The Khobi class (Project 437N) is a class of replenishment oiler built for the Soviet navy between 1953 and 1958.
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Project 437N (NATO: Khobi Class) |
| Builders | Zhdanov Shipyard, Leningrad |
| Operators | |
| Built | 1953-1958 |
| In commission | 1955-present |
| Completed | 20 |
| Retired | 5 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Replenishment Oiler |
| Displacement | 1,525 tons full load |
| Length | 63.2 m (207 ft) |
| Beam | 10.0 m (33 ft) |
| Draught | 4.5 m (15 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h) |
| Range | 2,500nm at 12.5 knots (23 km/h) |
| Capacity |
|
| Complement | 33 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | IFF |
| Armament | none |
| Aircraft carried | none |
Construction
editShips of the Khobi class were built at the Zhdanov shipyard in Leningrad, USSR. They were small tankers, similar in size to US Navy gasoline tankers (AOG). The Project 437N could refuel one ship at a time over the bow. A total of 20 vessels were built for the Soviet Navy. Two vessels were later transferred to Albania in 1958-59 as Patos and Semani (ex-Linda?) and one vessel was transferred to Indonesia.[1][2][3]
Ships in class
editThere were 20 vessels in the class.[4][5][6]
| Name | Yard No. | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alazan | No. 635 | September 1953 | unknown | December 1954 | |
| Tartu | No. 636 | January 1955 | 1955 | December 1955 | |
| Goryn | No. 643 | February 1955 | 1955 | December 1955 | paid off 1974 |
| Khobi | No. 644 | April 1955 | unknown | July 1956 | |
| Sosyva | No. 645 | June 1955 | unknown | July 1956 | |
| Orsha | No. 646 | August 1955 | unknown | September 1956 | paid off 2005 |
| Titan | No. 650 | 28 April 1955 | 1956 | December 1956 | |
| Tunguska | No. 657 | November 1955 | unknown | September 1956 | |
| Sunta | No. 658 | January 1956 | 1956 | October 1956 | transferred to Indonesia as KRI Balikpapan (901) |
| Linda | No. 659 | March 1956 | 1956 | November 1956 | |
| Indiga | No. 662 | August 1956 | unknown | May 1957 | |
| Moksha | No. 663 | October 1956 | unknown | July 1957 | paid off 2010 |
| Sysola | No. 664 | August 1956 | unknown | July 1957 | |
| Cheremshan | No. 667 | December 1956 | unknown | September 1957 | paid off 2005 |
| Lovat | No. 670 | March 1957 | 1957 | December 1957 | |
| Shacha | No. 673 | July 1957 | unknown | June 1958 | |
| Seyma | No. 674 | August 1957 | unknown | June 1958 | paid off 2005 |
| Shelon | No. 675 | January 1957 | unknown | October 1958 |
Cheremshan black market activity
editDuring 1995-1996, while operating as a wastewater/sludge lighter with the Northern Fleet, the Cheremshan stole 1,197.5 tons of fuel from other Russian Navy vessels.[7]
References
edit- ^ Guide to the Soviet Navy (Polmer)
- ^ Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (Wertheim)
- ^ russian-ships.info (accessed 29 Feb 2012)
- ^ Guide to the Soviet Navy (Polmer)
- ^ Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (Wertheim)
- ^ russian-ships.info (accessed 29 Feb 2012)
- ^ Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (Wertheim)
External links
edit- Project 437N small seagoing tanker (English)