The Project 58155 Gyurza-M class is a series of small armored gunboats in service with the Ukrainian Navy. The first two vessels were laid down at the Kuznia na Rybalskomu (previously Leninska Kuznia) shipbuilding plant in October 2012.[3] Originally it was planned to build nine such vessels by 2017. In December 2013 the Ministry of Defence withdrew its contract. The class is named after the Levant viper, Гюрза, Hiurza, in Ukrainian.
.jpg) U175 Berdiansk in the Black Sea near Odesa | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Project 58155 (Gyurza-M class) |
| Builders | Kuznia na Rybalskomu |
| Operators |  Ukraine |
| Preceded by | Gyurza-class gunboat |
| Subclasses | Centaur-class fast assault craft |
| Built | 2012–present |
| In commission | 2016–present |
| Planned | 20 (originally)[a] |
| Completed | 8[1][2] |
| Active | 4 with Ukrainian Navy (including 1 damaged); 4 captured by Russia |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 54 tons |
| Length | 23.0 m (75 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) |
| Draught | 1.0 m (3 ft 3 in) |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Range | 900 miles (12 knots) |
| Complement | 5 |
| Armament | 2 × BM-5M.01 Katran-M CIWS |
In mid-2014 construction of the Gyurza-M class was revived and the first two vessels were launched in late 2015.[4] In December 2016 they officially joined the Ukrainian Navy.[5] The new military contract for twenty vessels was to be completed by 2020.[5][needs update]
Development and design
The modernized Project 58155 Gurza-M for the Ukrainian Navy started to be built at the Leninska Kuznia in October 2012.[6] Originally it was planned to build nine such vessels by 2017. In December 2013 the Ministry of Defense withdrew its contract.
In summer of 2014 construction of Gurza-M was revived and the first two vessels were expected to be completed in fall of 2015.[7] In December 2016 the first two Gurza-M officially joined the Ukrainian Navy.[5] The new military contract is for 20 vessels that should be completed by 2020.[5]
Vessels
| Name | Pennant number | Producer | Hull number | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fleet | Homeport | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BK-01 Akkerman | P174 (U174) | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 01023 | 25 October 2012[8] | 11 November 2015 | 6 December 2016[9][10] | Formerly Ukrainian Navy | Western Naval Base | Captured by Russia.[11][12] |
| BK-02 Berdiansk | P175 (U175) | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 01024[13] | 25 October 2012[8] | 11 November 2015 | 6 December 2016[9][10] | Ukrainian Navy | Azov Naval Base | Active in service |
| BK-03 Nikopol | P176 (U176) | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 01028 | 7 April 2016[14] | 20 June 2017 | 1 July 2018[15] | Ukrainian Navy | Azov Naval Base | Active in service |
| BK-04 Kremenchuk | P177 (U177) | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 01029 | 7 April 2016[14] | 30 June 2017 | 1 July 2018[15] | Ukrainian Navy | Azov Naval Base | Captured by Russia.[12] |
| BK-05 Lubny | P178 (U178) | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 01030 | 7 April 2016[14] | 29 June 2017[16][17] | 1 July 2018[15] | Ukrainian Navy | Azov Naval Base | Sunk, and subsequently raised, by Russian forces during the Siege of Mariupol.[18][19] |
| BK-06 Vyshhorod | P179 (U179) | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 01031 | 7 April 2016[14] | 24 June 2017 | 1 July 2018[15] | Ukrainian Navy | Western Naval Base | Captured by Russia.[12] |
| BK-07 Kostopil | P180 | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 2018 | 2 April 2019 | 6 September 2020 | Ukrainian Navy | To be assigned | Active | |
| BK-08 Bucha | P181 | Kuznia na Rybalskomu | 01036 | 8 February 2019 | 30 September 2021 | 26 May 2023 | Ukrainian Navy | To be assigned | Active[20] |
Operators
Ukraine- Ukrainian Navy: As of May 2023, 4 active; 3 captured by Russia; 1 sunk and then raised by Russia. Previously, 2 ships of the class were captured by Russia and returned in 2018, were repaired and returned to active service in 2020.[21] On 4 November 2022, a Gyurza-M-class gunboat of the Ukrainian Navy was damaged by a Lancet drone. The attack was recorded on video by another UAV.[22]
Russia- Russian Navy: 3 captured complete in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11][12] 1 sunk and then raised in May of 2022.[18][19] BK-01 was renamed "Marauder" after an 1878 ship of the Russian Navy, and was rearmed with 2 2M-3 turrets, replacing the BM-5M systems which were put on display with other captured equipment.[23]
Incidents
Kerch Strait incident
On 25 November 2018, two Ukrainian Gyurza-M-class boats, Berdyansk and Nikopol were seized by the Russian Navy. They were captured while they tried to cross the Kerch Strait en route to Ukrainian port city of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov. During the incident, three Ukrainian crew members were injured.[24][25] The ships were returned on 18 November 2019, but Ukraine accused Russia of returning them in sub-par condition.[26]
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Following the capture of Berdiansk by Russian forces, P 179-Vyshhorod and P 174-Akkerman were captured by Russian forces.[27][28][29] Russian forces captured another two craft, P-177 Kremenchuk and P-178 Lubny, during the Siege of Mariupol.[29][30][31]
On 4 November 2022, a Gyurza-M-class gunboat of the Ukrainian Navy was damaged by a ZALA Lancet drone, the first time a Lancet attacked a naval target during the war.[32]
On 28 December 2023, P-181 Bucha is reported to be part of Kyiv air defences.[33]
See also
Notes
References
External links
- Gurza-M at the State Research and Design Shipbuilding Center
- Український флот отримав нові бойові кораблі
- На заводі "Кузня на Рибальському" спустили артилерійський катер "Гюрза-М"
- "Розбили пляшку шампанського": на воду спустили третій артилерійський катер Гюрза-М
- Церемонія спуску на воду малого артилерійського катера
- Gurza-M (Project 58155) Class Small Armoured Artillery Boats, Ukraine