Here's the another result of one my conversation with Gollevainen some time ago, regarding what needs to be done about Soviet/Russian folder: landing hovercrafts of the Soviet Union.
Not a particularly large group, they still represent a significant chapter in the history of the Voenno-Morskoi Flot.
Note: various sources give somewhat conflicting information about sizes of some of these vehicles.
First Soviet military hovercraft to enter operational service was Pr.1205 Skat (Manta/Ray, NATO code: Gus), although it wasn't the first to enter development. Initially designated "assault landing cutter (on air cushion)", was a relatively small vehicle with standard displacement of some 22 tons. It could transport 25 soldiers (generally of scouting units) with speed of 49 knots for a distance of 220 kilometers. At least 19 were commissioned between 1969 and 1976 (though Russian-Ships.info mention 35 vessels). Since around late 1980s they were gradually transferred to patrol duties in Amur and Caspian Flotillas.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jdd8kg4ckhl0sxu/dkvp_pr.1205_gus.png)
Although the development of Pr.1232.1 Dzheyran (Goitered Gazelle, NATO code: Aist) began before that of Pr.1205, it was a much larger, more complicated vessel and whole process took more time. Large unit for a hovercraft (classified also as MDK - Small Landing Ship), it was capable of carrying 2 main battle tanks or 4 light tanks or 5 BTR's and 80 soldiers. Prototype unit (Pr.1232) entered service in 1970, though commencement of series production took some time, partially because of the need for certain modifications, but also due to reluctance of majority of shipyards to build these new type of vehicles. First series-produced Dzheyrans were commissioned in 1974 with 19 (excluding prototype) being built until 1985. They were used initially in Baltic and Black Sea Fleets, but later some were transferred to Caspian Flotilla. They proved themselves to be useful and quite durable vessels, although it seems that none remain still in service.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/r48jk2rt0nfupyi/dkvp_pr.1232.1_aist.png)
Third type was Pr.1206 Kalmar (Squid, NATO code: Lebed), first of which was commissioned in 1972. They were in a way an equivalent of US LCAC, designed to transport men and materiel from large landing ships Pr.1174 Nosorog (NATO code: Ivan Rogov) that were capable of accepting up to 3 Pr.1206 hovercrafts into their dock. Pr.1206 in turn could transport 1 T-55 tank or 2 BMP's or 3 BRDM's and landing party of up to 80 soldiers. Their construction comprised significant innovations compared to earlier designs, including ducted fans and more practical internal layout. Total of 20 units were commissioned until 1985, and gradually they all were decommissioned (with at least three of them as a result of fire). A successful design, Pr.1206 served as a basis for several other models of hovercrafts.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ew4l2dy5cqf39jg/dkvp_pr.1206_lebed.png)
Pr.1209 Omar (Lobster, NATO Code: Utenok) were designed essentially as replacements of Pr.1205 assault transporters for marines, capable of transporting 60 of them, and armed with Utyos-M turret with twin 12,7mm MG and separate turret with automatic grenade launcher BP-30. Only two were commissioned in 1979-1980 (as this line of development was considered dead-end) and decommissioned (later scrapped) in the mid-1990s.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/cghzxsw9vqyfp5e/dkvp_pr.1209_utenok.png)
As mentioned above, Pr.1206 served as basis for several other, specialized hovercrafts. First of them was harbour/roadstead minesweeper designated Pr.1206T Kalmar-T (NATO code: Pelikan). They were derived from standard Pr.1206, although their purpose necessitated significant redesign. Two such units were commissioned around 1984-1985, but their planned series production was cancelled - while very capable against older naval mines, their efficiency against new generation of mines was drastically lower, and their use as minehunters basically impossible (large due to obvious problems with installing sonar or similar device).
Note: hull code used in filename designation is RTVP - Redovoy Tralshchik na Vozdushnoy Podushke, mirroring actual designation, though slightly outside the official list.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/pgtk9f01vwl795z/rtvp_pr.1206t_pelikan.png)
Single air-cushion gunboat Pr.1238 Kasatka (Swallow, NATO Code: Kasatka) were supposed to be a fire-support craft for flotillas of landing hovercraft, also based on Pr.1206. Plans called for armament composed of 30mm gun, Utyos 12,7mm MG, BP-30 grenade launcher and two 22-barelled 140mm MRL's MS-227 Ogon', but eventually when the prototype (and only) unit was commissioned in 1982, it received only 30mm AK-306, and it's unlikely that rest of the planned armament was ever installed, as the whole project was eventually cancelled.
Note: hull code used in filename designation is AKVP - Artilleriyskiy Kater na Vozdushnoy Podushke, mirroring actual designation, though slightly outside the official list.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/3m16qo0pqqmx5dx/akvp_pr.1238_kasatka.png)
Despite sharing the project number with Kalmar, Pr.1206.1 Murena (Moray Eel, NATO code: Tsaplya) was practically a completely new design, just basing on experiences gathered during the Kalmar's development. It was optimized for the docks of planned Pr.11780 large landing ships (equivalents of Wasp LHD's) and capable of transporting 2 BMP's or 3 BRDM's and landing party of up to 130 soldiers. 8 hovercraft were commissioned between 1985 and 1992, and 3 more were built 2005-2006 for South Korea. All Soviet/Russian craft were eventually assigned to Amur Flotilla of the Border Guards.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zsgptd3xfq3n7t0/dkvp_pr.1206.1_tsaplya.png)
Large assault hovercraft Pr.1232.2 Zubr (European Bison, NATO code: Pomornik, although Zubr is also in widespread use) was created as replacement for Pr.1232.1 Dzheyran, and it should be noted, that despite similarity of designation, it's actually a completely new design, capable of carrying almost twice as large payload (up to 3 T-80 main battle tanks, 8 BMP's or 10 BTR's and up to 140 soldiers), armed with two 30mm AK-306 guns, Igla SAM launcher and 2 retractable MS-227 Ogon' 140mm MRL's. First unit (somewhat different from the rest of the series, with large dome of Pozitiv radar) was commissioned in 1988. 10 Zubr's were built in Soviet Union/Russia and on Ukraine, of which 5 ended up in Ukrainian hands after the fall of Soviet Union. 4 Pr.1232.2 were sold to Greece and 2 to China, where at least 2 more were built on license.
Note: redraw of Pr.1232.2 was done with ALVAMA's kind permission.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/mxxt4opemjrhse4/dkvp_pr.1232.2_zubr.png)
Fall of Soviet Union, and financial crisis of Russia turned the attention away from large amphibious hovercraft to smaller units, mostly for use in Border Guards. Several designs were made, most successful of which is apparently small patrol hovercraft Pr.20910 Chilim, first of which was commissioned into Russian boder services in 2000.
Note: hull code used in filename designation is PSKAVP - Pogranichnyi Storozhevoy Kater na Vozdushnoy Podushke, mirroring actual designation, though slightly outside the official list.
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/thaqqxn4xn4yvsi/pskavp_pr.20910_chilim.png)
![[ img ]](http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/319/russiaproject1206kalmar.png)