Shipbucket

Another project that took me way too much time (much more than predicted originally)...
Important note: in the interest of visual clarity, some details (especially railings, particularly on front/rear views and sometimes plans, but not only) were sometimes deliberately skipped.

Early developments

Early Soviet hovercraft development was inextricably linked with Vladimir Levkov, who already in mid-1920s developed basic theoretical idea for design of such vehicle, and continued research work as head of Applied Aerodynamics Department of Don Politechnical Institute and of Novocherkassk Aviation Institute. In 1934 Levkov built a working model of a hovercraft that impressed authorities - primarily the military ones - who posted him to MAI (Moskovskoi Aviatsionny Institut - Moscow Aviation Institute), where in 1935 a full sized prototype with a wooden hull was built, designated L-1. Following a successful trials, a decision was made to continue the research into building an operational vehicle, primary interest being in a torpedo fast attack craft, but other ideas were explored as well, including a hovercraft tank.

The all-metal torpedo-armed hovercraft demanded by the navy was developed as L-5 and first (of four) boats was laid down in 1936 and remaining ones in 1939, all being completed 1939-1940 and named TKL-1 to TKL-4 (Torpednyi Kater Levkova - Levkov's (design) Torpedo Cutter). Design-wise they were of sidewalled (SES) type but with no fore/aft skirts, powered by 2 M-45 engines and 2 propellers rotating horizontally with small incline forward (providing both lift and propulsion). Weight was 8,6 t light and 11,3t full load, length was 24 meters, crew was 5 and armament was 2 450 mm torpedoes hanging under the hull centre and 2 12,7 mm machine guns. Completed craft were delivered to Baltic Fleet but due to their peculiarity and hence high demands in terms of maintenance and operation, they played no role in the war and were laid up already in 1941.

Soviet Union, L-5 class, TKL-1, 1940


Next (actually built) hovercraft was L-9 - smaller patrol and training craft, 3 of which were made between 1939 and 1941, designated TKL-20 and TKL-22 (rather oddly, because they carried no torpedoes). Their weight was 2,1 t light and 2,4 t full, length was 15,3 meters, crew was 3 and they could be armed with a 12,7 mm machine gun and up to 5 depth charges. Like their larger sisters, they played no wartime role and in 1941 were laid up.

Soviet Union, L-9 class, TKL-20, 1941


Altogether Levkov - who in 1939 become a head of SKB - Spetsialnoye Konstruktorskoye Byuro, Special Design Bureau - oversaw development of around 13 (or more) designs, including L-11, which was overall similar to L-9 but with 3 engines, through a 6-engined one, then a very large torpedo-boat-sized craft of unknown name, model of which is/was shown in Russian Central Naval Museum, up to a hovercraft aircraft carrier. After the outbreak of German-Soviet war the development of hovercraft fell to the bottom of list of priorities and it remained so until appearance of such vehicles in the west, although Levkov continued work on hovercraft on a smaller scale, including torpedo-armed Project 171.


First post-war generation - 1960s and 1970s

Appearance of hovercraft in the West rekindled interest of the Soviet military in such vehicles, but this time as a potentially very useful kind of landing craft, amphibious assaults being basically the only genuine "success story" of the Soviet Navy during the WW2, with 114 made (though just 4 of them being major operations and rest were tactical landings of platoons or companies) and so after period of hiatus after 1947, Soviet Naval Infantry was reconstituted in 1961, obviously needing capable craft. Works on landing hovercraft commenced in 1961 at TsKB-19 (Tsentralnoye Konstruktorskoye Byuro - Central Design Bureau), but were soon transferred to TsMKB Almaz (Tsentralnoye Morskoye Konstruktorskoye Byuro - Central Marine Design Bureau 'Diamond') in Leningrad, with participation of design teams from TsKB-1 and TsKB-19. Before the operational craft could be built, extensive course of experimentation and trials had to be made, in cooperation with TsAGI (Tsenalnyi Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut - Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute) and TsNII im. akademika Krylova (Tsentralnoy Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Institut imieniya akademika Krylova - Central Scientific-Research Institute named after academic Krylov), where some 20 major configurations of skirts, propulsion etc. were tested models. Also, two "life size" manned hovercraft were made, both 21 meters long and powered by AI-14 aircraft engines. First of them was MK-01 with side-walled configuration, displacement of 27 tons, built in 1962, followed in 1963 by MS-01 with cushion surrounded by skirts and displacement of 22 tons, which was considered (configuration-wise) to have more potential as amphibious craft.

Although the first "front-line" hovercraft to enter development was Pr.1232 (see below), challenges inherent in designing quite big vehicle of new kind meant, that it was overtaken in development by much smaller Pr. 1205 Skat (Manta/Ray, NATO code Gus). With a standard displacement of 22 tons (full - 27 tons) it was powered 3 780 hp gas turbines, had a crew of 4 and could carry up 25 soldiers (theoretically up to 40) or 4 tons of cargo, and could be armed with 2 7,62 mm PKT machine guns and 4 30 mm BP-30 Plamya grenade launchers. Pr. 1205s entered service between 1969 and 1976, though sources differ on how many were actually built (numbers vary between 19 and 42, with most probable amount being around 30). They were spread between Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific Fleets and Caspian Flotilla as carriers of marine scouts. At least 2 were converted to rescue duties (Pr. 1205P), one was used in trials of Doppler sensors, and since late 1980s several were transferred to border guards for use on Amur river. All seem to be decomissioned by around 2005, including one that was sold to civilian operator as fast passenger cutter.

Soviet Union, Pr. 1205 Skat (Gus) class, D-345, 1972


Soviet Union, Pr. 1205 Skat (Gus) class, D-701, 1981


Soviet Union, Pr. 1205P Skat (Gus) class, D-368, 1986



First to enter development, but only second to be actually built (due to it's size and much higher level of complication), the Pr. 1232 Dzhenyran (Goitered Gazelle, NATO code Aist)[/i] was built in 1970 for Baltic Fleet. It had full displacement of 350 tons, main power source were two 16000 hp gas turbines, complement was 21 and armament comprised of single AK-230 (but without fire control system). In 1975-76 the prototype unit (MDK-167) was downgraded to training unit and was decommissioned in 1992 after being gutted by fire in previous year. It was followed by a series of 19 improved Pr. 12321's built between 1974 and 1985 for Baltic (12) and Black Sea (7) fleets (2 of the Black Sea ships were later transferred to the Caspian Sea). Their full displacement was 360 tons, and armament was expanded to pair of AK-230's with MR-104 Rys FCR. Units of both types had capacity to carry 2 T-72 tanks or 4 PT-76 or 5 BTR's or 80 troops or 73,2 tons of cargo. First to leave service was MDK-86 in 1988, with rest being gradually decommissioned mostly during 1990s, though last - MDK-88 soldiered until 2010.

Soviet Union, Pr. 1232 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-167, 1970


Soviet Union, Pr. 12321 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-117, 1977


Soviet Union, Pr. 12321 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-217, 1980


Soviet Union, Pr. 12321 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-9, 1983


Soviet Union, Pr. 12321 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-88, 1987


Soviet Union, Pr. 12321 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-89, 1987


Soviet Union, Pr. 12321 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-184, 1990


Soviet Union, Pr. 12321 Dzheyran (Aist), MDK-18, 2004



Third type to enter service in early 1970s was Pr. 1206 Kalmar (Squid, NATO code Lebed), designed to transport men and materiel from large landing ships of the Pr. 1174 Nosorog (Rhino / Ivan Rogov) type, that could carry up to 3 Kalmars in their well deck. Standard displacement was 110 tons (full - 116 tons), propulsion was provided by 2 10000 hp gas turbines, had a crew of 6 and could carry 1 T-54/-55 tank or 2 PT-76/BMP or 3 BRDM or 120 troops (practically 80 with related equipment) or 37 tons of cargo, and craft themselves were armed with twin 12,7 mm Utyos-M machine gun in a turret. A total of 20 Kalmars were built for all fleets between 1972 and 1985 and served at least until 2012 with majority being decommissioned in 1990s (some sources mention that 2 are still used with Caspian Flotilla). A quite successful design, it served as a basis for several other models of hovercrafts.

Soviet Union, Pr. 1206 Kalmar (Lebed) class, D-235, 1977


Russia, Pr. 1206 Kalmar (Lebed) class, D-457, 2005



Second post-war generation - 1980s

Pr. 1209 Omar (Lobster, NATO code Utenok) was intended to be a replacement of Pr. 1205 class, but with somewhat better capabilities: at a standard displacement of 42 tons (54 full) it could theoretically carry 60 troops (or 6 tons of cargo) with a crew of 7. It had 6000 hp gas turbine and was armed with a twin 12,7m mm Utyos-M machine gun and BP-30 Plamya grenade launcher. Only 2 hovercraft were eventually made (and commissioned in 1979-1980 for Black Sea Fleet, remaining in service until 1993-1994) because such category of small assault hovercraft was deemed be not particularly practical.
It should be noted, that several derivatives of the type were planned: Pr. 1209E for export, Pr. 12092 passenger ferry and Pr. 12093 civilian cargo transporter.

Soviet Union, Pr. 1209 Omar (Utenok) class, D-278, 1981



Single air-cushion gunboat Pr. 1238 Kasatka (Swallow, NATO Code: Kasatka) were supposed to be a fire-support craft for flotillas of landing hovercraft, and was partially based on Pr.1206, but the whole project was eventually cancelled and just single craft was commissioned in 1982. Full displacement was 132 tons, propulsion was provided by 2 10000 hp gas turbines, crew was 15, and planned armament was intended as single AK-630, 2 twin 12,7 mm Utyos-M turrets, 2 (22 tube each) 140 mm MS-227 Ogon rocket launchers and 2 BP-30 Plamya grenade launchers, but apparently only the guns were ever installed. Only boat lasted in service with Black Sea Fleetuntil 1996.
Sadly, sources for this boat are very limited, and number of publications even provide pics of Pr. 12061 or Pr. 1206T captioned as Pr. 1238, so I couldn't provide plan and fore/aft views.

Soviet Union, Pr. 1238 Kasatka class, AK-16, 1982



Singular qualities of hovercraft raised an interest in developing them for minesweeping duties, which took form of Pr. 1206T Kalmar-T(NATO code Pelikan). Although the design was derived (and named) from assault Pr. 1206, due to necessary design changes it was quite distant relation. Two were built 1984-1985 and commissioned one each in Baltic and Black Sea Fleets (eventually also transferred to Baltic), remaining in service only until 1992. While they turned out to be very capable against older mines (particularly of contact variety), their efficiency agains new generations of mines was drastically lower, and their use as minehunters basically impossible (large due to obvious problems with installing sonar), therefore the planned series production was cancelled. These craft had standard displacement of 120 tons, propulsion provided by 2 10000 hp gas turbines and had a crew of 14. Armament consisted of single AK-630 plus a 9K34 Strela-3 portable SAM launcher. For mine clearing it used VKT-2 contact sweep, VNT-1 non-contact sweep and ShZ-3 detonating cords.

Soviet Union, Pr. 1206T Kalmar-T (Pelikan), RT-102, 1985



Pr. 12061 Murena (Moray Eel, NATO code Tsaplya) was designed as a replacement of Pr. 1206 class (with which, despite similarity of designation, had technically basically nothing in common) and was optimized for well decks of planned Pr. 11780 large landing ships. These craft had standard displacement of 132 tons and full of 148,6 tons, were powered by 2 10000 hp gas turbines, had a crew of 12 and could carry 1 medium tank or 2 light tanks (PT-76) or 3 BRDM's or 130 troops or 42 tons of cargo. Their armament was made of 2 AK-630 cannons, 2 BP-30 Plamya grenade launchers and quadruple Igla SAM launcher. 8 units were commissioned between 1985 and 1992, apparently all to Pacific Fleet. In 1994 they were re-rated as border patrol craft (with corresponding change of names from D-XXX to PSKR-XXX) and decommissioned by 2006. Also, in 2005-2006 3 more craft of Pr.12061E project were built for South Korean Navy. Additionaly, some never-were designs were derived from it - Pr. 12061M intended for Mistral amphibious assault ships, Pr. 12061S SAR craft, Pr. 12061P firefighting boat and Pr. 12061GP cargo and passenger craft.

Soviet Union, Pr. 12061 Murena (Tsaplya) class, D-453, 1986


Russia, Pr. 12061 Murena (Tsaplya) class, PSKR-142, 1996


South Korea, Pr. 12061E Murena (Tsaplya) class, Solgae 622, 2006



Last Soviet-era amphibious assault hovercraft design to be actually built was the Pr. 12322 Zubr (Visent, NATO code Pomornik), which also happens to be the world's biggest "classic" (non-SES) hovercraft. Despite similar designation to Pr. 12321 Dzheyran it was meant to replace, it's entirely new design with full displacement of 550 tons, complement of 27 and propulsion provided by 3 10000 hp gas turbines. They are capable of carrying up to 3 T-80 tanks or 8 BMP's or 10 BTR's or up to 360 troops (theoretically) or 150 tons of cargo. They are armed with 2 AK-630 CIWS, 2 (22 tube each) 140 mm MS-227 Ogan MRL's and 2 Igla SAM launchers. In the end, 8 were completed for Soviet/Russian Navy (3 of which were transferred to Ukraine after break-up of the Union), 2 more were completed for Ukraine (bringing total number of Ukrainian Zubrs to 5) and 2 for Greece (as Pr. 12322E), which also bought 2 second-hand from Greece. Finally China purchased 2 second-hand units (modified and designated Type 958 and initiated license production as Type 728. In 2017 Russian government announced intention to re-start production of the type, but so far nothing came of it due to difficulty with manufacturing of some critical parts.

Soviet Union, Pr. 12322 Zubr (Pomornik) class, MDK-51, 1988


Russia, Pr. 12322 Zubr (Pomornik) class, MDK-50 Yevgeni Kocheshkov, 2004


Ukraine, Pr. 12322 Zubr (Pomornik) class, U420 Donetsk, 1999


Greece, Pr. 12322E Zubr (Pomornik) class, L180 Kephallinia, 2008


China, Type 728 class, No, 3325, 2015



"Small Missile Ships" (missile corvettes) Pr. 1239 Sivuch (Sea Lion, NATO code Dergach) were last full-sized military hovercraft (surface effect ships, to be precise) to be built in the Soviet era. Two massive (for their kind) vessels have full displacement of 1083 tons and - thanks to 2 20000 hp gas turbines and 2 3000 hp diesels - achieve speed of 52,7 knots. Armament consists of single 76 mm AK-176M cannon, a AK-630 30 mm CIWS, 2 quad launchers KT-206M of 3M80 Moskit anti-ship missile and a twin ZIF-122 launcher of 4K33AM Osa surface-to-air missiles. 3 vessels were laid down, but only 2 were actually launched (1987 and 1992) and commissioned (1989 and 2000). Producer, Russian ministry of defence and Rosobronexport (which still has the type in their offer) all claim the design to be a great success (and making it a workable ship of that kind and size is certainly a serious achievment), but the actual crews are apparently less enthusiastic, claiming them to be extremely maintenance-intensive and failure-prone. Originally one each was in Baltic and Black Sea Fleets, but since 2002 both are in Black Sea.

Russia, Pr. 1239 Sivuch (Dergach) class, MDK-17 Samum, 1999


Russia, Pr. 1239 Sivuch (Dergach) class, MDK-27 Bora, 2008



Postscript: Russian hovercrafts

After the fall of Soviet Union, Russia lacked resources to pursue the development of large hovercrafts with same vigour as before, but it didn't meant that development of hovercraft as such has ceased. In fact, it was to the contrary, with several dozens of types being built! Most of these, however, were very minor craft, quite often less than 10 meters in length, and their purpose was mainly commercial or otherwise auxiliary. Quite a lot of these were purchased by military and other uniformed services, but mostly for patrol, border and internal security duties.
Due to their size on one hand (due to which, in SB scale barely anything would be visible at all), and due to mixed quality of sources, I was disinclined to try drawing them (it's no accident that name of this thread is "Soviet hovercrafts"), with one exception of the hovercraft I already depicted years ago (below) Perhaps some day I'll change my mind, but I definitely wouldn't mind if somebody would do them fist.

Pr. 20910 Chilim is a small hovercraft designed for border forces. At least 4 were to be built, but eventually only 1 was completed in 2000 as PSKA-80 and served until 2010. It was 12,94 metre long, powered by 2 260 hp Deutz diesels. Crew was 2+4 and armament consists of single 7,92 mm machine gun, with possibility to carry Igla MANPADS.

Russia, PSKA-80 (Pr. 20910 Chilim class)




Sources:

Apalkov Yuliy V., Katera otechestvennogo voennogo flota, Galeya Print, St. Petersburg, 2013;
Apalkov Yuliy V., Korabli VMF SSSR. Spravochnik v cheterekh tomakh. Tom II chast 2. Malyie raketnye korabli. Raketnye, torpednye i artilleriyskiye katera, Galeya Print, St. Petersburg, 2004;
Apalkov Yuliy V., Udarnyie korabli, Morkniga, Moscow 2010;
Budzbon Przemysław, Radziemski Jan, Twardowski Marek, Warships of the Soviet Fleets 1939-1945, Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley 2022;
Taras Anatoliy Ye., Istoriya torpednykh katerov. XIX-XX v., AST-Harvest, Moscow-Minsk, 2005;

Bochniak Włodzimierz, Korwety rakietowe typu "Siwucz", "Okręty Wojenne. Magazyn miłośników spraw wojenno-morskich", 1998, nr 5;
Chała Marcin, Flota Bałtycka Federacji Rosyjskiej, "Morze", 2017, nr 4;
Grotnik Tomasz, Poduszkowce bocznościenne ZSRR, "Morze, Statki i Okręty", 2008, nr 5;
Grotnik Tomasz, Powrót Żubra?, "Morze", 2017, nr 11;
Kostrichenko V. V., Tsarkov A. Yu., Raketnye korabli "Bora" i "Samum", "Morskaya Kollektsiya", 2016, nr 4;
Mazurek Wojciech, Okręty desantowe Floty Bałtyckiej. Przegląd konstrukcji 1955-1991, "Morze, Statki i Okręty", 2012, nr 7-8;
Miazga Bartłomiej, Grecki poduszkowiec desantowy "Zakyntos" proj. 12322 Zubr (NATO: Pomornik) - model w skali 1:200, "Modelarstwo Okrętowe. Magazyn modelarzy okrętowych", 2012, nr 13 (1) specjalny;
Osintsev V. V., Malyi desantnyi korabl na vozdushnoi podushke "Kerkyra" pr.12322, "Taifun. Voenno-Tekhnicheskiy Almanakh", no. 47;
Schiele Marcin, Rosyjskie poduszkowce desantowe typu Zubr (Proj. 1232.2), "Raport - Wojsko, Technika, Obronność", 1998, nr 8.
Szulc Tomasz, Poduszkowiec sztywnoburtowy Siwucz (Lew Morski), "Nowa Technika Wojskowa" 1993, nr 2;
Szulc Tomasz, Rosyjskie poduszkowce wojskowe, "Nowa Technika Wojskowa" 2001, nr 4, 5, 6;
Szulc Tomasz, Zubr z bliska, "Nowa Technika Wojskowa" 2004, nr 5;

http://activeplanet.ru/
http://ansokolov39.livejournal.com/2367992.html
http://back-in-ussr.com/2019/10/pervyy- ... e-l-5.html
http://dzen.ru/a/Xs6rkHI47HZcI5K2?utm_r ... ogle.co.uk
http://en.topwar.ru/7771-neobychnye-tan ... 937-g.html
http://fleetphoto.ru/projects/1239/
http://forums.airbase.ru/2004/04/t26309 ... -1239.html
http://forums.airbase.ru/2009/01/t65525 ... dushk.html
http://m.my.mail.ru/mail/mdk-kvp/photo/ ... lbums_list
http://modelist-konstruktor.com/morskay ... a-podushke
http://navsource.narod.ru/
http://pikabu.ru/story/kater_ognevoy_po ... sr_8367462
http://raigap.livejournal.com/318223.html?
http://raigap.livejournal.com/924767.html
http://russianships.info/
http://shipshub.com/ru/article/1565-2.html
http://topwar.ru/5799-gde-rodilsya-tam- ... ilsya.html
http://topwar.ru/6675-zubr-samyy-bolsho ... ushke.html
http://war-book.ru/
http://war-russia.info/index.php/nomenk ... gach-1989g
http://warspot.ru/981-po-vode-na-vozduhe
http://zhurnalko.net/=nauka-i-tehnika/t ... -02--num60

http://www.barque.ru/shipbuilding/1974/first_hovercraft
http://www.jameshovercraft.co.uk/
http://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/32 ... hovercraft
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads ... aft.21367/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovercraft_tank
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Левков,_Вл ... Израилевич
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Артиллерий ... оекта_1238
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Десантные_ ... оекта_1205
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Десантные_ ... оекта_1206
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Десантные_ ... оекта_1209
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Десантные_ ... екта_12061
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Малые_деса ... екта_12321
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Малые_деса ... екта_12322
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Малые_раке ... оекта_1239

L-5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPOwRA2xRBc
Pr. 1205 Skat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aulCFBfVcmQ
Pr. 1206 Kalmar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIqk-rEERF8
Pr. 12321 Dzheyran
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F2ch15Vy2A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf14UbvcW7c
Pr. 12322 Zubr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDM_vk6oDmk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCNvES-pxFY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lAPBK29CdA
Pr. 1239 Sivuch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpqthNPn2wc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AHuJEBO5hw
Experimental hovercraft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EaYnHa2DZc

This is outstanding contribution!!

_________________
Shipbucket mainsite, aka "The Archive"
New AU project "Aravala"

Awesome post, excellent drawings and data! Thanks!

PS: FD scale is waiting for your post-soviet hovercraft drawings !

awesome work

Congratulations mate!

Question for the Zubr: Where is the position for the Igla launchers? They seem to be on the superstructure behind the bridge windows.

Look also in my Devianart page my Zubr history and upgrades. Link for Devianart in my profile.

Fantastic work.
Well research and well drawn as ever and the 4-view drawings certainly add value to these new works.

_________________
Hood's Worklist
English Electric Canberra FD
Interwar RN Capital Ships
Super-Darings
Never-Were British Aircraft

Thank You all for the kind words!

Reytuerto
Well, I'm going to post some small Soviet hovercraft in FD scale, but not any of these.

Odysseus1980
Yes, the Igla launchers are on those "balconies" just aft of the bridge.
In Your AU modifications You seem to have located them where actually is located a platform for optical reserve fire control device (commonly named "Kolonka" but that actually means "little column" and is generic term for such Soviet/Russian devices). Largely my fault, because I mistakenly placed the launched there in the old version of the drawing (substandard sources and substandard verification, I'm afraid) from 2013. :/

Ok. So those Igla launchers seem to be a square PU VLS for Strela-3M missiles with 32 missiles total. Interesting.

https://xn----7sbb5ahj4aiadq2m.xn--p1ai ... 2322.shtml