Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
State of the Russian Fleet: Due to continued political, economic and societal chaos in
Russia, the Fleet is in a badly deteriorated state. Even those ships that remain in
commission and theoretically operational are generally unable to deploy, due to lack of
trained crews and lack of funds to buy fuel and stores. In general maintenance is minimal
or nonexistent, and there are no funds to conduct much-needed overhauls, even for major
fleet units. Many ships have been abandoned when repairs or refits came due.
This list identifies those units believed to remain operational, but most of these units are
unable to deploy for the reasons cited above. Ships in refit are listed only when there is a
reasonable chance of them returning to service. Ships laid up pending refit generally are
listed, as they could return to service if funding became available.
Many ships, especially auxiliaries, have been operating in commercial or charter freight
or passenger service to raise operating funds. These are listed as active units, as they
could rapidly return to naval roles if required.
Discarded Classes: Berezina stricken 1997. Kazbek class oiler Desna hulked by 1997.
Concept/Program: Sole surviving naval unit of a class of 20+ units; 2 served the Soviet
Navy and the rest supported the Soviet fishing fleet.
Concept/Program: Small oilers, commercial design. Many sister support the Russian
fishing fleet, and some of these units are on commercial charter.
Concept/Program: Aged light fleet oilers; it is expected that this class will soon be
discarded.
Discarded Classes: All 'Don' class submarine tenders decommissioned, but one remains
in use as a stationary barracks/headquarters ship. All 'Dnepr' class submarine tenders
believed to be discarded, but two units may remain in commission as stationary repair
ships (hulks); these ships had not been seen at sea since delivery in the 1960's.
Disposals/Reserve: El'brus not seen at sea since 1984, was stricken 1997-98; Ayudag
scrapped incomplete.
Reserve Classes: The 'Nepa' class submarine salvage/rescue ship Karpaty has been laid
up at Kronshtadt since 1994; due to her advanced age (30+ years) she is unlikely to see
further service.
Concept/Program: Built as a very large mooring/buoy tenders with a 100 ton heavy lift
gantry at the stern; reclassified in 1995 to serve as a submersible support and transport
ship. Lift gantry can also be used for salvage work.
Classification: Unknown.
Classification: unknown.
Note: There are several classes of rescue and salvage submersibles: 5 Mir class salvage
submersibles (18.7 tons), 19 Project 1839/1839.2 salvage & rescue submersibles (46
tons), 11 Project 1937/1837K salvage & rescue submersibles (45 tons), and 4 'Poisk' class
salvage & rescue submersibles. It is likely that the majority of these units are laid up, but
probably could return to service.
Tugs
Note: The large salvage tugs Nikolay Chiker and Fotiy Krylov are on charter to a
commercial salvage company.
Concept/Program: Large Polish-built oilfield support tugs taken over for naval service;
40 others are in civilian service. Heavy towing and firefighting capabilities; there is some
dispute as to whether they are outfitted as salvage ships or as ordinary tugs, but at least
one operates in a salvage/rescue role.
Classification: unknown.
Concept/Program: Large, well equipped and highly capable salvage tugs. Facilities
include two towing winches, highline personnel transfer system, salvage pumps,
complete dive support, four water cannon for firefighting, large cargo capacity and
several small craft. 94 ton bollard pull. Two sisters are in merchant service.
Classification: Morskoy Buksir (MB); Seagoing Tug or Spastel'niy Buksir (SB); Rescue
Tug.
Concept/Program: Lavishly equipped for firefighting, both shipboard and ashore, but
with minimal towing capability. Also intended for decontamination washdown of
warships. There are several civilian sisters.
Concept/Program: Smaller general-purpose ocean tugs; not fitted for salvage or rescue.
Several units are designated as rescue tugs, but they are virtually identical to the standard
units, except for diver support facilities, so they are listed here. 20-27 tons bollard pull.
Several sisters operated by Maritime Border Guard. Up to 18 standard units and 7 rescue
variants are believed to remain in service, from among the following: MB-5, 7, 8, 11, 12,
16, 21, 23, 24, 51, 52, 54, 85, 151, 152, 160, 162, 163, 164, 166, 170, 172, 173, 174, 175,
176, Loska, Neptun, Orion, Pochetnyy, Saturn,Serdity, Tyulen, SB-4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15,
28. Specific completion dates and fleet assignments are not known.
Classification: Morskoy Buksir (MB); Seagoing Tug or Spastel'niy Buksir (SB); Rescue
Tug.
Classification: Morskoy Buksir (MB); Seagoing Tug or Spastel'niy Buksir (SB); Rescue
Tug.
Builders: ?? SY, Riga. Built 1953-1960.
Discarded Classes: All T-58 class submarine salvage/rescue tugs have been discarded.
Back to World Navies Today - Russia
Compiled and maintained by Andrew Toppan.
Copyright © 1998-2003, Andrew Toppan. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction, reuse, or distribution without permission is prohibited.