Nanuchka class Corvette (1968)

Built in Ulis (Vladivostok) and Petrovsky (Leningrad), these were 35 multirole “large missile boats” (NATO corvettes) (17 Nanuchka I and 17 Nanuchka III), plus the Nanuchka II export (7 for Libya and Algeria), and single prototype Nanuchka IV of 1976. Project 1234 Ovod were classified as coastal vessels similar fast attack crafts but at 500 tons and smewhat the same outlook. They had anti-ship capabilities (SS-N-9), SAM defence (SA-N-4 silo, 57 or 76 mm guns plus anti-missile Gatling CIWs but not ASW capabilities. These were still long-range vessels, demonstrated by the Black Sea Nanuchkas frequently observed in the Mediterranean, albeit almpst always with a tender. The SS-N-9 missile was new and still secret, so the exported versions were downgraded with the old SS-N-2C, and the radar Square Tail. The Nanuchka III differs from the Nanuchka by their single aft 75mm AA gun and 30mm CIWs guided by a Bass Tilt firing radar. The Nanuchka IV however had two sextuple SS-N-25 ramps in special containers, making a total broadside of twelve anti-ship missiles. They packed quite a punch for their small tonnage, but still these ships had serious issues: Wide and so still relatively stable, they were subjected to excessive pitching due to their overload and low bow, and their first M503s diesels deteriorated quickly, albeit thi was later resolved. On the Soviet standpoint they were however overall considered a success, retained in service until 1990 with a few still active now and a whole lineage following.

Development

Soviet Corvettes are really specific to the needs and doctrine of the Soviet Navy. They were conceived as small warships, designed for coastal defence or escort (notably the gun-armed Riga class, inspired by late German torpedo Boats) and typically had a smaller displacement than frigates and destroyers. The Soviet doctrine was coastal ASW defence. The initial approach was a complement in ASW warfare. But given the arrival of US nuclear submarines, and a supposed unlimited speed and range, the Poti class were designed with an M2 gas turbine, as the fastest ASW ship ever built at 39 knots, and at the same time a cheaper alternative to the contemporary Mirka/Petya class.

However, both their defensive armament and sonars felt archaic. Radical changes in design later a class of multirole corvette that looked like an overgrown fast attack craft: The Nanuchka class. This was a true devolution in corvette design, one later declined into the Tarantul and Pauk in the 1980s among others, an export success. Project 1234 Ovod were a complete swap from coastal ASW escort for a more versatile, and notably antiship coastal vessel. The project was designed around the P-120 Malakhit (NATO “Siren”) anti ship missile.

Genesis of the design

Base Project 1234 as completed (src)
In 1958, three Central Design Bureaus CKB-5, CKB-53, and CKB-340, received design specifications for several variants of new missile-carrying ships. Between 1958 and 1963, they developed several variants of these. CKB-53 developed a missile ship with the hull of the Project 50 (Riga) patrol ship, CKB-340 developed a vessel based on the Project 159 (Petya class). However, due to their narrow hull it was impossible to install side-mounted anti-ship missile due to stability issues.
Meanwhile CKB-5 initially lacked a basic hull suited to carry missiles and made further progress in design than the others. It created aand went up to technical design stage Project 901 a vessel displacing 600 tons for a hull 60 meters long and 11.2 meters wide, draft of 2.8 meters. Its armament consisted of two single-tube launchers P-35 anti-ship missiles on either side and two twin 57-mm AK-725 guns at each end, plus the Osa-M self-defense anti-aircraft missile system.

However the seven-year shipbuilding program for 1959-1965 tasked Zelenodolsk Plant No. 340 with building Project 901, sixteen of these new “medium missile carriers” as known in Russian. However delays in development of the Osa-M and the already buly armament and sensors, with notably racks and antenna posts for the P-35 missile led its exclusion from the shipbuilding program by a government decree of May 27, 1961. Meanwhile, TsKB-53 developing Project 902, essentially a variant with a displacement ported to 1,100 tons, length 78 meters, width 12.8 meters, draft 3.2 meters, four P-35 missiles in two single launchers either side and two twin 76-mm AK-726, bow and stern, no SAM system.

The designs developed by TsKB-5 and TsKB-53 however were not accepted, as the fleet needed a small seaworthy ship with enhanced anti-ship, artillery and AA armament. The Commander-in-Chief S. G. Gorshkov, wanted the urgent development of a new missile boat with the latest P-120 Malachite anti-ship missiles (six), and a missile self-defense air defense system, as well as a heavuer artillery. The ten-year shipbuilding program (1964-1973) adopted by decree on August 10, 1963 included the construction of forty of these, and the Project was named 1234. N. S. Khrushchev meanwhile pushed for technological innovation so the new vessel was designed as an aluminum-hulled hydrofoil displacing below 350 tons for 50 knots. He was countered by CiC Gorshkov which preferred a 450–550 tons, 40 knots vessel as more realistic.

On May 29, 1964, a new decree was issued to start of construction of the lead ship and setup its completion date in 1967. Its main tactical and technical elements were written, notably four Malakhit anti-ship missiles with a Dubrava-1234 radar/target designation system (future Titanit complex) capable of a detection range of 120-150 km, plus the Osa-M air defense missile system plus a few defensive 30-mm anti-aircraft CIWS. This became Project 1234, codename “Ovod” (“Gadfly”). The TTZ was released in 1964. Chief designer was I. P. Pegov. Specs were approved on August 17, 1965, transferred to the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau (merger from TsKB-5 and TsKB-19) still under I. P. Pegov, but with Captain 1st Rank V. V. Dmitriev as the Navy’s chief observer.

A very peculiar ship, difficult to class

Cleaned up Profile of Aias Ali, en export version Nanuchka II (here modernized)

The design proceeded under difficult circumstances as the displacement increased to 600 and then to 670 tons, under pressure from S. G. Gorshkov to accommodate six, not four Malakhit anti-ship missiles. the Osa-M and Titanit radar were confirmed. The design staff argued about the propulsion type, and wanted a gas turbine but it could not be installed as too large. The shallow draught meant none of the M-3 turbine could fit. Instead it was chosen a Diesel engines combo. This eliminated the very high speed and hydrofoil options. Theses diesels were immediately available and lighter, smaller, and could fit within the design limits and in time. It was decided to adopt a three-shaft main propulsion system, powered by M-504 diesels on each shaft, in series. For the first time, attention was paid also on electronic warfare.

The CiC soon had a hard time finding a valid classification. Their classification of over 500 was no longer a “boat,” but a “small missile ship”. Project 1234 was indeed no longer a “Super Osa” missile boat but a “small missile ship”. A brand new category without equivalent. Project 1234 ships also had their missions precised: They were designed to engage other warships, merchant vessels in closed seas and near-ocean zones while the firepower was intended to threat the US 6th fleet in the Mediterranean. Indeed from the spring of 1975, these ships (dubbed in 1969 by NATO “Nanuchka”) regularly carried out combat duties in the 5th Mediterranean Squadron. In combat service, they were deployed to perform tasks unrelated to their intended purpose such as combat training for submarines, aviation, air defense forces as well as anti-submarine and rescue ships and guarding territorial waters.

Construction

Construction of Project 1234 started in 1967, at the Primorsky Shipyard, Leningrad (17 built). In 1973 it started at the Vladivostok Shipyard (3 built). Until April 25, 1970, the first two Leningrad-built vessels had a numerical tactical designation, MRK-3 for the first production hull, then MRK-7. Subsequent ships all had “weather” names traditional for Soviet patrol ships in WW2, a reincarnation of the “bad weather division”. The last three Leningrad-built Nanuchka never enter service in USSR but were converted to export (Project 1234E) for the Indian Navy. In the autumn of 1969, the lead ship Burya was transferred via inland waterways to the Black Sea and from March 27, 1970, took part in joint trials and fire trials (20 launches of the Malakhit), four failed, six were partially successful (falling short) and the remaining then so half, achieving direct hits. So the Malakhit system was accepted into service on March 17, 1972.

Modernization

Crimea-76 summer exercises saw a meeting of the 5th Mediterranean Squadron with S. G. Gorshkov, and Captain 2nd Rank Prutskov (166th division of small missile ships) to agree on proposals for modernizing the class. The division commander proposed movined the Osa-M from the bow to the stern, less susceptible to be submerged in bad weather. It was proposed also to install a jamming station, and a 76-mm automatic gun instead of 57mm. For the crew, it was suggested to install a small bread baking facility like those on destroyers. Later these would be implemented on Project 1234.1 ships apart the OSA-M relocation, judged too costly.

Project 1234.1 were built at the same yards, fifteen at Primorsky Shipyard, four at Vladivostok, the remaining seven were export vesseks or Project 1234E (out of ten) at Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk. A total of 47 ships Project 1234 Nanuchka class corvettes in all variants were delivered, so 17 ships of the original Project 1234 (Nanuchka I), 10 ships of Project 1234E (export) (Nanuchka II presumably), 19(16 for NATO) ships of Project 1234.1 (Nanuchka III), and one ship Project 1234.7 Nakat (Nanuchka IV). By the way, NATO was baffled over these ship’s singular appearance ad capabilities and classes them as “corvettes”. This was unofficially accepted as classification after the fall of the USSR, by the Federation of Russia. Still, they are rather small for a corvette, which displacement was around 1,100-1,200 tonnes. There had been doubts as well over the Grisha, Frigates or Corvettes.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

Hull

Cutaway Project 1234 as completed (src)
Project 1234 ship’s hull was flush-deck, and modelled like fast attack crafts such s the Osa class. There was a slight sheer forward, but surfaced were almpst flat. The hull was constructed longitudinally, from high-strength MK-35 marine grade steel. There was a double bottom on most of the length, divided into ten watertight compartments by nine bulkheads at frames 11, 19, 25, 33, 41, 46, 57, 68, and 80. The transom was located at frame 87. Two bulkheads at frames 11 and 46 and the transom were reinforced in grade 10 KhSN D or 10 KhSN 2D (SKhL-45) steel. The lower portions of the other bulkheads were made in grade SHL-45 steel. Their upper portions were made in AMg61 aluminum-magnesium alloy so save weight. The latter were attached to steel parts at the bottom, side, and deck coamings using AMg5P alloy rivets on insulating backings to avoid electric corrosion.

The Nanuchka class meadured 59.3 m (194.6 ft) for a beam of 12.6 m (41.3 ft) and a draught of 2.7 m. The hull was pretty wide despite its top speed, with a ratio of roughly 1:5. It displaced 560 long tons (569 t) standard, and 660 long tons (671 t) fully loaded. As for the next Project 1234.1 ships displacement was 640 tons standard and fully loaded 730 tons. Lenght was the same but the beam was reduced to 11.8 m and 8.96 m at the waterline but with an average draft at the waterline of 3.08 m.

Superstructure

The Nanuchka class were famous for their large and bulky hulls, but their quite peculiar bulky and tall island-type superstructure, three tiered amidships. It was made entirely of AMg61 aluminum-magnesium alloy, with the exception of the gas deflectors. It seems the danger of fire was alleviated by automatic fire extinguishers, if present and working, but it’s unclear if they were mounted or more classic manual halon bottles. The internal bulkheads of this structure were also made of light alloy, and were also connected to the steel hull using bimetallic inserts also for electrolytic corrosion protection. Service and living quarters in the superstructure, main deck, upper and lower platforms allowed access inside without exiting, but the deck entire lenght was free, and guard rails were installed on walls either side, from frames 1 to 32 and from frames 42 to 87, not exceeding 90 cm in height.
There were significant differences between the Nanuchka I and III for the bridge. The early one was in some sort of “bathtub”, an open bridge circling around. The bridge itself was three faceted with a slope at its base and reverse slope for the upper part where windows were placed for shade and anti-reflect protection. On the Nanuchka III, the “bathtub bridge” was eliminated and instead two wings were created while the enclosed bridge was placed higher. The radar dome was also relocated on top of it as well.

Masts

The rigging comprised a four-legged truss-type foremast, made of light alloy tubing, and more advanced on the Project 1234.1 Nanuchka III. The foremast houses the communication antennas as well as signal halyards and navigation lights plus radars.

Internal Arrangements

The standard crew is 60, including 9 officers and 14 petty officers. On the next Nanuchka III (Pr.1234.1) it was increased by four, with an officer and 3 sailors. For the sole Nanuchka IV (Pr. 1234.7) it was increased by a single sailor at 65.
The commander’s quarters are located at the forward end of the first superstructure tier at frames 25-32, and divided into three rooms, the office, bedroom, and bathroom. The petty officers’ messroom could be used as operating room and the upper platform (​​frames 33-41) saw the double and two single officer’s cabins. At ​​frames 24-33 a six-berth and two four-berth petty officers’ and midshipmen’s cabins. The remainder of the crew is housed in two quarters with a 27-berth cabin on the upper platform (​​frames 11-24) and ten-berth cabin (​​frames 11-19).
Three types of insulating structures were used to manage acoustic levels, with PVC-E elastic foam plastic slabs reinforced with PVC-1 foam plastic plates. For airborne noise, VT-4 mats were filled with light alloy sheets. For cooling there were slabs of various grades of foam plastic and expanded polystyrene as well as thermal insulation mats made of staple and nylon fiber.
There were provisions for 10 days but in the Mediterranean for longer deployments, bakeries were installed, not originally in the design.

Powerplant

The main propulsion plant was designed using the echelon configuration, spread into two engine rooms, fore and aft. The fore room housed two 112-cylinder, four-stroke M-507A main engines, driving the outboard shafts. The aft room housed a single M-507A engine driving the center propeller at a lower rate for cruising. Each main engine was assisted by two seven-block, eight cylinders per block, 16 cm bore, 17 cm piston stroke and 56-cylinder M-504B radial diesel engines. They were connected via a reduction gear with each main engine driving its own fixed-pitch propeller. The later extended 1,350 mm below the mainline. Diameter was 2.5 meters for all. Engine service life was calculated at 6,000 hours at 2,000 rpm. Each produces 10,000 horsepower and weighs 17 tons. However in early trials, design flaws were sooon noted: The oil in the main engines had to be changed every 100 hours, and the real service life fell down to just 500 hours. Plus, when running, gas leaked internall from their exhaust. All these grave issues were later corrected, and oil changes frequency was now 300h.

This composite diesel powerplant enabled a top speed of 35 knots (34 knots for the next Pr. 1234.1 and 1234.7) but early vessels exceeded this figure on light load and trials. But also on exercises, when Zarnitsa repeatedly made runs measured at 37-38 knots. Standard economic combat speed remained 18 knots, cruising speed 12 knots. At this rate, the range was 4,000 nautical miles (3,700 nm Pr. 1234.1 and 1234.7) or 7,280 km. However at combat cruising speed of 18 kts is fell down to 1,600 nautical miles (1,500 nm for Pr. 1234.1 and 1234.7), and at full speed just 415 nautical miles (769 km).
The Nanuchka was also equipped in standard with two DG-300 diesel generators rated for 300 kW each, both in the aft engine compartment, plus a single DGR-75/1500 diesel generator with a capacity of 100 kW. There was a 650-liter fuel tank and a 1,600-liter oil tank, as well as TS-70 cooling system thermostat and DGR-300/1500 mufflers.

Steering Gear

The steering gear consisted of a two-cylinder R-32 main engine with a piston drive, for two rudders and a Python-211 control system. The steering gear had two electric variable-flow oil pumps, with the primary pump one located in the afterpeak, and backup one in the tiller compartment. Both rudders were hollow (wing profile, streamline) and balanced. Its blade is made of SHL-45 steel. The maximum angle is 37.5° for the axis, with a shift time to 70° in 15 seconds. Both rudders could also be used stabilizers.

Seaworthiness

The Nanuchka class in trials were noted havin “satisfactory wave handling at forward heading angles”. But at aft heading angles they respond poorly to the help and even exhibiting excessive rolling and significant yaw. At low speeds in sea state 4-5, flooding and spray on deck and superstructure were low, neither to the air intake shafts, but above 14 knots, spray reached the roof of the wheelhouse. Max seaworthiness to use armament is 5. The initial metacentric height is 2.37 m, transverse stability coefficient 812 tm, heeling moment is 19.8 tm/°. At standard displacement, reserve buoyancy is 1,835 m³. They however keep good maneuverability, with a full 360° taking no longer than 3.3 minutes at a rudder angle of 25°. Tactical turning circle diameter was measured at 30 ship lengths. To operate a complete stop from full speed this was 75 ship lengths, even an emergency stop in 55 s using both rudders at max outer angle (pointed port and starboard). However this took a strain on the steering drive.

Mooring, anchoring, towing Gear

The mooring gear consists of capstans, bollards, cleats, reels, mooring lines. At the bow is a SHEG-12 electrohydraulic anchor plus its mooring capstan, with a hauling speed of 20 m (65 ft)/min and a bollard pull of 3,000 kg (6,613 ibs) for a 23.5 mm (1 in) diameter steel cable. The stern had a SHZ mooring capstan with hauling speed of 15 m (49 ft)/min and bollard pull of 2,000 kg. Along the deck were installed six bollards 200 mm (7.8 in) diameter near frames 14, 39, and 81. Cleats with basting strips were installed at frames 11, 57, and 85. Three reels were located at the bow and stern, and forepeak platform. There were four 220 m (720 ft) long mooring cables, two chain stoppers.

The anchoring gear includes a SHEG-12 capstan, 900 kg (1,984 Ibs.) Hall anchor, 200 m (656 ft) long heavy-duty anchor chain with 28 mm (1.1 in) gauge spreaders, two chain stoppers, deck and anchor hawses, a chain locker under the forepeak platform. The anchoring gear was 50 m (164 ft) long max, with the anchor and chain being released at 23 m (75 ft)/min or 5 m (16 ft)/min when approacheing the hawse to lower friction. The anchor capstan control panel is located in the wheelhouse. Manual control column on deck, breakwater port side. The towing gear consists of a main bollard 300 mm (12 in) diameter located in the centerline near frame 13 and cleat with rollers near frame 1 centerline and towing hook at the stern, near the transom, with a 100 mm (4 in) nylon towing rope 150 m (500 ft) long, and towing reel in the forepeak.

Other Features

Life-saving equipment

Life-saving equipment consists of five PSN-10M life rafts, each with a capacity of 10 and survival kit, located on the roof of the first superstructure tier, plus four life buoys located on each side of the wheelhouse, near frame 41 and first tier of the superstructure near frame 71, plus individual ISS life jackets for all crew members. On the first vessels it was planned tyo install a Chirok crew boat with a capacity of 5, incl. the helmsm usable as rescue craft in case of overload. It was mounted on two Sh6I/YaL-6 davits on the port deck, behind the gas deflector. However, they were frequently damaged by missile launches, and removed in the late 1970s.

Passive Protection (Flooding, Fire, NBC)

The Nanuchka class is given the classic ASW compartments to limit flooding and was calculated to remain afloat with two adjacent compartments flooded. There is also a ZhS-52 liquid fire extinguishing system in the machinery space to deal with fuel and lubricants, using freon 114B2 from Kirovochepetsk. The fire extinguishing system has two manual control posts and two 45 freon liters tanks, and two 10-liter tanks with high-pressure air. The freon is released by compressed air at 8 kgf/cm². Small fires must be extinguished with air foam from the SO-500 air-foam fire extinguishing system, a 50 liters tank of PO-1 foam plus 10 liters of compressed air. The mixture comprises 4% PO-1, 96% water. There is also a blowing system usable in NBC configiration for overpressure, producing a pressure up to 150 kgf/cm².

There are four sealed circuits with FSM-2000 filter installations in the diesel air intake shafts as well as KDU-5 and KID-6V dosimetric equipment, VPKhR and KRGB-1 chemical and radiation detectors. The ship also has filter gas masks for one crew member and ten self-contained gas masks plus chemical kits to deal with a smoke emergency, but also usable to exit the ship in an external NBC contamination scenario.

Active Protection

Combat survivability was assessed as low due to the limited air defense as shown by the tragic loss of the Musson in the 1987 exercises, or when the Libyan missile corvette Ean Zaquit was hit by a USN Harpoon in 1986. The new self-defense systems with the Vympel radar, AK-176, AK-630 and modernized Osa-MA SAM plus Vympel-R2A and Vympel-R2V active jamming systems as well as the PK-10 passive jamming system, Spektr-F laser warning systemw on the nanuchka III were considered a more effective mix while still not against simultaneous attack by multiple missiles or aircraft. This was further reduced in case of a hit by the highly flamable structures made of lightweight AMg61 aluminum-magnesium alloys.

Armament

Export versions used the older P-15 Termit (NATO “Styx”) missile. In 2019, Smerch had instead sixteen Uran/SS-N-25 ‘Switchblade’ in four quad canisters. She also carried SA-N-4 (“Gecko”) SAMs for self-defence. The original Nanuchka I a twin 57mm AK-257 main guns but they were replaced by a single 76mm AK-176 in the Nanuchka III and updated AK-176MA on Smerch (IV) in refit. The Nanuchka III also has a 30mm AK-630 CIWS to bolster missile protection. Currently Nanuchka IIIs in servuce have the BAGIRA Fire Control System making them true multirole vessels.

P-120 Malakhit SSM

The main armament comprises six P-120 Malakhit anti-ship cruise missiles (GRAU index 4K-85) mounted on each side on the upper deck in two triple unguided, unarmored, and undamped, container-type KT-120 launchers. Each measured 8.8 meters long and elevated at 9°, with axes parallel to hull centerline.
Launch weight is 5,400 kg, width (folded wings) 1,210 mm, full wingspan unfolded 2,130 mm. Homing used a combo of radar and thermal channels. Cruising altitude is 50 m, with a range between 15 and 120 km (75 miles), at 39-56 m/s (140-200 kmh) for a top flight speed of 1,100 km/h. The warhead weights 500 kg (840 kg in other sources) with the optional nuclear warhead, yield 200 kt.
So a total of 1200 kt, not bad for a 500 tonnes ship.

These missiles are loaded into containers by a shore or floating crane using a special loading ZU-84 system. The main disadvantage of the P-120 wa sits black smoke trail due to its peculiar solid-fuel motor and launched capped at sea state conditions 5. In strong seas firing from in salvo was problematic as the push was such the ship cannot maintain its combat course. An interval up to 1.5 minutes was chosen, reduced in calm seas.

Osa-M and Osa-MA

The Osa-M anti-aircraft missile system was for close air defense on individual air targets. It was located a the bow in the usual “A” gun position, with a ZIF-122 twin-boom launcher and its feed and reloading system below, as well as a 4R-33 guidance system on the mast. The rotary magazine comprises twenty 9M-33 missiles. The rate of fire is 2.8 launches per minute against surface targets with a reload time of 16-21 seconds. When not in use, the launcher is retracted below a dome protected from the elements. The Osa-M is able of catching targets flying at 300 m/s at altitudes of 200–5,000 m and ranges of up to 9,000 m (7,100 m for supersonic targets). At lower altitudes (50–100 m), the range decreases to 4,000–6,000 m. The modernized Osa-MA was installed from 1979 on th Pr.1234.1 ships (Nanuchka III) featuring a range at 15 km at altitudes starting from 15 m, so potentially to shoot down an incoming sea-skimming antiship missile.

Strela-3 MANPADS

The low rate of fire and single-channel engagement of the Osa was unable to provide defenisve capabilities against simultaneous attacks so they were considered obsolete and ineffective in the 2000s and on the Nanuchka III, two quadruple Strela-3 MANPADS (16 SAMs) were added. The 9K34 Strela-3 (1974) is a 10.3 kilograms (23 lb) missile (Full system 16 kg/35.3 lb), 1.47 metres (4.8 ft) long, capable of a max range of 4,500 metres (14,800 ft), ceiling 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) vs. jets and 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) vs. slow moving targets at 470 metres per second (1,700 km/h; 1,100 mph).

AK-725

The artillery initially comprises a single 3.9 tons twin-barrel AK-725 57mm turret aft in “B” position, filling the poop and close to the transom stern. Unarmored it only has 6mm-thick duralumin alloy with polyurethane foam coating inside to avoid fogging. The mounts spoorts two 57mm/75mm ZIF-74 autocannons in a common cradle. Total ammunition supply is 1,100 rounds. Rate of fire is 200 rounds per minute, continuous burst of 100 rounds before extra barrel cooling (standard liquid cooling) is needed. This system still retains a crew of two. Traverse is 200° either sides port and starboard. It fires at a range is 8,420 m (6,950 m with self-destruction for exercises). Operation is remote from a control panel inside the turret of fully remotely from the MR-103 “Bars” fire control radar. The latter has a maximum target detection range of 40 km.

h4>AK-176

The demonstrated low effectiveness of the 57-mm shell with proximity fuse necessitated on the next Pr.1234.1 and 1234.7 (Nanuchka III/IV) to replace it with a single-barrel 10.45 tons automatic 76-mm/59 AK-176. It is capable of firing 152 rounds pre-installed before reloading. (316 rounds on the Nakat system). The turret is made of AMg-61 aluminum-magnesium alloy 4 mm to protect from the weather. The crew is two (4 in backup manual loading). Traverse is 175°.

AK-630M

A six-barrel 1.85 tons 30 mm/54.5 AK-630M CIWS is mounted aft on the superstructure of the Nanuchka III (Pr.1234.1) to deal with low-flying anti-ship missiles. These has a 2,000-round belt magazine and spare 1,000-round belt magazine stored in a special bunker in the barbette. Total weight of the turret, control system, fully fed, is 9 tonnes. Firing range is 4,000 m. In normal mode, it uses 4-5 bursts of 20-25 rounds at maximum range, then closer at bursts of 400 rounds with 3-5 second intervals.
This is optionally complemented by two 12.7 mm (0.5 in) DShK machine guns with belt feed mounted on the bridge wings on the Nanuchka III as well.

Sensors

MRSC-1 and Titanit complex

The MRSC-1 naval target designation system provides information from aircraft surveillance and direction-finding systems on board. This system integrated radar data and provides active and passive target detection, generating target designations to the control system, performing navigation or managing joint combat operations. It can operate in five modes:
“A” — active target detection and target designation mode;
“P” — passive target detection and target designation mode;
“U” (“Success”) — receives information from the MRSC-1 system.
“B” — mutual information exchange and joint combat operations control (UBSD) mode
“N” — navigation mode (within the range of 40 meters to 38 cable lengths).

The system is ready for combat in 5-20 minutes, with a continuous operation time of no more than 12 hours. The main radar associated has an over-the-horizon target detection range of 120-130 km or up to 150-170 km to detect aircraft at 2000m. Minimum detection range (surface targets) is 40 km. There was a dome located behind the brige on an upper structure, made in fiberglass for the DO-1 radar enabling “P” and “U” modes. Two DO-2 antenna unit domes are located on either side of the main DO-1 radar for the “B” mode. The DO-3 providing the “N” and “A” modes is located forward of the DO-1 dome in a classic dish-shaped antenna. The DO-4 and DO-5 antenna posts are on top of the foremast, for the “B” and “U” modes. The DO-6 antenna post for the “P” mode is located below.
The Titanit system is interfaced with the Dunai system preparing the launch of the Malakhit missiles.
On the Nanuchka III, the DO-1 radome post is relocated on the roof of the wheelhouse. From 1986, both yard’s ships were equipped with the Monolith radar system replacing the Titanit, increasing capabilities for target detection, tracking, guidance, and classification.

MR-103 “Bars” FCR

The MR-103 “Bars” is the main artillery fire control radar, located on the aft superstructure. It has a maximum target detection range of 40 km.

MR-123/176 “Vympel” FCR

On the Nanuchka III and IV it was replaced by the MR-123/176 “Vympel” radar but its antenna post was moved forward from the MR-103 installation, between the engine room air intakes.

Don, Pechora, Mius Nav Radar

For navigation, there is the 3-cm Don radar installed on some ships, located at the masthead. It is capable of detecting air targets at 50 km, surface targets at 25 km.
On the Nanuchka III two Pechora navigation radars are installed instead. From 1989, a backup Mius navigation radar was also installed. On the Nanuchka IV (Nakat) there is instead a Don-2 radar. From 1995, a Spektr-F laser warning systems with six sensors (four forward, two aft section) are also installed to detect incoming missiles at all angles.
The unchanged systems since the 1970s on all ships remains the GKU-1 primary gyro course indicator, AP-3U automatic plotter, NEL-7 echo sounder as well as Magnetic compass KMO-T, hydrodynamic MGL-50 system, receivers and later satnav systems KPF-2, KPI-4, then KPF-3K, KPF-5, “Shlyuz” and radio direction finders ARP-53, then DVRP “Rumb”.

PK-16 and PK-10

The MRP-11-12 (Zaliv) electronic intelligence radar antenna is located in front of the conning tower.
“Zarnitsa” tested the experimental Ograda electronic intelligence radar with an active jamming system operating in barrier noise, pulse, and combined modes.
For electronic warfare all ships of the earli series were given two to four PK-16 16-barrel remotely controlled launchers, for passive jamming. They were able to fire 82-mm chaff or heat flares decoy rockets. On the Nanuchka III small there were two or four ten-barrel 122mm PK-10 passive jamming launchers instead. S-76 and S-1005 received the Vympel R-2V active jamming station.

Communication

Radio communications equipment cmprises the R-654-PR radio transmitter, R-678 and Volna-K radio receivers, R-615M and two R-619-2 radio sets, plus the P-400 Kashtan broadcast system. The ZAS emergency communication system worked even with a nuclear detonation at 4,000 meters (epicenter). The ships als sports the Khmel-2 infrared system, to observe and locate infrared lights or for joint navigation and covert communications by night, even when completely obscured. It could run for 20 hours straight from a 27-volt DC power supply.

Identification System

The identification system (IFF) comprised the Nikhrom-RRM combined interrogator-responder radar and 082M (later 7630-5) emitter. The Nikhrom radar allows the identification of surface and air targets’ identity. Its interrogation antenna is built into the DO-3 antenna, with an additional Nikel-KM interrogator and 082M system built into the 4R-33 antenna post.

⚙ specifications Pr.1234 Ovod
Displacement	560 long tons (569 t) standard, 660 long tons (671 t) full load
Dimensions	59.3 x 12.6 x 2.7 m (194.6 x 41.3 ft)
Propulsion	3 shaft Diesels, 30,000 hp (22,371 kW)
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h)
Range	2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km) at 12 knots, 900 nmi (1,667 km) at 30 knots
Armament	6× P-120 Malakhit SSM, 20× 4K33 OSA-M SAM, 2x 57mm AK-257 gun
Sensors	Band Stand fire control, Bass Tilt, Peel Pair surface search, Pop group
Crew	60

Variants & Status (2025)

Project 1234 variants (src)
Nanuchka I:

Exports: The Project 1234E

The Nanuchka wass exported to three countries, India (3), Algeria (3), and Libya (4).

The Indian Navy ordered three corvettes according to their own classification and immediately after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Uragan, Priboy, and Priliv were originally intended for the Soviet Navy, but converted to Project 1234E (Ovod-E) NATO Nanuchka II. The first, K71 Vijay Durg (formerly Uragan), was delivered to the Indian Navy in April 1977.
Status: INS Vijaydurg K71 commissioned 25 December 1976, decommissioned 30 September 2002.
INS Sindhudurg K72 commissioned 29 May 1977, decommissioned 24 September 2004
INS Hosdurg K73 commissioned 15 January 1978, decommissioned 5 June 1999. Sunk in a Sea Eagle AShM test.
All active with the 21st Missile Vessel Squadron.

Algeria initially planned to acquire four small missile ships, but later cancelled the purchase of a fourth ship due to financial difficulties. The Algerian vessels were officially sold to a on February 22, 1980. Class: Ras Hamidou, Salah Reis, Reis Ali. In service, Project 1234E built by Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk, modernized in 2012, see below.

Three were ordered by Libya were delivered to Libya between May 1, 1982, and 1985. All export ships were delivered to the Libyan Navy in Riga.
Class: 4 ships delivered in 1982-85: Al Zaquit, Ain Al Gazala, Ain Zaara, Tariq Ibn Ziyad.
Status: Al Zaquit sunk 1986 by US Harpoon missile. Ain Al Gazala badly damaged, later scrapped on March 25, 1986. Ain Zaara in repairs in Misrata, destroyed in a NATO airstrike on May 19, 2011. Tariq Ibn Ziyad destroyed in a fight between government loyal forces and radical Islamists in Benghazi on November 3, 2014.
The Libyan People’s Army kept Tariq Ibn Ziyad, captured in 2011, returned after the civil war, BU 2014.

Since there was no special design for export nor any export modification of the Malachite missile, the modification was developed using the basic Project 1234 hull, but with a simplified armament configuration and the P-20 Anti-Ship.
The Project 1234E ships displaced 560t standard and 675t fully loaded with hull dimensions remaining the same except for the draft, reduced to 2.6 m. The main propulsion system comprised three slightly less capable M-507 diesels (8,600 hp each) for 34 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. The cruising range at 31 knots is 900 nautical miles and 2,500 nautical miles at the cruise speed. The crew was limited to 49, including seven officers. Air conditioning and additional collsing systems were installed to tropicalize them.
The armament comprised two twin KT-15M launchers for the P-20 anti-ship missiles, export version of the P-15 Termit. The forward Osa-M SAM remained as well as the aft AK-725 gun mount, and two PK-16 passive countermeasure launchers. The old Rangout radar was installed in place of the Titanit but the dome was retained “for the sake of appearance.”

Modernization

Salah Rais as modernized
In the mid-1990s, the Algerian Navy decided to repair and modernize its Project 1234E corvettes, designated 1234EM. It was developed at the Almaz Central Marine Design Bureau led by Chief Designer Yury Arsenyev. The outdated P-20 was replaced with four quadruple launchers for sixteen 16 Uran-E anti-ship missiles. The anti-aircraft armament comprised a new six-barreled 30mm AK-630M gun on the aft superstructure. The Rangout radar was replaced by a Harpun-E radar antenna, while the mast was equipped with a three-dimensional Pozitiv-ME general-purpose radar, and a Laska weapons control radar, Rakurs optical-electronic artillery fire control system plus the Gorizont-25 radio navigation system. Compatibility with western electronic led to the instalaltion of the SOD-1234EM data exchange system. Obsolete electrical and shipboard systems were also overhauled or replaced. The first modernized in St. Petersburg under Project 1234EM in 1999-2000 was Salah Reis. In October 2007, modernization of the second one started at Severnaya Verf.

In 2017, prospects of the Project 1234EM, led to an attempt to mopdernize baseline Project 1234 corvettes for the Pacific Fleet. In the summer of 2019, S-1004 Smerch was refitted along these lines, with sixteen launchers for the Kh-35U Uran missiles (range 260 km, active homing) and the latest AK-176MA and AK-630M. The remaining ten were subjected to similar modernization, but it was only made official by November 7, 2019 for three vessels of the Pacific Fleet, over 5 years. Status is unknown.

Career of the Nanuchka class

The Nanuchka class were placed in tactical fleet formations (called divisions), in turn were incorporated into brigades.
Black Sea Fleet: All vessels such as Burya, Briz, Vikhr, Groza, Grom, etc. made the 166th Novorossiysk Division, 41st Missile Boat Brigade (July 5, 1971) based at Chicken Wall, Sevastopol’s Northern Bay. From 1985 they were scheduled for mothballing, transferred to the 349th Division for Groza and Grom at Sevastopol’s Quarantine Bay.
Pacific Fleet: Two tactical formations. 192nd and 165th Brigades, Primorsky Flotilla in Bolshoy Ulysses Bay, Vladivostok. Including the Typhoon, Cyclone, Musson, Smerch, and Briz. 89th Brigade and since 1990, 66th Division, 114th Brigade Kamchatka Flotilla vessels were based in Avacha Bay (Briz, Vikhr, Typhoon, Syezd VLKSM, Cyclone, Smerch, Moroz, and Razliv).
Baltic Fleet: 106th Missile Boat Division, 76th brigade, Winter Harbor, Liepaja Naval Base. After 1992, 36th Brigade, 12th Surface Ship Division.
Northern Fleet: 55th Pechenga (red banner Ushakov 1st Class) Brigade, transferred to the Kola Flotilla from 1982. 1988 it was renamed the 55th Brigade, part of the 292nd Division, 55th Brigade, Granitny Dolgaya Zapadnaya Bay (Zarya, Volna, Metel, Veter, Aysberg, Tucha). In 1981, Zarya, Volna, and Metel formed the 294th Division in Liinakhamari, Pechenga. Nanuchka boats Veter, Iceberg, and Tucha remained in the 292nd Division.
In 1984, the 292nd Div. was reinforced by Uragan and in 1985 Priboy, then in 1987 Nakat (Project 1234.7/Nanuchka IV).
In 1988, the 294th Division received Rassvet (Nanuchka III).
In 1995, the 55th Brigade was disbanded. The remaining vessels went into the 108th Division, transferred to the Yekaterininskaya Harbor, Polyarny. Later reduced to a tactical group.
2010: Four divisions in the Russian Navy: 166th (Black Sea Fleet), 66th (Pacific), 106th (Baltic), 108th (Northern Fleet).

Black Sea Operations

Black sea fleet Nanuchka with her typical green hull

From October 1973 to 1984, the Black Sea Fleet units comprised 2-3 Nanuchka and an organic support ship or “mobile missile-technical base” Projects 323/2001 to supply and reload their missiles. This was General Ryabikov, PRTB-13, PRTB-33, sailing with them in the Mediterranean to force the command of the US 6th Fleet to reconsider its stance in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Nanuchka Flotilla was tracked by ships and aircraft when entering the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, trained to be were prepared to launch missile strikes from ambush positions in the coastal zone. Their radar had better situational awareness data when receiving data in “U” mode from Tupolev Tu-95RC aircraft or Ka-25C helicopters. The data about the primary location of the strike group trigerred a sortie with the Nanuchka boats constantly changing anchorage, such as Johnson Bank near Lemnos, a point near Kythira off Crete, or the Strait of Antikythera. They drifted for days south of Crete and dropped zanchor at Es Saloum and Mersa Matruh Bays, then close to Famagusta (Cyprus), and at the eastern tip of Cyprus, near Tartus, Syria, the main Soviet naval base in the Mediterranean.

Due to their limited endurance and lack of Soviet naval bases they needed extra fuel reserves also to make them truly dependent on supply ships Project 323. To spare scarce fuel oil, they were often towed in a “train” by one or two support vessels. These frequentl relocations helped mislead an enemy regarding their location, an advantage in tactical deployment. This forced the US 6th Fleet command to spent time trying to locate these using the Grumman EA-6 Prowler. If detected, this was followed by training attacks by F-4 Phantom II and F-14 Tomcat, A-7 Corsair II and A-6 Intruder.

Baltic Fleet

The Baltic Nanuchka of the 106th Division were 3rd-rank ships reporting directly to the commander, 12th Missile Ship Division. The flagship from August 25, 1978, was Project 56-U Prozorlivy. The division included also vessels from other fleets for inter-fleet transit after completion at Primorsky Shipyard with a high turnover of commanders. In November 1975, they took part in the interception of the mutinous Krivak class frigate Storozhevoy.

Northern Fleet

These two units had scheduled combat training, and presence in on-duty naval strike group tasked of high-priority target destruction, air defense at their bases. In the 1980s, they tracked NATO ships in the Barents Sea. In August-September 1984, Tucha test-launched cruise missiles with a new warhead in the Kara Sea. In August 2000, Iceberg search for and later took part in the recovery of the Oscar clas SSGN Kursk. The sole Nanuchka IV Nakat tested the advanced Onyx missile system.
Activities in the Northern Fleet however were marked by several incidents.
-On August 29, 1983, Volna underway to Varanger Fjord, approached the demarcation line between Norway and the USSR to and entered it (allegeldy after navigation bug), resulted in a protest from Norway.
-On March 14, 1985, Tucha returning to the Granitny base in fog and snow, struck a rock after navigation errors at 7 knots. Her stem was badly damaged, bent inward.

Pacific Fleet

Activity of these boats was turned in two areas, the South China Sea and the Kuril-Kamchatka region, but they were less active than ships of the Black Sea.
Those of the 8th Special Operations Squadron in South China Sea operated from the logistics base of Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, from 1983 to the 1990s with deployments between 10 to 14 months. Drills involved artillery and AA live fire conducted away from the main bases under heat, humidity, high water salinity.
When deployed in the Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands these ships “proved themselves an indispensable component of the USSR’s naval force.” The 89th Missile Boat Brigade was constantly reinforced by cruisers such as Sevastopol, Admiral Fokin, and Chervona Ukraina. They acted as deterrent against growing US and JMSDF in the area and stanad ready to contest Japan’s territorial claims over Sakhalin.
These ships supported the deployment of SSBNs, escorted them to their deployment areas, or took part in surface combat groups, either in heavy ice and severe storms. In these, Nanuchkas of the Pacific Brigade launched missiles from various directions along the Kamchatka coast’s bays.

Combat Losses: Prairie Fire and Operation Eldorado Canyon

USS Yorktown
The only ship lost in combat was the Libyan corvette Ean Zaquit on March 25, 1986. It was by carrier-based aircraft in Operation Prairie Fire. Russian sources attributed the kill at first to the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Yorktown. The latter indeed fire two Harpoon in the night of March 25, but it was later determined this was not for this ship.
On March 25, 1986, in the morning, Ean Zaquit was patrolling the Gulf of Sidra 20 nm west of Benghazi in the context of the concentration of a large naval group of the 6th Fleet of the US Navy in the Gulf of Sidra with 3 aircraft carriers, 5 guided missile cruisers, 6 destroyers, 12 frigates, 1 command ship, landing ships and 10 support vessels.

The Libyan corvette was detected by an AWACS Hawkeye and it was decided to attack her at 07:30 before she could enter missile range, by two A-6E Intruder from the VA-55 squadron (USS Coral Sea). The corvette was striken at 30 m altitude and her SAM Osa-M was not used due to altitude restrictions. She was hit by two Rockeye guided cluster bombs. Another A-6E Intruder from VA-85 (USS Saratoga) fired a Harpoon from 9 miles, hitting the corvette’s starboard side midship. A large fire broke out and two more Rockeye bomb hits made her sink 30 min. later. Losses arre unknown.

Assessment

These small missile ships are a gun pointed at the temple of imperialism” (Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union S. G. Gorshkov). According to many experts in the 1970s, the Nanuchka were the most powerful attack ships in the corvette range, without equivalent in foreign navies. Thanks to the high effectiveness and reliability of the Malachite missile they were capable, independently or in formation with other naval forces of destroying even aircraft carriers or landing forces and convoys underway. These ships possessed capabilities unique to the Cold War with their output per ton of displacement, being able to join tactical groups led by command ships, Project 61 and Project 1135 vessels for air, surface, and ASW situational awareness as well as organizing air defense and anti-submarine warfare in their area. They found a special niche in the Soviet Navy in the early 1970s, creating it, and making it stick, as they soon appeared invaluable.

On the other hand, the Nanuchka suffered from significant shortcomings, common to all ships boat-shaped hull vessels such as poor seaworthiness, excessive roll in heavy seas, poor stability, to the point of potentally capsizing in storms. Severe roll in heavy seas made the air defense missile system and AA defence inefficient. Despite this, they were highly successful for their time as they paradoxically combined small displacement and a disproportionately enormous striking power at low cost, becoming the forerunners of a new subclass and at the same time, allowing the Soviet Navy to raise its combat power at low cost for the time. The same reasons made them desirable at export as well for many emerging nations with limited bu

Burya Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 13 January 1967 18 October 1968 30 September 1970 Decommissioned in 1991

Briz Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 5 November 1967 10 October 1969 31 December 1970 Decommissioned in 1992

Vikhr Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 21 August 1967 22 July 1970 30 September 1971 Decommissioned in 1994

Volna Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 27 September 1968 20 July 1971 31 December 1971 Decommissioned in 1993

Grad Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 29 November 1967 30 April 1972 30 September 1972 Decommissioned in 1993

Groza Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 9 January 1969 26 July 1972 26 December 1972 Decommissioned in 1991

Grom Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 1 October 1969 29 October 1972 28 December 1972 Decommissioned in 1995

Zarnica Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 27 July 1970 28 April 1973 18 September 1973 Decommissioned in 2005

Molniya Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 30 September 1971 27 August 1973 28 December 1973 Decommissioned in 2001

Shkval Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 17 May 1972 28 December 1973 16 Juny 1974 Decommissioned in 1994

Zaria Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 18 October 1972 18 May 1974 28 September 1974 Decommissioned in 1994

Myetyel Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 19 February 1973 10 August 1974 8 December 1974 Decommissioned in 1998

Shtorm Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 28 October 1973 30 March 1975 15 June 1975 Decommissioned in 1998

Raduga Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 6 January 1974 20 June 1975 1 December 1975 Decommissioned in 1994

Tsiklon Vostochnaya Verf, Vladivostok 22 September 1973 24 May 1977 31 December 1977 Decommissioned in 1995

Tayfun Vostochnaya Verf, Vladivostok 10 May 1974 14 August 1979 30 December 1979 Decommissioned in 1995

Musson Vostochnaya Verf, Vladivostok 14 July 1975 1 July 1981 30 December 1981 Sunk on 16 April 1987[3]

INS Vijaydurg (ex-Uragan) Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 31 May 1974 16 April 1976 30 September 1976 Scrapped in 2002 Transferred to Indian Navy in 1977.

INS Sindhudurg (ex-Priboy) Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 22 January 1975 2 October 1976 18 February 1977 Scrapped in 2004 Transferred to Indian Navy in 1977.

INS Hosdurg (ex-Priliv) Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 23 June 1975 14 April 1977 20 September 1977 Scrapped in 1999 Transferred to Indian Navy in 1978.

Ras Hamidou (ex-MRK-21) Vympel Shipyard 10 March 1978 31 December 1979 4 July 1980 Active Transferred to Algerian Navy in 1980.

Salah Reis (ex-MRK-23) Vympel Shipyard 17 August 1978 31 July 1980 9 February 1981 Active Transferred to Algerian Navy in 1981.

Reis Ali (ex-MRK-22) Vympel Shipyard 4 April 1980 13 August 1981 30 November 1981 Active Transferred to Algerian Navy in 1981.

Tariq Ibn Ziyad (ex-MRK-9) Vympel Shipyard 21 April 1979 10 January 1981 26 May 1981 Active Transferred to Libyan Navy in 1982.

Ain Al Gazala (ex-MRK-24) Vympel Shipyard 20 February 1981 26 March 1982 31 May 1982 Damaged 25 March 1986, decommissioned. Transferred to Libyan Navy in 1983.

Ain Zaara (ex-MRK-25) Vympel Shipyard 27 May 1981 21 July 1982 31 May 1983 Destroyed 20 May 2011[5] Transferred to Libyan Navy in 1984.

Ain Zaquit (ex-MRK-15) Vympel Shipyard 25 March 1983 31 March 1984 10 September 1984 Sunk on 25 March 1986 Transferred to Libyan Navy in 1985.

Burun Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 1975 1977 30 December 1977 Decommissioned in 2002

Vyetyer Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 27 February 1976 21 April 1978 30 September 1978 Decommissioned in 1995

Shtil’ (ex-Komsomolets Mordovii), (ex-Zyb’) Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 28 June 1976 23 October 1978 31 December 1978 Decommissioned in 2020

Aysberg Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 11 November 1976 20 April 1979 30 September 1979 Decommissioned in 2022

Tucha Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 4 May 1977 29 April 1980 31 July 1980 Decommissioned in 2005

Uragan Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 1 August 1980 27 May 1983 30 September 1983 Decommissioned in 2002

Priboy Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 25 November 1978 20 April 1984 30 November 1984 Decommissioned in 2001

Priliv Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 29 April 1982 26 April 1985 31 October 1985 Decommissioned in 2002

Mirazh Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 30 August 1983 19 August 1986 30 December 1986 Decommissioned in 2020

Meteor Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 13 November 1984 16 September 1987 31 December 1987 Decommissioned in 2005

Rassvyet Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 20 September 1986 22 August 1988 28 December 1988 Active

Zyb’ Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 26 August 1986 28 February 1989 26 September 1989 Active

Geyzer Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 21 December 1987 28 August 1989 27 December 1989 Active

Passat Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 27 May 1988 13 June 1990 6 December 1990 Active

Perekat Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 20 September 1988 Not completed

Livien’ Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 29 September 1988 8 May 1991 25 October 1991 Active

Smerch Vostochnaya Verf, Vladivostok 16 November 1981 30 November 1984 30 December 1984 Active

Iney (ex-Livien) Vostochnaya Verf, Vladivostok 6 July 1983 5 October 1986 25 December 1987. Scheduled to decommission in 2021; status unclear. still reported active as of early 2022.

Moroz Vostochnaya Verf, Vladivostok 17 February 1985 29 September 1989 30 December 1989 Decommissioned in 2021

Razliv Vostochnaya Verf, Vladivostok 1 November 1986 24 August 1991 31 December 1991 Scheduled to decommission in 2021; status unclear

Nakat, sole Project 12347 (Nanuchka IV): Almaz Shipyard, St. Petersburg 4 November 1982 16 April 1987 30 September 1987 Decommissioned in 2012.

Read More/Src

Books

Apalkov, Yu. V. Ships of the USSR Navy. Handbook. — St. Petersburg: Galeya Print, 2004. — Vol. 2. Attack Ships. Part 2. Small Missile Ships and Boats. — P. 11. — 500 copies. — ISBN 5-8172-0087-2.
Asanin, Vladimir. Missiles of the Domestic Fleet. Part 4. Strike from Underwater // Equipment and Armament Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Journal. — 2009. — No. 6. — Pp. 2–48.
Bobrakov, A. V. Bad Weather Division // Typhoon: Military-Technical Almanac. — 2001. — Issue 33, No. 2. — Pp. 34–35.
Kostrichenko, V. V., Kuzmichev, V. E. A Gun to the Temple of Imperialism: Small Missile Ships of Project 1234. Moscow: Voennaya Kniga, 2006, p. 5, 300 copies. ISBN 5-902863-05-8.
Kuzin, V. P., Nikolsky, V. I. The USSR Navy 1945-1991. St. Petersburg: Historical Marine Society, 1996, 653 pages.
Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A.: Naval Institute Press, 1996, ISBN 1557501327.

Links

http://www.atrinaflot.narod.ru/
atrinaflot.narod.ru/3_cutters
globalsecurity.org 1234.htm
en.wikipedia.org Nanuchka-class_corvette
www.ww2.dk
ru.wikipedia.org/
war-book.ru/ proekta-1234/
armedman.ru/ 1234 ovod.html
commons.wikimedia.org/ Nanuchka_class
web.archive.org/ bharat-rakshak.com
sakhalianet.x10.mx/ nanuchka_class.htm
warhistory.org/
bestscalemodels.com/ plans
russianships.info/ project_1234.htm

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