The Ondatra class Soviet designation Project 1176 ''Akula'' ("shark") is a class of
landing craft built for the
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval warfare Military, uniform service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy made up a large part of the Soviet Union's strategic planning in the event of a conflict with t ...
and
Russian Navy
The Russian Navy is the Navy, 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 (which had i ...
between 1971 and 2009.
Construction
The vessels were
built by the Azovskiy Shipyard, Rybinsk Shipyard and Vladivostok Shipyard. Over 40 vessels of this type were built for service with the Soviet and Russian navies, and additional vessels were built for export. The vessels are designated as type DKA ''Desantanyy Kater'' and are similar in type to the
US Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM).
[''Guide to the Soviet Navy'' (Polmer)][''Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World'' (Wertheim)][russian-ships.info (accessed 1 Mar 2012)]
The Ondatra landing craft have a limited range, of two days and ) and have a shallow
draught that make them ideal for
amphibious operations
Amphibious warfare is a type of Offensive (military), offensive military operation that today uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. Through history the opera ...
and
littoral combat. The s carry one Ondatra for use as a
tug for its
air-cushioned landing craft
An air-cushioned landing craft, also called an LCAC ( landing craft, air cushioned), is a modern variation on the amphibious landing boat. The majority of these craft are small- to mid-sized multi-purpose hovercraft, also known as "over the be ...
.
Although still under construction in 2009, the Project 1176 is a 1970s design that is reaching the end of its operational life. The class may be replaced by the newer Project 21820 that is currently entering service in the Russian Navy. The Dyugon-class vessels carry two
main battle tanks compared to the Ondatra's single tank, it is armed (2 MPTU-1 of 14.5 mm), and can attain compared to the Ondatra's .
Ships
42 vessels are documented for the
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval warfare Military, uniform service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy made up a large part of the Soviet Union's strategic planning in the event of a conflict with t ...
and
Russian Navy
The Russian Navy is the Navy, 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 (which had i ...
.
On 10 November 2023 one Ondatra-class craft was reported destroyed by Ukrainian intelligence near Chornomors'ke, in northern Crimea by a Ukrainian
sea drone.
See also
*
List of ships of Russia by project number
References
External links
Project 1176 landing craft(English)
{{Ukrainian ships
Cold War naval ships of the Soviet Union
Amphibious warfare vessels of the Soviet Navy
Amphibious warfare vessels of the Russian Navy
Landing craft