | pages=337–426 | isbn=978-1-55750-132-5}}
• {{cite report | last=Jones | first=Seth G. | title=Moscow's War in Syria | location=Washington | publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) | year=2020 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep24835}}
• {{cite book | last=Pavlov | first=Aleksandr Sergeevich | title=Warships of the USSR and Russia, 1945-1995 | location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press | year=1997 | isbn=978-1-55750-671-9}}
• {{cite book |last=Polmar | first=Norman | author-link=Norman Polmar | title=Guide to the Soviet Navy | location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press | year=1991 | edition=5 | isbn=978-0-87021-240-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Pouliot | first=Vincent| title=International Security in Practice: The Politics of NATO-Russia Diplomacy | location=Cambridge| publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-52119-916-2 }}
• {{cite book | last=Sharpe | first=Richard | title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1996–1997 | location=London | publisher=Janes | year=1996 | isbn=978-0-71061-355-4 | title-link=Jane's Fighting Ships}}
• {{cite book | last=Thompson | first=Delia | title=Oxford Essential Russian Dictionary | location=Oxford | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-19957-643-2}}
• {{cite journal | last=Tilenni | first=Giulia | title=Security Issues in the Mediterranean | journal=European Security and Defence | number=6 | date=November 2016 | pages=7–9 | url=https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ESD_06_2016.pdf}}

{{refend}}

{{Burevestnik-class frigate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pytlivyy}}

Category:1981 ships

Category:Cold War frigates of the Soviet Union

Category:Krivak-class frigates

Category:Krivak-class frigates of the Russian Navy

Category:Ships built at Yantar Shipyard

Category:Ships built in the Soviet Union