Ukrainian corvette Vinnytsia

Last updated
Korabl' Vinnitsa v Novooziornom (2011).jpg
Vinnytsia in 2011
History
USSR, Flag KGB 1950.svgSoviet Border Troops
NameDnepr
Builder Zelenodolsk Shipyard, Zelenodolsk, Republic of Tatarstan
Yard number775
Laid down23 December 1975
Launched17 June 1976
Commissioned12 September 1976
In service31 December 1976 (Coast Guard)
FateTransferred to Ukraine June 1992
Naval Ensign of Ukraine.svgUkraine
NameVinnytsia
Namesake Vinnytsia
Acquired1996
Commissioned19 January 1996
IdentificationU206
FateCapsized in the port of Ochakiv on 10 June 2022 [1]
Badge Chevron-corvette-Vinnytsia.svg
General characteristics
Class and type Grisha II-class corvette
Displacement
Length71.2 m (233 ft 7 in)
Beam10.1 m (33 ft 2 in)
Draught3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 3 shaft, 2 × М-507А cruise diesels, 28,000  kW (38,000  shp), (2 shafts)
  • 1 × М-8М boost gas turbine 13,000 kW (18,000 shp), (1 shaft)
  • Electric Plant: 1×DG-500 (500 kW), 1×DG-300 (300 kW), 1×DG-200 (200 kW)
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Range2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Endurance9 days
Complement79 (9 chiefs)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar: MR-302 Rubka air/surface search radar;
  • MR-1031 AK-725 fire control radar;
  • Don-2 navigation radar
  • Sonar: MGK-322T Argun'/Bull Horn low-frequency hull-mounted sonar;
  • MGK-339T Shelon'/Elk Tail medium-frequency through-hull dipping sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Bizan-4B suite with Watch Dog intercept,
  • 2 PK-16 decoy RL
Armament
  • artillery: 2×2 57mm  AK-725 gun mount (1000 rounds);
  • antisubmarine: 2 twin 533 mm torpedo tubes DTA-5E-1124
  • 2 RBU-6000 A/S rocket launchers (96 rockets)
  • 2 depth charge racks (12 depth charges)
  • Up to 18 mines in place of depth charges

Vinnytsia (U206) was an anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy. Prior to joining the Ukrainian Navy she was a former KGB Border Guard patrol ship named Dnepr. In March 2014, she was seized by Russian soldiers and de facto came under control of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The ship was returned to the Ukrainian Navy from Crimea on 19 April 2014.

Contents

Class and role

Vinnytsia was a 1124P project corvette (NATO reporting name: Grisha II class, Soviet classification: Albatros class Russian : Альбатрос). [2] In Soviet service she was designated as a Border Guard Patrol Ship, modified versions of the naval Small Anti-Submarine Ship design.

The Grisha-class anti-submarine ships were designed to search for and destroy enemy submarines found in coastal areas. They were equipped with a variety of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapons. All were fitted with retractable fin stabilizers. The Grisha II class were modified variants built for the border guard between 1972 and 1983. [3] These ships had a second 57-millimetre (2.2 in) gun mounting replacing the SA-N-4 missile system forward. [4]

Service

The corvette Dnepr was laid down on 23 December 1975 at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard, Zelenodolsk, Republic of Tatarstan. The ship was launched on 17 June 1976. The corvette was moved from Zelenodol'sk to the Sea of Azov along the Volga and Don. The corvette was initially based at Sevastopol for trials.

On 24 December 1976, an act was signed adding the ship to the Border Guard Service of USSR. The Soviet Maritime Border Guard flag was raised on the ship on 31 December 1976.

Service in the Coast Guard

Dnepr saw service throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, guarding the state border and the economic zone of the USSR and patrolling off the coast of the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea. [5]

In 1977, Dnepr patrolled the Black Sea between Zmiinyi Island and the Kerch Strait. In 1978, the ship was assigned to patrol between Odessa Port and Novorossiysk Port. In 1979, her patrol area stretched from Cape Tarkhankut to Novorossiysk Port. In 1980, Dnepr patrolled between Cape Tarkhankut and Ochamchire Port, and in 1981 along the southern coast of Crimea.

In June 1992, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union Dnepr and her sister ship Izmail joined the Coast Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. [6]

Service in the Ukrainian Navy

In late 1995, it was decided to transfer the Grisha-class vessels Dnepr and Izmail to the Naval Forces of Ukraine. The Ukrainian naval flag was raised on the ship on 19 January 1996. Dnepr was renamed Vinnytsia and reclassified as a corvette.

Following her commissioning into the Ukrainian Navy, Vinnytsia participated in many joint training exercises with other nations. [7] In July 1996 Vinnytsia participated in the naval multinational exercise Cooperative Partner—96 off Bulgaria. In August of the same year, the corvette was a participant in the strategic exercise Sea—96, following that up with the naval multinational exercise Classic—96 off Romania.

In April 1998, the ship was among the vessels that took part in a Ukrainian-Russian naval exercise. She spend the better part of 1999 in naval exercises, the highlight being the Ukrainian-Russian naval exercise Farvater Miru—99 (English: Fairway peace—99) in August. In 2000, again the ship participated in naval exercises, including the multinational Cooperative Partner—2000 in June. In 2002 Vinnytsia performed in a multitude of naval exercises including the naval multinational exercise Breeze—2002 and strategic exercise Farvater Forpost—2002. She repeated that a year later in 2003, participating in the naval multinational exercises Breeze—2003, Farvater Miru—2003, Cooperative Partner—2003, Black Sea Partner—2003 and the BLACKSEAFOR Activation. In 2007 the corvette took part in the strategic exercise Artery—2007, Morsky vusol—2007 (English: Nautical knot—2007). Her captain in 2009 was Captain, 3rd rank Alexander Kostyuk.

On 22 March 2014, following the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, Vinnytsia was seized by Russian soldiers at her pier in the Southern Naval Base. Crimean separatist units lined up the crew and gave them the choice of remaining in Crimea and taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic of Crimea or leaving the peninsula. Half of the crew remained in Crimea, and on 19 April the corvette was towed to Odesa after Russia returned seized Ukrainian Navy ships. At Odesa, she became a training ship. By May 2016 the ship's complement numbered less than 30. Due to the need for major repairs and lack of spare parts for the ship, the Ukrainian Navy planned to decommission her in 2017, but the ship remained in service as of May 2016. [8]

In October 2017, the ship was placed in dry dock in order to evaluate her condition. Vice Admiral Ihor Voronchenko, the commander of Ukraine's Navy, commented that despite being over 40 years old the ship may be repaired and continue service as Ukraine's forces desperately need anti-submarine assets in order to counter Russia's growing submarine fleet in the Black Sea region. [9]

In February 2021, it was announced that the Ministry of Defence was going to turn the warship into a floating museum, but details of the plan were unknown at the time. [10] Russian media falsely claimed that the ship was captured by Russian forces at Berdyansk during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. [11] However, the ship was later sighted as capsized in the port of Ochakiv. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corvette</span> Small warship

A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloop-of-war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian Navy</span> Naval arm of the Russian military

The Russian Navy is the naval arm of the Russian Armed Forces. It has existed in various forms since 1696; its present iteration was formed in January 1992 when it succeeded the Navy of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Gepard-class frigate Russian-built warships

The Russian Gepard-class frigates, Russian designation Project 11661, is a class of frigates that were intended as successors to the earlier Koni-class frigates and Grisha, and Parchim-class corvettes. The first unit of the class, Yastreb (Hawk), was laid down at the Zelenodol'sk Zavod shipyard at Tatarstan in 1991. She was launched in July 1993, after which she began fitting out; fitting was nearly completed by late 1995, when it was suspended due to lack of funds. Renamed Tatarstan, the ship was finally completed in July 2002, and became the flagship of the Caspian Flotilla. She has two sister ships, Albatross, and Burevestnik, which was still under construction as of 2012.

Grisha-class corvette Soviet anti-submarine corvettes class

The Grisha class, Soviet designation Project 1124 Al'batros, are a series of anti-submarine corvettes built by the Soviet Union between 1970 and 1990 and later by Russia and Ukraine. These ships have a limited range and are largely used only in coastal waters. They have been equipped with a variety of ASW weapons and an SA-N-4 'Gecko' surface-to-air missile launcher. All were fitted with retractable fin stabilizers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Sea Fleet</span> Regional command of the Russian and former Soviet Navy

The Black Sea Fleet is the fleet of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Mediterranean Sea. The Black Sea Fleet, along with other Russian ground and air forces on the Crimean Peninsula, are subordinate to the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ukrainian Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of the armed forces of Ukraine

The Military Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is the maritime forces of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RBU-6000</span> Soviet anti-submarine rocket launcher

The RBU-6000Smerch-2 is a 213 mm caliber Soviet anti-submarine rocket launcher. It is similar in principle to the Royal Navy Hedgehog system used during the Second World War. The system entered service in 1960–1961 and is fitted to a wide range of Russian surface vessels. It consists of a horseshoe-shaped arrangement of twelve launch barrels, that are remotely directed by the Burya fire control system. It fires RGB-60 unguided depth charges. The rockets are normally fired in salvos of 1, 2, 4, 8 or 12 rounds. Reloading is automatic, with individual rounds being fed into the launcher by the 60UP loading system from a below deck magazine. Typical magazine capacity is either 72 or 96 rounds per launcher. It can also be used for shore bombardment.

<i>Steregushchiy</i>-class corvette Class of corvettes of the Russian Navy

The Steregushchiy class, Russian designation Project 20380, is a class of corvettes being built for the Russian Navy. Designed by the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau, subsequent vessels were built to an improved design, incorporating the Zaslon-Redut SAM system. The ship full displacement and dimensions are large for a corvette, thus it is designated as a frigate by NATO. The Steregushchiy class has been further developed into the Gremyashchiy class and Project 20386 subclasses. The export variant is known as Project 20382 Tigr.

Ukrainian frigate <i>Hetman Sahaidachny</i> Krivak-class frigate

Hetman Sahaidachny (U130/F130) was a frigate of the Ukrainian Navy that was originally built at the Kerch Shipyard as a Project 11351 patrol ship of the Nerey / Krivak III / Menzhinskiy class. Homeported at Odesa since March 2014, she was the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy. Her major armament was a single 100 mm gun. She was scuttled by Ukraine on 4 March 2022 to prevent her falling into the hands of invading Russian forces.

Ukrainian corvette <i>Lutsk</i> Anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy

Lutsk (Луцьк) was an anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy. Board number U205. In March 2014 Lutsk was captured by Russian forces during the Crimean crisis.

Ukrainian corvette <i>Ternopil</i> Ukrainian Grisha-class anti-submarine corvette

Ternopil (U209) is a Grisha-class anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy, In March 2014 the ship was captured by the Russian forces during the Crimean crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle off the coast of Abkhazia</span> Naval engagement during the 2008 South Ossetia War

The Skirmish off the coast of Abkhazia was a naval engagement between warships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy and the Georgian Navy during the Russo-Georgian War.

Russian corvette <i>Stoikiy</i> Steregushchiy-class corvette of the Russian Navy

Stoikiy is a Steregushchiy-class corvette of the Russian Navy.

Russian corvette <i>Kabardino-Balkariya</i> Parchim-class corvette of the Russian Navy

The Kabardino-Balkariya is a Parchim-class corvette in the Soviet Navy and later Russian Navy.

Ukrainian corvette <i>Kherson</i> Grisha I-class corvette

Kherson (U210) was a Grisha I-class anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy. Prior to joining the Ukrainian Navy she was a former Soviet Navy corvette named MPK-52.

Ukrainian corvette <i>Sumy</i> Grisha I-class corvette

Sumy(U209) was a Grisha I-class anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy. Prior to joining the Ukrainian Navy she was a former Soviet Navy corvette named MPK-43 and later Odesskiy Komsomolets.

Chernihiv(U205) was a Grisha II-class anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy. Prior to joining the Ukrainian Navy she was a former Soviet Navy corvette named Izmail.

Ukrainian corvette <i>Hetman Ivan Mazepa</i> Ukrainian Ada-class Corvette

Hetman Ivan Mazepa (F211) is an Ada-class anti-submarine corvette of the Ukrainian Navy currently in the process of fitting out. The ship is named after Ivan Mazepa, a Ukrainian Cossack leader who turned against the Tsardom of Russia of Peter the Great and joined the side of Charles XII of Sweden during the Swedish Invasion of Russia.

Ukrainian patrol boat <i>Hola Prystan</i> Flamingo class (project R1415) anti-sabotage boat of the Ukrainian Navy

Hola Prystan (P241) is a Project R1415 anti-sabotage boat of the Ukrainian Navy. Built in 1986, she has been in Ukrainian Navy service since 1997.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ukrainian forces sink their own anti-submarine corvette Vinnytsia". navyrecognition.com. 10 June 2022.
  2. "Project 1124 Albatros Grisha class". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  3. "Project 1124 Albatros Grisha class". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  4. "1124* Grisha I-V class large ASW corvettes". warfare.ru. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  5. Стремительный "Альбатрос". (in Russian). Рogranichnik.ru. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  6. Малый противолодочный корабль "Днепр" (in Russian). Flot.sevastopol.info. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  7. Корвет "Тернопіль" — новий "альбатрос" українського флоту. Євген Силкін, Морська держава (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2012-03-16.
  8. Klishchuk, Lyudmila (16 May 2016). Корвет «Вінниця» спишуть у 2017 році [Corvette "Vinnytsia" to be written off in 2017]. Vlasno.info (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2016-05-21. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  9. "Корвет "Винница" поставлен в док для оценки состояния и ремонта". Information Resistance.
  10. "A floating museum on a warship in Odessa". The Odessa Journal. 5 February 2021.
  11. "List of Ukrainian Navy ships would have been destroyed or captured by Russian armed forces". navyrecognition.com. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.